Hi! Trying to take another step forward in my journey of not surfing. Was looking for an accountability partner if anyone is interested!

Hello, I’m ScrewTech. I’m going to teach you how to create a Windows computer setup that completely blocks you from overindulging in addictive activities.

I created this setup to help myself, since my own computer use has been compulsive, pathological, and addictive. Had I not started working on my setups around 8 years ago, I truly believe I might have become homeless.

First, buy the correct computer. I personally use a Lenovo P15s Gen 5. While I haven’t personally tested other computer models, reportedly these computer models also include the feature that I’m looking for:

• Lenovo ThinkPad (T, X, P series) (I’m most confident in this line of computers since I use one.)
• HP Elite series (EliteBook, EliteDesk, ZBook, Z series workstations)
• Dell Latitude / OptiPlex / Precision
• Panasonic Toughbook
• Fujitsu Lifebook / Celsius workstations

I don’t want to explain why you must use one of these computers since it’s to prevent a certain workaround, and I don’t want to ruin someone else’s blocking setup by making it known. But if you really want to know you can message me.

If you can, use Windows Home rather than Windows Pro, but this setup should work on both (I haven’t tested it on Pro).

Second, purchase or subscribe to the correct blocking software. 80% of blocking software is ridiculously easy to bypass. Another 15% takes some cheesing to bypass. The final 5% is extremely difficult to bypass, or even impossible (if you bought one of the above computers).

The two best software in that elite 5% that I have found are: FocusMe, Cold Turkey (+ its sister application Micromanager).

FocusMe is a subscription and Cold Turkey (+ Micromanager) is a one-time purchase. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. Choose one (or try both). I personally use Cold Turkey and Micromanager. Play around with them and learn how to use them. Note especially in their settings that they have plentiful built-in options for blocking various workarounds. Make sure to enable the ones that would be useful for you.

Third, create the blocks you will use.

Mess around with the blocking software and figure out how it works. This step should come naturally once you do.

For websites, I personally create scheduled blocks that automatically block all websites most of the time, except for whitelists and 1 hour breaks twice per day. You can try something else, such as blocks that do not auto-enable, but you manually enable when you need to do work.

Fourth, create “insurance blocks” for when you make changes to your setup.

This step might only make sense once you’ve achieved familiarity with the blocking software.

Once your blocks are set up, you will have to change them with use. New websites must be added to whitelists, new applications must be blocked, etc.

You must create and enable an insurance block before you disable your regular blocks to make any changes. Insurance blocks block everything your regular blocks do. The point is to stop yourself from engaging in your addiction while your regular blocks are disabled.

Fifth, polish the details.

Do some small things to perfect your system. Use regedit to disable things like news feed widgets and Internet search in the search bar. Use third-party uninstallers to uninstall Copilot.

Another blocking software I would put in the top 5% is Pluckeye. It does a mediocre job for blocking applications, but it is the absolute best website blocker. Cold Turkey and FocusMe can be cheesed, but Pluckeye is watertight. Consider subscribing to the service if you want to anti-cheese your website blocking.

There is a workaround involving disassembling your computer that you can stop by putting superglue on the nails of your computer– but hopefully you don’t find that necessary!

Sixth, continue to tailor blocks to your needs and block newly discovered workarounds.

Firstly, obviously, continue to change your blocks to suit your needs.

Secondly, on workarounds: My setup has never been perfect, and depending on how compulsive your tech use is, yours won’t be either. Most workarounds can be resolved by using the blocking software I mentioned. Occasionally, I have discovered workarounds that rendered my blocking setup useless. I end up trying out different computer models and spending literal months searching far and wide for new blocking software to create a new setup that blocks that workaround.

You will have to figure out how to block workarounds yourself. Most of them can be dealt with using your blocking software. Feel free to message me if you think you’ve found a workaround makes this setup useless.

And now you’re done!

You should now have a computer that does not allow you to indulge in addictive activities – that is, except for when you allow it in your blocks!

I hope this helps someone! I’ve tried several different blocking methods so I might be able to answer questions about different blocking methods and software.

