Introduction
When I received my first substantial paycheck, I fell into the mindset of indulgence – dining out frequently, inviting friends, and enjoying the luxuries that money could buy. It became an automatic behavior that persisted for about two years. My life was in automatic spending mode. After seeing my balances on a Friday afternoon, I realized I was accumulating debt and carrying a balance on my credit card. My unchecked spending had become a financial burden.
Recognizing this financial downward spiral, I decided to change course. Getting out of debt was no easy task, especially with student loans, car payments, credit cards, and an elevated lifestyle fueled by a “higher” income than I was used to as a student.
Over the years of my financial pivot, automation has been the most transformative factor in improving my financial situation. When I was working to eliminate debt, I automated my income allocation. Each paycheck was divided equally into three accounts: one for savings, one for debt repayment, and one for essential expenses. This simple strategy helped me establish lasting habits that extend beyond debt repayment, now serving as the foundation for three financial buckets for my future: one for spending, one for investing, and one for emergencies.
Similarly, in today's digital age, many of us have unwittingly fallen into detrimental habits over the past decade of smartphone dominance in our society. We've become convinced that we cannot function without apps like Spotify, Uber, YouTube, or Teams. The idea of living without these conveniences seems almost irrational in a world that readily offers them to us. Consequently, it has become increasingly challenging to disconnect from the digital world and relish the simplicity of an offline life. In light of this, here are three strategies to help you automate positive digital behaviors and retrain your brain to embrace a simpler, more mindful approach to technology.
The Router Killer
Imagine if your internet suddenly went offline. For many of us in the United States, such outages are unexpected and rare. We often live in communities with year-round access to electricity, the Internet, and numerous other modern conveniences. However, this isn't the reality everywhere. In some parts of the world, people contend with limited supplies of essential resources like water, electricity, and even internet access. Having lived in and visited communities in remote locations of Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua, I've witnessed firsthand how individuals in such areas must adapt to daily resource allocations and learn to live within strict limits. It’s a bit inconvenient, yet people find commonality to enjoy each other’s company offline.
We can draw valuable lessons from these experiences, even in our digitally interconnected world. By learning to live with less and becoming more conscious of our consumption, we can create a healthier relationship with technology and automate periods when we spend our finite allotment of time on this earth online.
One simple way to foster this balance is by implementing router automation. This method serves as a gentle reminder to disconnect from the digital realm and spend quality time offline with friends and family, or go on a walk around your neighborhood. You can achieve this by using a physical timer outlet or configuring your router settings to schedule specific times for internet access cutoff. Whether it's once a day or at a frequency that suits your needs, this straightforward automation encourages you to enjoy moments of offline presence, whether it's for reading, cooking, or relishing the simple pleasures of life.
Phone Automation Habits
Let's address this head-on: owning a dumbphone offers the most straightforward and automated approach to curbing excessive online time spent on social media and browsing. I understand that many of you, for various reasons, need to maintain a smartphone, but that doesn't mean you must surrender control of your time to it. In Chapter 6 of my book, I delve into the concept of the "phone foyer method." This simple yet effective approach revolves around prioritizing human interactions at home while relegating the phone to a designated area. You can craft your custom setup or invest in a phone holder like the Bagby. Regardless of your choice, the routine is the same: upon arriving home, place your phone in a predetermined location, switch it to silent mode, and relish the rest of your evening.
Another valuable smartphone automation involves configuring schedules to activate grayscale mode (for Android users) or leveraging focus mode to reorganize your screens based on work, family, or other priorities (for iOS users). Employing built-in screen time features or scheduling apps like Clearspace or Unpluq can establish automatic behaviors, ensuring your device doesn't become a distraction but a tool used with intentionality. My wife, for instance, recently implemented a grayscale filter on her Pixel phone, serving as a visual cue to transition into offline activities upon returning home.
Lastly, you can employ DNS services such as NextDNS to automate your online experience. By configuring DNS profiles on your smart devices to block content, ads, and undesirable websites, you gain control over your internet usage.1 You can opt to block access to time-wasting platforms and websites, except during designated "recreation time." After this set period, your device's internet access will be automatically redirected to blocked status, streamlining your consumption habits.
Enjoyable Offline Outings
Another final automation strategy involves booking offline classes or activities that pique your interest. By proactively scheduling evenings at the local performing arts center or signing up for a pottery class, you're reserving a portion of your time to find enjoyment in human interactions and creativity, shifting your focus away from digital sources of entertainment. The more offline activities you incorporate into your life, the more significant the positive impact on your well-being.
Consider planning outings with friends, organizing special date nights, or simply taking leisurely strolls in the park. Ensure that these activities are firmly blocked in your schedule. Over time, this deliberate scheduling establishes a habit of relishing offline experiences, gradually reducing the pull of digital sources of instant gratification and dopamine hits. Embracing a well-rounded life with a blend of offline pursuits can greatly enhance your overall quality of life and emotional balance.
Conclusion
Certainly, the beauty of these automation techniques lies in their ability to streamline our digital lives, freeing us to focus on the activities that truly matter to us. I hope these suggestions have inspired you to reconsider your online habits and invest more time in pursuits that align with your passions and values. In an ever-connected world, achieving balance and mindfulness in our online presence can lead to a more gratifying and purposeful life.
Learning how to operate a DNS is quite simple and is the most effective method to curb unnecessary use. Given that you can hardcode your devices to use the DNS profile, it is quite cumbersome to turn it off, making it extremely useful for those who want to not rely on self-control.
Automating Offline