From Subtraction to Addition

Over the past five years, I undertook four distinct experiments to observe and analyze my own behavior concerning social media. Utilizing trackers and blockers, I sought to gain a comprehensive understanding of how my social media usage impacted my overall productivity. The primary objective was to determine whether disrupting my daily habits could effectively alter my "default settings" and create more time for concentrated, meaningful work.

Photo by Andrew Guan on Unsplash

These experiments proved enlightening, offering valuable insights into my relationship with social platforms and equipping me with effective strategies to optimize the benefits of these tools while mitigating their drawbacks.

The initial phase involved data collection. Prior to initiating the experiments, I meticulously tracked my daily activities to discern where my time and energy were predominantly directed. This initial assessment, facilitated by tools like Digital detox for phone usage, provided crucial insights into areas where adjustments could be made to foster more meaningful deep work.

#1: Removal of Social medial platforms For A Month

My first experiment was uninstalling of all social media platforms from my phone: no Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and WhatsApp for 30 days. Leading up to it, I raised objections—“but I need WhatsApp to maintain my audience!”, my brain sputtered, in a testament to the addictive power of the apps.

I logged out of each site and deleted all the apps from my phone. Then, I used Freedom, a website blocking tool, to restrict the social sites from my browser and phone. Finally, I had my sister take over my phone and install parental restrictions on browser sites with a password unknown to me. (I wasn’t taking any chances.)

Once I decided to go all-in, it was surprisingly easier to do than expected. There was a relief in being offline and deciding, once and for all, to do it.

Following the conclusion of the experiment, I resumed unrestricted access to social media while maintaining vigilant tracking through RescueTime. Armed with a fresh perspective after a month-long hiatus, I gained clearer insights into patterns surrounding my usage of various platforms, both for positive and detrimental purposes. Notably, my observations revealed a significant divergence in behavior between devices, with my laptop proving less prone to fostering addictive habits during dedicated work periods compared to my phone.

Crucially, I identified a time-dependent element in my social media engagement, with distinct spikes in usage or cravings at specific times. Most notably, my less productive habits were intertwined with late-night fatigue, morning mindlessness, and a propensity to indulge in prolonged scrolling when tired. Additionally, it became evident that I consistently sought a mid-morning break around 11 am and an afternoon respite around 3 or 4 pm. The most challenging period emerged in the late evening, when my mental acuity was at its lowest.

The decision to completely block social media feeds for a continuous thirty-day period provided valuable insights into the emergence of fatigue and the specific times when I genuinely sought the platforms for research or meaningful connection, shedding light on the nuanced dynamics of my social media habits.

#2: Daily Time Blockers

In the subsequent experiment, my aim was to explore the effectiveness of limiting, rather than completely eliminating, social media use. This involved implementing a daily restriction on specific websites during recognized "tired times" identified in the initial experiment.

Over a two-week period, I employed a blocking app like Freedom to restrict social media access to certain times of the day. Social sites were permitted on my computer only during the afternoons, with restrictions in place for mornings and after dinner. Additionally, I blocked all news and television websites, and integrated the Newsfeed Eradicator for Facebook, a plug-in designed to curtail the endless scrolling nature of the newsfeed.

Results revealed that maintaining social media and news-free mornings was a transformative strategy. I experienced significantly increased productivity on major projects during dedicated focus hours, knowing that a scheduled break awaited later in the day.

The positive impact of this change became evident by the fourth or fifth day. If I succumbed to impulsivity in the mornings—whether through a quick check of social media, an Amazon purchase, or firing off a few emails—it became more challenging to transition back into the deep work mindset.

By strategically allocating specific chunks of the day to focus on particular projects, particularly moving a significant project forward before 11 am, I witnessed a radical improvement in personal productivity. Although temptation to check social media persisted, it gradually diminished over time. Overcoming the impulse to check first thing in the morning resulted in heightened focus and clarity throughout the rest of the morning.

