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Time limits with Lock Me Out not fully resolving addiction to my phone

Belonging to Abba

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I set time limits on texting and other apps with the Lock Me Out app on Android, and some of the time it has not been effective. Like yesterday when I had a 10 minute time limit on texting, but I still ended up being glued to the phone and not able to put it down for a long time. When I was glued to the phone, I felt like there was a lot less to do on the phone so I was using the phone cut off from the activity I love, and really not liking it. If I have much more of these experiences feeling stuck on a phone and feeling severely limited in not being able to text friends, I might disable the time limit on texting and just use Lock Me Out for limiting or blocking other apps like social media. I might even disable the time limit on texting soon.

For controlling my addiction to my phone I turn the phone's power off before/when I get home, but not always consistently. It seems like this may be a more effective barrier to texting or my phone addiction because I cannot as easily grab the phone and immediately spend time on it, and I may decide to keep it off for my own good and to be able to get more tasks done. I have a landline and cell plan on my Galaxy Watch so I can still receive urgent calls from my mom if she has a pressing need to call me.

With my smartphone addiction, I also have weird behavior of wanting to get in bed in with my phone. Previously, I loved to just get in bed and text friends and found it really relaxing. Now with a time limit in place if I get in bed with the phone, I may spend some time browsing the Google Discover Feed, or scroll through YouTube to see what is there, but yesterday I kind of ran out of stuff to do on the phone, so I just put the phone aside and laid there.

With the time limits in place, it would be super productive if I opened the Bible app and worked on memorizing Bible verses. I did that once with these new limits, but a lot of times I have not.
 

Mark Quayle

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I set time limits on texting and other apps with the Lock Me Out app on Android, and some of the time it has not been effective. Like yesterday when I had a 10 minute time limit on texting, but I still ended up being glued to the phone and not able to put it down for a long time. When I was glued to the phone, I felt like there was a lot less to do on the phone so I was using the phone cut off from the activity I love, and really not liking it. If I have much more of these experiences feeling stuck on a phone and feeling severely limited in not being able to text friends, I might disable the time limit on texting and just use Lock Me Out for limiting or blocking other apps like social media. I might even disable the time limit on texting soon.

For controlling my addiction to my phone I turn the phone's power off before/when I get home, but not always consistently. It seems like this may be a more effective barrier to texting or my phone addiction because I cannot as easily grab the phone and immediately spend time on it, and I may decide to keep it off for my own good and to be able to get more tasks done. I have a landline and cell plan on my Galaxy Watch so I can still receive urgent calls from my mom if she has a pressing need to call me.

With my smartphone addiction, I also have weird behavior of wanting to get in bed in with my phone. Previously, I loved to just get in bed and text friends and found it really relaxing. Now with a time limit in place if I get in bed with the phone, I may spend some time browsing the Google Discover Feed, or scroll through YouTube to see what is there, but yesterday I kind of ran out of stuff to do on the phone, so I just put the phone aside and laid there.

With the time limits in place, it would be super productive if I opened the Bible app and worked on memorizing Bible verses. I did that once with these new limits, but a lot of times I have not.
You sound like this is surprising to you. If it is an addiction, controlling it is like controlling any other addiction.

My job requires me to be available 24 hrs if only to answer texts troubleshooting equipment over the phone, with customers all over the world. Truth is that most nights I can sleep without interruption, but the phone is by me in bed. If I can't sleep, I might actually watch a few police chases on TikTok, and about 3 hrs later realize it's already time to get up. If that is wrong for me to do, rather than just inconvenient to my productivity and state of mind, I shouldn't do it. Simple as that.

I like to drink beer, I like to have a buzz, but I don't do it all day, because it is harmful to my life. I don't get drunk every night to be able to sleep because I need to be available to answer the phone coherently. "Because" can be a strong motivator.

I'm not going to tell you I'm addicted to my phone, nor eating, nor anything else, because in the end it is like sin or any other pursuit. In the end, we always choose what we most want to do at that instant of choice, even if it has become automatic.

I expect I don't need to tell you what happens when you pursue Christ, and find yourself desperately needing him, and seeing the weakness, stupidity and self-indulgence of the flesh, and his continuing patience in demonstrating to you repeatedly that apart from him you can do nothing.

The Grace of God can be overwhelming.
 
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