I started parting ways with Facebook/instagram on and off since Spring. The trouble is, I really miss the social aspect. I’m very social, and normally would talk to lots of friends and share memes/videos during the day. Without it, I felt like I barely heard from anyone. I don’t fault them because it’s a pattern of how we usually communicate and relate to each other. This lead me to go back to both. I also enjoy seeing friends/family updates from other parts of the world. But, I also don’t want my kids to just remember their mom always being on her phone. It’s really important to me to break this addiction. I’m looking into a light phone/dumb phone. How did you deal with the loss of social relationships, and how did you fill the space it left? Thanks!

Was wondering that I have heard that most tech billionaires send their kids to tech free schools, does that extend to the parents too I mean are they not addicted to their screens? What is that they know that we don’t and is money the only way to escape this or help the next Gen escape this?

Hi everyone, Im not sure if this is a stupid question or not but i recently got a dumb phone and Im utterly bored out of my mind. Like i know i should pickup a book and read something but theres something in my mind stopping me and now i just wander around my house aimlessly for hours on end. So im here to ask what type of things you guys do in an effort to inspire (?) myself to do more.

I got my dumb phone on 8/15 and didn't really have a plan lol I'm unemployed just in a funk but I think I got worse with the dumb phone I was knocking out 14-16 hrs a day I feel very depressed Moreso than usual I do have bpd but I keep it under control. I know I have to get out and live my life and take up some hobbies but I fell apart after getting the dumb phone. I feel ashamed it's only been two weeks is part of the withdrawal exhaustion?

Hi all, I use Reddit on my laptop for about 30 minutes a day. I come and say what I have to say, then log out. I wanted to encourage those of you that wanted to get a dumphone to actually get one (if you don't want to it's okay too, I am not here to judge just to help).

If you're afraid of leaving google maps, what's app and bank services behind when switching to a dumbphone I would tell you this : don't worry, if you have a laptop you can do everything from it. When I travel in my city or outside my city I look it up online then write on a paper so I know where I go, if I have something important to note I have a little notebook always on myself (useful for appointments and other details). As you go on, you will not even miss your smartphone. I stopped scrolling all day, I exercise, I meditate, when I used to sit on the couch scrolling all day long and being deeply depressed.

On my laptop I use a extension (firefox) called distraction free Reddit. Basically, I can't scroll. But I think Reddit is helpful sometimes and I want to participate for it to be helpful.

I noticed something that really scares me, from people of all ages, people are stuck on their phones. They can't do anything anymore without checking their phones, they can't learn to have patience when a little space of boredom comes up people pick up their phones : waiting for the doctor, driving, walking without looking in front of them what's happening around them. The most shocking example is my father. He doesn't even talk anymore, when he's invited outside the house he can't get off his phone to talk to people or enjoy the day. We go to the beach and he doesn't even go in the water, he plays poker on his phone all the damn time.

What I am saying is really scaring me for the future of our young children. When you own a dumbphone you almost forget your phone (like sometimes I forget it at home lol) but more importantly you see how scary the addiction to smartphones is. It's everywhere, people don't talk anymore, people don't ask anything anymore they search for it on their smartphones, they see more bad news or fake news and are in a depressed mood. It's very shocking.

I encourage you to try and get a cheap dumbphone for a month and you'll see what I am talking about. It's crazy out there, straight out of a dystopian novel.

What I gather about the state of the internet today:

Annoying ads without any creativity just some AI voice with static AI generated images of a product they're trying to peddle, people turning the most mundane object into a video essay in hopes of becoming big, families putting their real uncensored lives on display without a second thought, subscription hellscapes where even basic features get sold as premium, people selling their bodies as products, and content created by and driven by artificial intelligence that push needless products that people hurry to buy for the fear of missing out.

How can people sit and stare at a screen for hours on end when it's like this? How is it fun?

I’ve been trying to cut down my internet use, but the hardest part is when I tell myself “just 5 more minutes.” That’s almost always a lie, and suddenly an hour is gone.

Timers and website blockers help a bit, but the urge to keep scrolling always finds a way around them.

For people who’ve made progress, what actually worked for you? Was it routines, replacing the habit with something else, or just building up discipline over time?

I tend to think that I can achieve pretty good self control when it comes to using social media? Is this thought realistic? Is it possible to achieve? I've been considering removing social media away from my life.

