″ …a smartphone. These get a bad rap for ruining people and their attention span but if you use them correctly and mindfully they are like the most amazing thing in the world.”
Can you please suggest how to use a smartphone more mindfully? Thank you.
I’ve found it useful to set it to grayscale mode (Accessibility → Display → Color Filters on iPhones, or in developer settings on Android). Certain apps capture your attention through bright colors, and grayscale mode negates that for me with a surprisingly small effect on usability. I don’t have a shortcut to reenable color so as not to tempt myself.
Also, the standard advice is to not use your phone in bed for sleep hygiene reasons, which probably works for almost everyone.
Get one that’s a few years old so it can’t run heavyweight stuff. I use mine almost exclusively for reading/communication and utility stuff (math/searching/navigation). Games and most apps that aren’t super simple lag too much for easy usage.
″ …a smartphone. These get a bad rap for ruining people and their attention span but if you use them correctly and mindfully they are like the most amazing thing in the world.”
Can you please suggest how to use a smartphone more mindfully? Thank you.
I’ve found the recommendations from the Center for Humane Technology to be useful.
I’ve found it useful to set it to grayscale mode (Accessibility → Display → Color Filters on iPhones, or in developer settings on Android). Certain apps capture your attention through bright colors, and grayscale mode negates that for me with a surprisingly small effect on usability. I don’t have a shortcut to reenable color so as not to tempt myself.
Also, the standard advice is to not use your phone in bed for sleep hygiene reasons, which probably works for almost everyone.
Get one that’s a few years old so it can’t run heavyweight stuff. I use mine almost exclusively for reading/communication and utility stuff (math/searching/navigation). Games and most apps that aren’t super simple lag too much for easy usage.