30-day dopamine detox reset

I feel this article is more of a detox from phone apps.  I don't use phone apps though I do pick a few productive things each week to keep my mind active.

This is a good plan for folks addicted to phone apps.

This 30-day dopamine detox reset my brain and changed my life

https://www.reddit.com/r/productivity/comments/1i2wqp1/this_30day_dopamine_detox_reset_my_brain_and/

This was my strategy:

- First, each Sunday I would pick out a few productive things for the week that I would use to replace my mindless scrolling and track it (ex: reading, steps walked, calls made to family, etc). Then the next Sunday I could review what I accomplished with that time and revamp the plan (was very motivating and eye opening).

one of the biggest changes was I feel like I have more "space" in my day to day life. I don't feel like I'm in a constant state of elevated anxiety... I don't think I realized how much the phone time was contributing.

I definitely have more energy (part of that is also because it helps me sleep better when I'm not so wired up)

And I'm getting more done in a focused and productive way than before

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I’ve been doing this the last week or so since getting back into my weaving. Once I’m started it’s very hard to be distracted, and quite nice.

Most of my electronic use is Permies. But I do visit youtube too and I was trying to find hurdy gurdy videos to send to a friend and oh how headache inducing it is nowadays with all the AI-generated thumbnails and low quality videos everywhere on top of trying to find just two good videos, an explanation and a performance……

Alas, my solution to this problem is to not have any phone apps on my phone.

I can text, but I keep my text list pruned heavily also. I had my tech support (#2 Son) put different "ping" noises on some of the accounts so I could know which could potentially be urgent, and which I could ignore until I needed a break from whatever I was working on.

I am totally not convinced that being constantly wired to the world is healthy for any of us. Our phone should be a tool, not our boss!

Aside from not applying apps have there been changes to broadening the horizon by going to beneficial sites?  Like Permies?

I try to keep my mind active by going to sites that actual cause me to use my mind.

Like keeping your brain active against dementia?

https://www.brownhealth.org/be-well/daily-rituals-keep-your-brain-healthy-while-you-age

I literally take my phone and toss in into a pile of blankets sitting on a chair across the room.  

Once the phone physically out of my hands the temptation to scroll endlessly for something is no longer at my grasp and my mind immediately calms.




Eric

Thankfully, I never acquired the habit of carrying my smart phone with me all the time.  I hung onto my basic flip phone long after the smart phone hit the market. Once I did get an IPhone, it lived in my house or car.

Aside from ditching the phone what do folks do to keep their minds active?

Just because I'm not intending to leave my farm, doesn't mean that I can't put my phone on "airplane mode". Yes, it would mean two actions instead of one in an emergency, but if I want/need to concentrate, it allows me to have my phone close to call for help, while still feeling like I can get a task done without as high a risk of interrupts.

I'm a senior, often working on uneven, slippery ground, and there's been a cougar spotted weekly in the area. My family does *not* want me wandering the field or paths without my cell phone and I don't blame them. But that doesn't mean that I can't have the discipline to put it on "ignore". I do understand how many people need to actively detox themselves to come to that level of discipline.  I think this is why there's been a resurgence in "flip phones" and I support that highly.

To answer Anne's last question: Exercise, being outside and watching birds, digging in the dirt, and doing interesting projects that can be as simple (complex) as using downed branches to build a beautiful trellis for a climbing plant. Anything that gets the mind and body working together in interesting ways, will help to keep a mind active and healthy.

Anne Miller wrote:Aside from ditching the phone what do folks do to keep their minds active?

In person socializing is a big one.  

My DiL and I have hatched a plan that when we get a space to do it, we're going to hold a "puzzle building night" once a week. Locally, second hand puzzles can be had for $5 a box, and many will agree to "exchanging boxes" rather than receiving cash. The idea is to socialize, and build puzzles, and encourage each other in positive ways. Permies "be nice" rules will be enforced!

I will admit also that DiL's mom is very shy about speaking English, so we have that as an ulterior motive - we don't plan on discussing deep philosophical topics, but more like, which flower is your favorite!

Jay Angler wrote:I will admit also that DiL's mom is very shy about speaking English, so we have that as an ulterior motive - we don't plan on discussing deep philosophical topics, but more like, which flower is your favorite!

The best way to learn to speak a language is to use what words you know.

When we lived in Mexico I had taken Spanish in school so I knew some words though my parents didn't know any except a few beginner words.

So to help them I spoke Spanish at home.  Helped me learn too and to get comfortable using the language.

I love puzzles so I feel your idea will be a hit.  Flowers are a great topic.