The Secret to Digital Detox? Make Your Phone Boring
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.
----
💡 If you enjoyed this content, be sure to download my new app for a unique experience beyond your traditional newsletter.
This is one of many short posts I share daily on my app, and you can have real-time insights, recommendations and conversations with my digital twin via text, audio or video in 28 languages! Go to my PWA at app.thedigitalspeaker.com and sign up to take our connection to the next level! 🚀
If you are interested in hiring me as your futurist and innovation speaker, feel free to complete the below form.
Thanks for your inquiry
We have sent you a copy of your request and we will be in touch within 24 hours on business days.
If you do not receive an email from us by then, please check your spam mailbox and whitelist email addresses from @thedigitalspeaker.com.
In the meantime, feel free to learn more about The Digital Speaker here.
Or read The Digital Speaker's latest articles here.
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.
