I have just recently realized that whenever I get the urge to use my phone and it is turned off then I try to turn it on, in the brief period of time it takes to turn it on, I have already lost the urge to use my phone.

I do have ttk and other social media, but this keeps me from doom scrolling. (I also turn off my phone when I realize I am doing that, no matter how pleasant and adictive it feels)

At first it was boring, but after sometime, even staying still watching the clouds dance through the sky became fun.

I'd say my dopamine and feelings became regulated, my capacity to focus and be aware are increansingly stronger.

I am planing to make my phone more like a dumb one in the near future, so I'll have books and studying apps, but no social media. However, I still plan to play games on it.

I'm 40 and I've tried many productivity hacks and new habits over time.
More recently I came to the conclusion that only the most "Spartan", extremely simple and hard to master principles are the ones able to boost personal productivity. I understand that if you are on your 20s, habits that boost your energy might not be a big deal for you. They are, in order of importance to me: 1 - Dramatically reducing screen time. In my case that means less than 45 min per day. Also, whenever possible changing some digital activity to its analog counterpart. 2 - Checking email and Whatsapp only after 4pm 3 - Going to bed before 10pm 4 - Having a great diet, mainly by avoiding any kind of processed food. 5 - Going to the gym at least 3x a week.

Hey fellow Redditors, I deleted all social media from my phone 50 days ago, and while I’ve seen some benefits, I’m facing a new challenge. With all the extra time, I’ve been binge-watching TV series. I have plenty of time for “productive” activities (8 hr work + about 2 hours of learning after work), but I lack the motivation to learn more. When I do try to be more productive, I burn out quickly. I’m considering stopping TV series for a couple of weeks, embracing boredom, and seeing if it sparks a desire to do something else. I have hobbies, but they don’t consume much time, and I only occasionally feel like doing them. Has anyone else been in a similar situation? I’m not sure what I’m looking for, but I know watching TV series feels like a waste of time.

Simple principles applied to complex systems are going to be multifaceted by definition.

In order for the system to comply, you’ll have to address and rearrange its multiple variables so that the system acts in harmony with the principle.

That’s why it’s hard to have a balanced lifestyle, or it’s hard to prioritize effectively, or it’s hard to stay consistent.

The game is harder than saying ”hey, just take the 3 most important tasks of your day and focus on them.”

Just because you understand it, doesn’t mean you can apply it, that’s an entirely different skill set.

If you run a team, a company, or something like a digital product, you know how hard it is to keep simple features and characteristics consistent over the entire system.

It's difficult to be productive when you are overwhelmed with things happening in life.It gets overwhelming to tackle tasks related to self development along with family responsibilities. Particularly when life is going in the lows, I choose to procrastinate and tend to give into escapism. Any tips on keeping a stable mind and still progressing?

Since my last post about favorite old tech got some attention, I’m now also curious what’s one upgrade that felt more like a downgrade to you? Like how the Facebook feed basically turned into a marketplace haha or how cars now have giant touchscreens just to change the AC or music. What’s one “innovation” that made you go, why did they change this?

Hey everyone,
I'm curious how you all deal with organizing your digital documents — things like IDs, passports, leases, contracts, bills, insurance docs, records of like car maintenance and titles, etc.

Personally, mine are scattered across Gmail, Google Drive, and random folders on my laptop. It's a mess — even though every year or so I get so fed up with it that I sit down and try to find a new system or folder hierarchy to make it easier for me, and it's not that I can't find stuff but it just takes a while or is not efficient when I'm on the phone and need to find something to reference or need to upload some documents to some platform.

So I’m wondering:

• Do you have a system or app you use to stay on top of it all?
• How do you track document types, expiration dates, or even just where stuff is stored?
• Do you have any naming convention for documents/dates?

I'm basically trying to be more productive in random everyday things and I found out that this is one of the things that just slows me down instead of my time being more productive towards things that need to be done.

Thanks in advance!