This approach proved highly effective, prompting a reverse question: rather than blocking out times when I would abstain from social media, what if I designated a specific time slot for its intentional use?

#3: The Social “Happy Hour”

Moving on to the next experiment, I allocated a specific hour of my day exclusively for social media use. Setting up a daily calendar invitation from 4-5 pm, I created a designated "happy hour" at the end of the day—a time to connect, enjoy, and encounter new people and ideas after nearly 12 hours of working at the engineering institute.

Results showed that establishing a built-in stress relief hour, dedicated to "social research and browsing" (affectionately dubbed "The Scroll"), helped me resist temptation during other hours of the day. It became apparent that replacing a bad habit with a better one was more effective than solely focusing on eliminating the undesirable behavior.

Interestingly, consolidating all social media use into a single hour made the experience seem less exciting. I found myself finishing my scrolling within 20 to 30 minutes, even on longer days, as there was only so much sustained reading and commenting I could engage in.

This approach brought about increased efficiency in responding to requests. Instead of spreading out conversations throughout the day, I concentrated my efforts during this dedicated hour. Opening new browser tabs for each meaningful mention or request, I was able to swiftly address them.

A notable change was observed in my content creation habits, which decreased. Rather than impulsively sharing in real-time, I began planning ahead using a loose Evernote file for social media status updates and items I wanted to share. The 12-hour delay between composing and publishing allowed me the opportunity to reflect on whether instant sharing was truly necessary.

The most significant insights derived from this experiment were twofold: first, the realization that social media usage dripping throughout the day drained my energy and focus for writing and other work, and second, there was an insidious satisfaction in pressing "publish" on a status update, each time triggering a dopamine hit of satisfaction and response. However, the cumulative effect of these tiny postings was an energy drain that added up over time.

#4: The 24 Hours To Break the Cycle

One of my preferred methods for giving my brain a reset is by dedicating an entire weekend day without the use of my phone or laptop, a concept I adopted from Tiffany Shlain's "tech shabbat." In the past, Saturdays were predominantly spent outdoors, making it challenging to engage in web scrolling. To enforce this digital detox, I utilized Freedom and a mesh wifi network to block internet access from midnight on Friday until 3 pm on Saturday across all my devices.

Results showed that having planned activities significantly contributed to the success of this endeavor.

The most challenging part was leaving the house without my phone. However, once I took that initial step, a sense of freedom ensued. I discovered that physically distancing myself from devices was the most effective way to block internet access.

On days when I opted to stay indoors, I configured the Freedom App to enforce a weekend schedule of "no social media or email" until 3 pm on Saturdays. Mornings were often leisurely and unhurried. I realized that refraining from checking emails at 6 am on a Saturday wouldn't disrupt the flow of the day. By 1 pm, I would typically be engrossed in another activity, hardly noticing the absence of digital connection.

Flexibility was key in this experiment. On days when I had article deadlines or wanted to dedicate a few hours to work during the weekend, I set specific parameters for logging on and getting work done.

A day free of the internet serves as an excellent strategy for a pattern reset, particularly if I've noticed a dip in personal productivity by the end of the week.

From Subtraction to Addition

The experiments conducted with social media usage brought to light a crucial aspect: the desire to reduce consumption is often coupled with an unmet need or craving. Social media becomes a quick solution in our minds to fulfill these desires. Through these experiments, it became evident that at the core of my cravings for the social internet were the yearnings for deep connections with friends, access to new ideas and information, or simply time to unwind and relax after a challenging day.

What became apparent is that these desires can be satisfied through alternative means beyond social media, and often more effectively. It's essential to recognize that, like many tools, the use of social media is not an all-or-nothing, good-versus-bad conversation. Simply because these apps are available doesn't mean that our current default behaviors are the most effective ways to use them or achieve what we truly desire.

Understanding the underlying needs and finding alternative, more fulfilling ways to meet them can lead to a healthier and more intentional relationship with social media. It encourages a shift from default behaviors to consciously choosing how these tools can best serve our genuine needs for connection, information, and relaxation.