I personally feel like the internet has made me dumber. I grew up in the 90s/2000s and I used to read books and newspapers because we didn't have smartphones or social media back then. Even TV shows were mostly educational because they had to be filtered by the networks before being broadcast. The trashiest shows I watched were Big Brother and Jerry Springer but that was nothing compared to the brainrot we see on the internet today, when anyone no matter age or education can make content. That can be both good and bad - it gives everyone a voice but not everyone has earned the right to speak on topics. It used to be that you had to go through certain channels to get an audience, eg. a publisher, but now anyone can get on their soapbox and say whatever they want. There's no quality control any more.

The biggest problem I see with social media and short-form content (aside from being addictive, due to algorithms pushing recommendations) is that it lacks depth. Even Wikipedia articles are no substitute for reading books on a topic. The internet provides breadth but not depth. If you really want to learn new knowledge and retain the information, not just scroll past mindlessly, go to a library or attend classes/workshops IRL. You won't learn anything substantial scrolling on the internet or social media. It's the information equivalent of fast food or junk food - it gives you a short hit of dopamine but won't nourish you in the long run, and you don't remember most of the stuff you see on the internet anyway.

There is good content on the internet, but it takes more effort to find it because it hasn't been curated through a traditional media channel like a publishing company or a TV broadcaster.

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i forget the brand but i keep getting ads on insta for some physical card you can buy that will lock you out of your phone. you can only unlock it with the physical card and the idea is that you keep it somewhere inconvenient.

but it’s like $50 just for the card which seems a bit much and i’m a uni student living in dorms so there’s nowhere i could keep it other than my room. i worry i’d just end up grabbing the card and unlocking my phone all the time.

anyone had success with this method?

Feeling overwhelmed, excited, or just need to vent? I’m here with an open ear and zero judgment. Whether it’s love, work, a wild dream, or a tough day, I’d love to listen and give you a space to breathe. You deserve to feel heard reach out whenever you’re ready.

It’s not always about finding a solution, sometimes it's just about having the freedom to express what’s on your mind, whether it's the thrill of a new beginning, the weight of everyday stress, or even just processing a complex emotion. Knowing there’s someone ready to simply be present and hold that space is a powerful comfort. It underscores the idea that everyone deserves that moment to exhale, to lay down their burdens, and to feel truly connected and understood.

(Drop a comment below if DMs aren’t working for you!)

Hi, I've been using ScreenZen for some time for Youtube, youtube shorts, Instagram reels and some websites like Reditt. It worked well, but lately it stopped working in everything except youtube, not even restarting the app worked. Restarting my Phone made it work again for some time, but it stopped working again after some days, and this happened like 3 times already.
If someone has a solution for this bug, I would be very grateful.

First, to unlock developer options, go to the "About Phone" tab in settings and find the build number, then tap it until it says you've unlocked them, it should show up at the bottom of the main settings menu. With this done, find the "Animation Scale" settings and change them all from 1x to 5x. This makes all the animations much slower, and as a result, it's made the apps I would habitually open up to distract myself much less satisfying to use. After a few days this has really successful in having me use these apps less, so if you have an android phone I'd highly recommend giving this a try.

Your brain is like a muscle—the more you challenge it, the stronger it gets. One of the most powerful (and often overlooked) ways to keep your brain healthy is through continuous learning.

This is why it's important:

• Creates new neural connections: Learning something new literally creates new neural pathways in your brain, whether it's a puzzle, a musical instrument, or a foreign language. • Improves memory and flexibility: As we age, memory and cognitive flexibility are critical, and learning compels the brain to adapt. • Postpones cognitive decline: Studies indicate that individuals who regularly partake in mentally challenging activities have a lower risk of developing dementia or early memory issues. • Enhances mood and confidence: Gaining a sense of accomplishment from learning new skills boosts motivation and mental health in general. Practical tip: Start small. Dedicate 15–20 minutes a day to learning something new—a language app, guitar chords, or even a new recipe. Over time, these small steps add up to big changes in your brain health.

Read more brain health tips in this Mayo Clinic article: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/healthy-aging/in-depth/brain-health-tips/art-20555198

I'm trying a lot recently to stop algorithms serve me slop. 

I love to read, love music, love film and tv and for better or worse the internet is the way I get those things. 