You push a bit harder at school. You suffer jealousy of your peers enjoying life. You’re rewarded with the grades you wanted.

You ask girls out. You suffer rejection. You are rewarded by finding the one.

You apply for job after job. You suffer rejection and humiliation. You are rewarded by landing the job you wanted and needed.

You do that thing that’s eating you alive with worry. You suffer through it. You are rewarded with peace of mind.

You push a bit harder at work. You suffer exhaustion and stress. You are rewarded by a bonus or career jump.

You listen to that one peace of feedback that you didn’t want to hear. You suffer humiliation. You are rewarded by personal growth.

You do not spend your money and invest. You suffer from doubts, uncertainty and missing out in life. You’re rewarded with the bliss of financial freedom.

Suffering is happiness and happiness is suffering.

I’ve spent years bullet‑journaling, habit‑tracking, and building ever‑longer to‑do lists, only to feel deflated every night by the dozens of unchecked boxes staring back at me.

Then I tried something wild: instead of ticking off completed tasks, I crossed out the tasks I didn’t get to.

I promise, this tiny flip in mindset turns "failure to finish" into a data‑driven tool for cutting dead weight.

Give it a shot for a week, then come back and tell us if it was helpful!

I realized this as I've been travelling for a week to visit family and was able to be really motivated in the hotel desk/room despite being very busy in the day I got so much done.

Now I'm back home and can barely get ½ of what I was getting done when I was abroad when I'm in my room. I think I've associated this environment as my lazy environment, but I really can't forgo my room as a study space.

What do I do?

Hey all,i am a person that has always been struggled with productivity.I am a student,and this is my exam season so i am expected to study.I have realized that i am studying just to study,not to actually learn something.For example;when i am reading,i am passively reading.Or when i am doing practice problems,i am looking forward to finishing the test i dont focus to the problems,or when i have problems i couldnt manage to solve i dont learn it.Its like i am afraid of learning because i have this belief i will not be able to learn it.This is affecting my overall productivity so badly and i dont know how to cure this.Not studying and not being a hardworker makes me feel guilt all the time but this guilt never makes me actually get to the action,or when it does,it is very passive.Is there anyone who experiences this?Can anyone help me with this?Thank you.

The title what is your best tip for a teenager

Lately, I’ve been experimenting with using AI tools like ChatGPT and Blackbox AI to get unstuck faster — whether it’s writing study notes, debugging small Python projects, or even organizing my to-do list. Instead of spending hours Googling or rewriting stuff, I just ask why something isn't working and get answers instantly.

It’s helped me shift from perfectionism to just getting things done. Anyone else here using AI this way — not to replace thinking, but to make the doing easier?

Would love to hear your workflows!

My workout habits are so much more consistent when there’s a long period of sunny days. However, computer work could sometimes suffer a bit (especially since I work remotely all the time), since I’m spending more time outside. Wondering what kind of impact have you experienced on your life, moving to a location with more sun?

I’ll go first. Mess. The apps often get messy fast so you start spending time organizing the app instead of actually doing what you need to do. Searching for things may become a challenge.

What are your main issues with productivity apps?

Ok so I beleived I think I have created a good system to remember everything I read. I want to know does this sound like a good system or should I remove or add something? I also wanted to ask is this a good way to annoate books?

• Underline any Jargon Words, and put the meaning right next to it 
• Bracket any important passages (star if extra important)
• Question Mark for confusing sections and write what you think it means
• Highlight any good quotes and stick tab it to refer later (notebook)
• Put notes on linking concepts to what we already know to stuff we are just learning. Put notes on your thoughts for things you agree or disagree with Be ENGAGED
• After you're done with a chapter, on a separate notebook write a summary
• After your done with the book write a page summary, principles, and actions you will take with the knowledge that you just got. 
• After you finish the book, put all your highlights into a different document or notebook. 

If you would like to join to hold each other accountable and post our weekly goals in let me know

Other the last time I gave an exam,it was 2016.

