A break from the internet, but with internet tools?

July 30, 2015 2:55 PM

I'm planning an internet/app/social media free week, and could use some advice on the best way to do this. Specifically because some of the items I want to work during my internet break require online tools. Also, my phone doesn't work well without data; making this extra special snowflake-y.

I know there are tools I can use to filter out internet use on the desk top, so only "allowed" sites are accessible, and every thing is blocked. I could use a recommendation for what you like, but I know they exist already so I'm not too worried about that part. I'm on a mac running Yosemite.

What really has me stuck though is what to do about my phone. I have an iphone 5s. I could turn off data, but I get really poor reception in my home. And so I end up using wifi for calls and text data. Part of what I want to use my internet free time is catching up on some long overdue calls, so this is important. (I don't have a landline) I'm not sure what I can do that would keep that function on, but also turn off the majority of other apps. And yes, this is where it gets interesting/stupid. I may have to use google docs on my phone as well, which needs a data connection.

I would love some suggestions how to accomplish this. Willpower is pretty much out of the equation - I know I will not succeed if I rely on trusting myself. Just one tiny peek at facebook and I'm ruined.

posted by [insert clever name here] to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

If will power is out of the question, I would seriously consider deleting all the apps that you are concerned about and changing your Apple ID so that you can't download any other ones. Set your parental controls and don't let yourself use Safari (and use the Google Docs app). Give the Apple ID password and Parental Lock password to a trusted friend and figure out what the thing is that would make you really really not want to have your friend give you the password (i.e. you have to donate $50 to the KKK, you have to go to your friend's house to get the password, something). For your desktop I'd suggest Freedom. Money is worth it.

But also besides just blocking yourself from doing "bad" things I'd find a way to reward yourself for doing good things. Find a way to gamify the things you want to get done. Gold stars for making overdue phone calls or some other positive incentive.
posted by jessamyn at 3:18 PM on July 30, 2015 [2 favorites]

Would "out of sight, out of mind" work for you? You could create a folder on your iPhone for all of the apps you're not "allowed" to touch. The apps aren't as noticeable when they're in a folder, and you can move that folder to the last page of apps near a bunch of other ones you never think about.
posted by dayintoday at 3:21 PM on July 30, 2015 [3 favorites]

Turn on Restrictions and don't allow apps or websites except those you need for Google Docs. Get someone you trust to set the passcode, which they will not give you until the week is over.
posted by bgrebs at 3:23 PM on July 30, 2015 [1 favorite]

Could you just uninstall all the phone apps you don't want to use, and then reinstall them when your cleanse is finished? I assume you have an iPhone, so it may be harder, but on Android you can easily root your phone and uninstall your browser, for instance.

As for blocking websites, I recommend LeechBlock. Be careful before you go with the nuclear option though. You may also want to consider deleting all your bookmarks (after you export them on a drive you hide somewhere) and wiping out your internet history so that all those websites you mindlessly visit won't be around to tempt you.
posted by AppleTurnover at 3:43 PM on July 30, 2015

If you're using Yosemite (and the Mac is relatively recent) turn on Handoff and ditch/hide the phone. Your phone earbud will work on the computer.
posted by O9scar at 3:46 PM on July 30, 2015

For the mac, you can deny individual websites by altering the "hosts" file on your computer:
http://www.tekrevue.com/tip/edit-hosts-file-mac-os-x/

after the localhost entry, you could put pages that tempt you too much, so the line would look like:

127.0.0.1 localhost metafilter.com www.metafilter.com ask.metafilter.com
127.0.0.1 facebook.com www.facebook.com

And no browser or app on that computer can get to it until you remove them from that file.

(You are telling the computer that those websites are on the machine, when they are not)
posted by nickggully at 8:01 PM on July 30, 2015

Again assuming an iPhone you could backup the phone, restore the phone as new but don't sign in to anything or install any apps, then restore from backup at the end of the week. Might be easier then manually uninstalling/reinstalling.
posted by Richard Holden at 12:23 AM on July 31, 2015