[1shooner]

If you're looking to put the brakes on that, I've used LeechBlock to add a 5-second timer to opening a new HN window (along with other block schedules). The timer even fails if it loses focus, so it really helps slow you down.

https://www.proginosko.com/leechblock/

[embedding-shape]

    echo '127.0.0.1 news.ycombinator.com' | sudo tee -a /etc/hosts

Does the trick as well :) For bonus points (and so you can't workaround it with your phone), do it on your router/switch instead.

You'll still open new tabs and go to HN, but you'll be reminded quickly, and every day can be downtime day \o/ (for you, personally)

[mgarciaisaia]

I've made https://deja.de.hueve.ar/hn so it snapshots the frontpage once per day - that way, I now there won't be new updates during the rest of the day, and the dopamine addiction goes down.

[squeefers]

so youve got the willpower to do something about it but not enough to just stop doing it?

[MikeTheGreat]

To be fair, making a change (particularly changing a habit) takes time. Having something there to remind and nudge you helps make this easier, especially when you're tired, stressed, 'just looking for a short break', etc, etc.

It's like they say: "Your demons will comfort you when no one else will. That's why it's so hard to get rid of them"

[1shooner]

Yes.

[dwedge]

Have you never suffered from habitual reflexes? I blocked twitter for a while in my hosts file and a dozen times over those first few days I instinctively opened a new tab and typed twitter in

[sunrunner]

I deleted the YouTube mobile app a few months ago and I still reflexively reach for the app icon every now and then. Thanks YouTube Shorts.

[squeefers]

> I blocked twitter for a while in my hosts file and a dozen times over those first few days I instinctively opened a new tab and typed twitter in?

youd go through that effort when you could have just stopped though.

[frikk]

We all admire your absolute mastery of your own habitual reflexes and mind. For the rest of us, there is a daily battle of wits, desires, weakness, and habit.

If I could snap my fingers and break toxic habits and patterns, I would have done so decades ago :)