I use the noprocrast feature on HN. It's enough to keep me focused. I wish more sites implemented this. I might need software to do the same for reddit and other social media platforms. Not that I need it, but it does remind me how much time I've spent.
On one hand, the more time you spend on these platforms the more ad money they get so they have an incentive to keep you there. On the other hand, some platforms already have time limits implemented (some exclusive to children but still).
Yes, but that mental taxation is essentially unlearning a bad habit and why it feels so rough to go through.
I agree that if the sentiment of "but I didn't go on it" is the goal, sure, but it doesn't change the way you think. Breaking habits is hard and requires willpower, that's why most people never break them.
I'm just keeping the HN bookmark in a folder to keep it out of sight.
Rest of the job is to tame the mind that wanders every couple minutes to find an escape.