[ivansavz]

One thing that has been working really well for me this year is the "internet Shabbat" rule: 24 hours of no TCP/IP every week. Friday night I pull the plug on the modem + turn off data on my phone, then enjoy all of Saturday in a disconnected mode. I can still be on the computer, just no internet.

It's amazing how much things I get done... it literally feels like I have two days instead of one. If I put a item like "outdoor exercise for 30 mins" in my TODO list, then I actually do it! Close friends and family can still reach me by phone/text, but all the chat groups and other messaging app distractions are silent.

I can still end up zoning out watching a movie in the evening, but it's more intentional: I had to pick the movie in advance and download it so I can view it offline.

The contrast with Sunday when I turn the internet back on is very notable. Suddenly the next day is disorganized and end up wasting hours on youtube recommendations, and following rabit holes, and hacker news of course.

My conclusion is that it's not the apps or the internet, it's the feeds (when information is being pushed down to you) that are the problem. It's just too convenient and we end up staying in it.

Highly recommended.

[andai]

I used to do this every morning, for the first hour of the day.

I started doing it to cope with severe unmedicated ADHD. I found the only way I could get any work done was to turn off my phone and unplug the router.

(I downloaded offline docs, and if I got really stuck, made a note of what to Google later and just switched tasks.)

I then found that I enjoyed getting stuff done so much, that I'd usually keep it off until after lunch.

[ivansavz]

Very interesting.

I was thinking of scaling this up by adding Sunday too, but offline mornings might be even better... I'll look into adding a schedule in the router. I think it might be helpful to program the rule to start in the desired bedtime in the evening to make the pixel devices unexciting and incentivize reading old school books (the most efficient technology for getting me to sleep).

I've heard the advice don't touch the phone/email first thing in the morning so many times, but I can never stick to it, but if my "habit" is enforced at the network layer, I think it is doable ;)

UPDATE: Apparently iOS has a built in automation tool Shortcuts app, which allowed me to schedule this, see https://imgur.com/a/TsQJak3 I added similar rulesets to the router. Watch out world, Ivan's productivity is going to skyrocket!

[andai]

Oh yes, forgot to mention. I started doing it as a sleep hygiene thing (internet off before bedtime) then realized it carries over elegantly into "deep work" in the morning :)

You definitely want the right choice to already have been made for you, in terms of device/net hygiene, when you stumble out of bed, bleary eyed!

[sotix]

I have a pretty similar automation, but I also make my screen turn to grayscale from sunset to sunrise.

[sotix]

I implemented offline mornings and have learned Greek, how to play chess half decently, and how to play the piano! It’s crazy how much time there is in the morning that I was wasting.

[Geeek]

My family and I keep the Shabbat, which includes no electronics usage and I can not imagine doing it any differently.

[MarcelOlsz]

I'm going to pivot into being a full-time techno shabbas goy if this movement gets large enough. I'll join the legions of dog-walkers and apartment-sitters.

[Geeek]

Or just go hang out with friends, that's what I do. I get to hang out with people I like, people I like a little less, people I agree with, people I disagree with it. It makes me for a more humble and understanding person.

[MarcelOlsz]

It was a joke.

[volemo]

Shabbat is no joke! :P

[Geeek]

In what sense?

[golly_ned]

Great idea — do you live with others who do the same thing, or on your own?

[ivansavz]

I'm living on my own now so I don't have experience with the group version of this.

I try to be proactive if I know I'm meeting someone to remind them to call/text and not expect Signal/Telegram comms. The only thing that has been a problem are RCS text messages since my iPhone assumes if RCS was used once to communicate with someone, it should always be used. I can manually use "send as SMS" for outgoing, but I don't get the reply.

[sdsd]

> 24 hours of no TCP/IP every week

But streaming, games, and all the other distracting stuff is mostly UDP! /s