6 months of low screentime later...
In the midst of a TikTok binge, the algorithm™️ ironically introduced me to Foqos, an open source app that works exactly like Brick -- but for free. Since installing and actually using the app, I've noticed that my time has expanded significantly.
I set Foqos up in December last year, but I've only noticed the benefits recently. This isn't that surprising since these were my stats when I began 🙃
My stats have since improved after I reset the configuration to an "allowlist" of apps instead of a "blocklist". Now, I can choose the apps that are actually useful as I go through life #foqosed (an alternative to #bricked). I do run into instances where, for eg, the laundry app is blocked and I had to "break glass" to enable it and add it to my app allowlist. But these cases are so rare that I don't mind this inconvenience. I've also set up an automation in the shortcuts app that turns on the Foqos profile at dawn. This way, even if I unlock my profile and succumb to a doomscroll, I can start fresh every morning with a non-distracting device.
I can't overstate how useful and effective Foqos has been. Unlocking my profile and scrolling is now a conscious and deliberate decision to spend a significant portion of the day distracted. I can directly map my energy levels to the hours blocked on my Foqos profile:
After a few months of using Foqos, this is what I've learned:
It's way too easy to revert
I regularly find my week-long streak destroyed by an uncomfortable environment-- a stay in someone else's house, someone else in my house, traveling. When things are upsetting, uncomfortable, or stressful in some other way, like a smoker reaching for a cigarette, I reach forthe NFC token to unlock Foqos, download TikTok and relish in the comfort of funny videos.
I haven't found a reliable solution for this. Redirecting to another activity never works (I either don't have the materials or just don't feel like it).
I have tried "surfing my craving" but it hasn't been a robust solution. I've resigned to accept this.
Doing things don't take as long as you think they do
After hours of scrolling, simple chores like washing dishes felt super time consuming. I felt discomfort inahbiting the time that it took to do the chore-- as if I were wasting time I could use to hoard inspirational/useful/funny ideas that never materialized into anything tangible.
At the risk of sounding like Foqos is the elixir to all your problems, I noticed that after a day spent #foqosed , washing dishes took 10 minutes, folding clothes took 20, vaccumming my apartment took 10 -- exactly how much time they felt like they took in my mind. Something about social media warps time such that 5 mins doing nothing feels like an eternity and 3 hours scrolling feels like 5 mins.
These days, I either do my chores in silence or while talking to friends and family. The house is cleaner and I actually enjoy doing these seemingly annoying chores.
You always feel like there's a world that you're abandoning
My feed on TikTok and my recommended videos are fulled with genuinely intelligent, creative, athletic, hard working people sharing things they've made, habits, life tricks, recipes, and how they live. It's often an inspirational, sometimes empowering place to be.
Real life doesn't offer the same exposure to so many interesting people with so little effort. The FOMO is real.
Yet, a real life is worth the boredom. I tell myself that I already have the knowledge, skills, and experience to live an interesting, worthwile life, and the deluge of advice hasn't and won't fix my life. Also, this world isn't worht the other ailments that it inflicts. As this creator says, "even a boring life is more fun than an interesting phone".
Since using Foqos,
- I've started a book club with 2 other people
- I've been consistent with sticking to my fitness routine
- I've been practicing old maths problems
- I've been cooking more
To summarize, time has expanded since using Foqos and I truly recommend you try this app. Reality is worth it!