The Secret to Digital Detox? Make Your Phone Boring

The Secret to Digital Detox? Make Your Phone Boring
👋 Hi, I am Mark. I am a strategic futurist and innovation keynote speaker. I advise governments and enterprises on emerging technologies such as AI or the metaverse. My subscribers receive a free weekly newsletter on cutting-edge technology.

Your phone isn’t just stealing your time, it’s hacking your brain. And no, a weekly “Screen Time” report won’t fix it. If you really want to use your phone less, there’s only one solution: make it too dull to bother with.

Tech giants claim to care about “digital wellness,” but their half-hearted tools do little to stop compulsive phone use. The real fix? Strip away the dopamine triggers: turn your screen grayscale, remove non-essential apps, and silence all but human notifications.

Research suggests screen time alone isn’t the problem—it’s how we use it:

  • Screen time reports lack actionable insights and real interventions.
  • Third-party apps like Forest and One Sec offer better self-control tools.
  • The most effective fix? Make your home screen boring and your phone inconvenient.

If attention is the new currency, shouldn’t we be spending it more wisely? How do we redesign our digital habits before they redesign us?

Read the full article on Vox.

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Dr Mark van Rijmenam

Dr Mark van Rijmenam

Dr. Mark van Rijmenam, widely known as The Digital Speaker, isn’t just a #1-ranked global futurist; he’s an Architect of Tomorrow who fuses visionary ideas with real-world ROI. As a global keynote speaker, Global Speaking Fellow, recognized Global Guru Futurist, and 5-time author, he ignites Fortune 500 leaders and governments worldwide to harness emerging tech for tangible growth.

Recognized by Salesforce as one of 16 must-know AI influencers , Dr. Mark brings a balanced, optimistic-dystopian edge to his insights—pushing boundaries without losing sight of ethical innovation. From pioneering the use of a digital twin to spearheading his next-gen media platform Futurwise, he doesn’t just talk about AI and the future—he lives it, inspiring audiences to take bold action. You can reach his digital twin via WhatsApp at: +1 (830) 463-6967.

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