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Change your Facebook password to something gibberish you’ll never remember and log out.
Definitely do it on the social media though. I only still have it for family photos and following a few music and politics related groups which it is good at
soundcloud.com/thecolourbox-1
youtube.com/@TheColourboxMusic
I deleted the news app, that helped. But then subscribed to the Guardian for a year. Just finished that and have deleted the app after reading this post, so thank you for that.
Tried deleting Instagram and that seems impossible. Deleted the app so that solved that. If your a photographer there’s far better places to look than there anyway.
Good luck!
Brexit to me is the most obvious example - I've given up caring about it and voting in general atm and as the son of a trade union leader I'm really sad to say it but it's a lot better for my wellbeing than actually caring about it and forever analysing every tidbit of news to ascertain how much truth there is in it
I actually feel sorry for anyone who thinks "Tune out, turn off, drop out" is a sensible world view.
In terms of the OP, and for anyone who uses Facebook specifically, I recommend Roger McNamee’s Zucked: Waking Up to the Facebook Catastrophe. It's an illuminating if not terrifying read, highlighting the ruthless nature of the site–and indeed the founder–describing how it keeps users' attention by various means, such as "brain hacking" "filter bubbles" and "social validation loops". The site is choc-a-block of disinformation that there is no wonder a user feels anxious. Seriously though, who wants to be part of a site where your brain is being hacked?
Admirable. I've been mentally working up to this myself. Although I don't use my smartphone nowhere near as much as some users, there are, however, some apps that are incredibly useful to me. I know I could get by without it if I really wanted to, but it does provide some beneficial functionality. I imagine it must be liberating not to feel tethered, mind you....
unfollow everyone on facebook, maybe leave a fe family members, best mates
install FBP to get rid of the ads on your PC
I think, for me, the answer to this is discipline. Most of it, as has been said is either habit or compulsion. We have been conditioned over generations to feel the need to read the news. Whilst I see the benefit of understanding how the world works, there is a balance between what you can actually effect (by knowing about it), and what just sparks a frustrated emotive response. I find myself reading less and less news. So much of it is partisan, so much of it is depressingly grim. Why fill my mind with negativity.
Social media - don't need it, mostly. I use a couple of forums, of stuff I am interested in. I have a small Twitter feed, of which about 50% is interesting (music etc), the rest gets infiltrated with people's opinions, in which I have little interest, so ignore. Hard to extract the good stuff from the chaff, but I can live tiwh that.
Facebook - hated it, and I think it's utter rubbish. Bragbook more like. Instagram - I follow a couple of people, again, music, tech etc. This is much better as it's not easily over run by crap and its a lot easier to control what gets through.
Work - I have separate personal and work email, separate apps. I only use the work email in working hours. Otherwise work will encroach in your personal mental space which affects your relaxation. When I am on holiday, I change my voicemail and only answer the phone if it's friends or family. You can easily allocate ring tones to family and friends. I also make it clear to everyone related with work, that when I am off, I am off and not contactable. I'm not so important that work can't cope without me. I'll also make sure that as much as possible is sorted out before I go on hols.
Phones - I consciously make an effort not to keep checking it. And it is a conscious effort. I won't take it out of my pocket if I'm out in the evening, or having a meal. When out with my wife, one of us will leave a phone at home, keep one in case the kids call us.
It's a challenge, but I do try to keep in mind that there is more to life than the (mostly) inane crap that comes through your smart phone.