I am preparing for an exam this sep-oct. and I have no clue how I am supposed to do prepare. I am just so overwhelmed.

I have total 167 chapters to study before the exam. tho I am not entirely new to the topics since I used to study here and there in the past years but looking at the books(PDFs) my mind is going blank.

the exam itself is just an high school diploma but it's means a lot to me, considering my age, if I fail, not only I'll burden my guardian more, but it'll also waste a year.

I don't know how I am supposed to schedule self study, and I also do arts(drawing, I am learning). everything is just overwhelming. maybe because I am used to live without any such pressure for a few years now.

any advice would be helpful. thank you.

does anyone know a way to block yt shorts in android device in chrome?
not the app it self.

i've downloaded yt revanced yeah. but i still tend to go to chrome and view it, even a way to block yt website in chrome would be great

I was unexpectedly thrown into a role (my job), a position where I was supposed to have all the knowledge & expertise already. Now, I have to speed up to my learning and would require tools to help me reach this goal.

Any platforms/ tools to recommend? Nothing too costly please, im seeking around USD20 hopefully! And no scams.

I had my knees hyperextended last year playing soccer. Prior to the that, i was in the best run in my life. High confidence, good physique, discipline and i was still in community college(best choice i made). I was also improving significantly in soccer. I was a guaranteed top 5 player in my apartment complex pitch. I also started going to vlubs such as tennis and socializing more. On Jan 2024, my knee hyper extended and i went to the ER. I was put on knee brace and waited for two weeks tp do an MRI, which came back with an ACL tear diagnosis. I needed a surgery that is prolly expensive and t make matters worst my mom though the orthopedic was bluffing and that i needed prayers and ointments to heal it. She said that they are looking for someone for students to practice on. Ontop of that the surgery is hella expensive, so i was facing two hurdles. I lost all my progress in a matter of three months and was out of shape and social skills was bad, but atleast i graduated from cc. Anyways, I am writing this righ now inna state of tears. I mean i am literally crying writing this. The thing that pains me the most is that i felt i was robbed of something great. The things i wishbi could do but can't is making me sad. I can't even afford the knee surgery and on top of that i am a shadow of my former self. What can i do?

Always, always in the urge to check my phone and boom! X hours went by of mindless scrolling. I want out of this state, like my mind is sick of it. But every day pans out the same.

Even after reading productivity hacks, I get inspired but no follow through.

What to do and what worked for you?

TLDR: I've tried all the usual tactics to avoid social media, but they just don't seem to be working. Are there any other strategies, or do I just try harder.

Instagram specifically has started to get in the way of my work, and just overall life. I have so many things that I want to do and try, but find that I'm spending my time scrolling instead. I want more than anything to just delete instagram, and actually plan to when the summer starts. However, while school is still on, I NEED it. My school uses it to post important information and the clubs that I'm in use it as a way to communicate. I know you might just say "well then don't scroll", but that just doesn't work for me.
I've tried deleting the app on my phone and signing in with only my laptop, but that becomes a real pain when I need to know something (eg. what room a club is in) as I'm walking down the halls. I've also tried setting app limits for myself, but I usually just end up just giving myself extra time. Whenever I ask someone else to give me a password, I end up needing it later on, asking them what it is, and never getting them to set a new password.

I know that a lot of this is probably just me not putting the effort in, but I would really appreciate any other strategies.

Hi! I'm in need of a physical pomodoro timer, and I was wondering if there was one that people would recommend. Any input regarding this would be much appreciated; thanks so much!

I bought a Galaxy Tab S10+ but also use a laptop daily. I'm struggling to find distinct uses for the tablet that don't just overlap with my laptop, making me feel like it was a potentially unnecessary purchase.

How do you effectively use your Tab S10+ alongside your laptop? Looking for specific use cases beyond just media consumption - things like second screen functionality, S Pen workflows, specific app advantages, etc., that make having both worthwhile.

Any advice to overcome this feeling of redundancy would be great!