How to use my phone for self improvement?

[Davino]

Some months ago I became acutely aware of how unproductive my phone use was. 

Now, I've decided to consciously use my electronic device in my favour. I'm exploring different routes for making that happen. Changing dopamine focused use to learning and maturity use.

 I have started using an N-back app to improve my mental skills and other apps like the following to stimulate myself in a healthy and constructive way.

What I find most crazy is that I haven't done this before. Like I have an amazing space of possibilities to use my phone and I've been using it mostly wrong and to distract myself.

How would your life look like if the 3h (check your stats) a day you put into your phone use changed into 2h of personal consistent self improvement work!

[Davino]

I write this thread in case you could give me advice on how do you use your phone to grow yourself?

I'm over the phase of demonizing my phone, I wanna use it consciously so that it works for me.

[Staples]

If you're engaging critically with whatever you're consuming it could be a good use of time. That's the whole reason I'm on this forum, you guys give me prompts to think and contemplate on (like right now, thanks!)

I am working on doing less YouTube/ podcasts and more talking directly to AI models. Bouncing ideas of them rather than unconsciously consuming some content in the background. 

[Ramanujan]

install a to do list app called todoist and start completing tasks

[Carbon]

My favorite app I use is Obsidian for note-taking. It has turned into my “Second-Brain”. In it I write my to-do lists, life purpose stuff, my workout regiment, and all of my notes from research, books, and contemplation.

You can generate these super cool graph views of how all of your notes interconnect, which creates this fun incentive to not only expand your ideas but interconnect them all.

 

[Nemra]

I have significantly improved my English by using dozens of language learning apps available. I'd even go further and find paid apps for free (no one would be crazy to give me money, lol), as they're more likely to be of good quality. Although not all apps would be effective for your learning type.

[Human Mint]

Hi. This is like trying to stop smoking cigarettes by shifting to weed "cause it's more productive". Unfortunately it wont solve your overcompumption. Specially because phones will never replace the activities they try to emulate.

What I mean is: you may have the best intention and be completely clear-minded as to how to use your phone. Yet it will innevitably limit your capacity because of its nature. It is sad, I know.

Good news is you don't need to stop using it. Just add a set of different and productive activities in your life. Walk 4km every day, take languages clasess instead of Duolingo, read books instead of pdfs... etc.

Most productive and creative people are not making a top 10 of phone apps video.

Fyi: I installed an app that changes the display of the menu for a minimalist one. It helped.

Edited August 30 by Human Mint

[Ulax]

Can set your lock screen to a wallpaper that reminds you of key mindsets.

For me I made lock screen pic with things like 'mastery, patience, Hero's Journey'. 

[Davino]

@Carbon Have you tried one note?

How would you compare it with Obsidian?

I've heard many great things about it, but I'm unsure wether to make the jump or not.

[SageMind]

I have ebooks in my phone so if im doing nothing important I always have something to read. I recommend epub format for better readability.

[integral]

The next level of self improvement applications is a AI conversation partner.

A good one is going to be released soon in the future but for example you would give the AI all of Leo’s videos and then you can have a in-depth conversation about every topic as it happens to you in real time as you’re living your life.

There would be an earpiece so you could talk to it all day. 

[Raze]

Download the brightmind app

[Asia P]

I have two phones, one normal phone and an old phone with no wifi. I use the smartphone only for necessary things, and then i switch it off and i keep with me only the old one

[Mehwishqurayshi]

@Davino download the app that suits you, subscribe to self-improvement blogs and daily read articles on the topic