When I find myself mindlessly scrolling absolute rubbish I’m going to stop and actually ask myself “what do I actually want to read/watch/listen to right now,” and try and think of something I actually want to engage in. If I can’t, I’ll at least search with intention for something. It’s not easy and tbh I might have to get rid of a lot of apps which is a shame but it’s algorithm slop has just replaced pop up ads.  

I have a long weekend but I ended up doing nothing productive yesterday due to an injury and laziness. I could have at least read, I have a ton of books and articles on my ereader, but instead I wasted a ton of time on the internet, and especially Reddit.

I have a rule in my router to block all domain requests to Reddit, but I frequently end up disabling it because Reddit comes up in a Google search and I tell myself I'm going to "just check that one page" to see if it has the info I'm looking for. Maybe 5-10% of the time I actually find the answer I'm looking for on Reddit, which isn't a great success rate, but it's high enough that I often don't put in the effort to look for other sources first, and I'll just open a dozen Reddit pages from the search results looking for the answer that seems most correct.

Of course, once my blocker is disabled then there's nothing except willpower stopping me from clicking around elsewhere on Reddit out of habit and procrastination. I've quit Reddit in the past for months at a time, and I don't think I missed out on any critical information, but it's crazy how this site plays into FOMO. Even if it's just "this thread might have the answer for my troubleshooting" or "I'll miss out on the latest news about my hobby". Reddit preys on FOMO, but it ends up taking an unfair amount of your time in return for the value extracted from it. I know this, yet I keep using it, which is a testament to how addictive it is.

I still have 3 days off from work and I want to make the most of them, so I'm going to be proactive and re-enable my domain block for Reddit. I'm writing this post as a record of the date I started (August 30th, 2025) and I'd like to use this experiment to answer the following questions:

1. How many consecutive days can I go without accessing Reddit for any reason?

2. What information did I think I was missing out on where Reddit is the top of the search results, and I couldn't find the answer anywhere else? (Record the URL to go back later and check if the answer was actually on Reddit).

3. Also, record instances where my initial impulse would have been to click a Reddit link, but I ended up finding the answer somewhere else.

I'm going to keep a journal going, so I have somewhere to record these things that isn't on the web. I'm also going to re-read You Should Quit Reddit, since it's been a couple of years and I found the mindset and advice helpful for staying away from this site for 5-6 months the first time I finished it.

This is my only Reddit account, so if someone happens upon this in the future and its still the latest post on my profile, the experiment is still ongoing. If I fail, I'll make another post with what I learned, but if you're also struggling with wasting time on Reddit I'd urge you to join me in this experiment.

Clicking post, then enabling my Reddit block; for obvious reasons I cannot respond to comments. Good luck fellow NoSurfers.

I have seen a lot of studies that correlate screen time with decreased grey matter in the brain, among other negative effects. However, I fail to see how the screens themselves are harmful - surely it would depend on the activity you do on it? For example, if you were to watch "brain rot" on Tiktok then it would make sense for your brain to atrophy as you're not engaging with the content. But if you use screens for learning, like I want to, I would think that it would actually be beneficial for your cognitive abilities, right?

When I'm older I want to be a software engineer, which is why I'm starting early by beginning to learn text-based coding at 13. I am also learning Spanish by using Busuu and watching stories and videos on YouTube. Overall I usually have 6+ hours of screen time per day. Could this still be harmful to me? Thanks in advance!

(P.S I am not a bot, I am actually u/Mildlydisturbedmiku but for some stupid reason I can't log into that account on a different device.)

oof here's my (boomer - albeit not being a boomer) hot take

I'm one year post social media and most apps (banking + soundcloud are still happening) and about half a year from mindless browsing ( I do +/- 45 min of news/reddit with my coffee and a video essay in the evening)

About a month ago it clicked for me - yes all of the work-reform leftist takes can still hold true - yet... once I was mostly off the web I found myself... bored in the best possible way. I have time a plenty. The next realization was that my 9 to 5 seems... fine all of a sudden?

Nobody wants to work anymore? Yes! Because the internet has become labour. Everything you do online is tracked for profit - your data, every cursor move, every decision of what you click is feeding algorithms that in turn monetize your data in hopes of getting you to spend on the advertisements you're fed or into the frustration you feel that the experience in apps/sites isn't the same as it once was and in turn subscribe.

I've been online for 25 years now and... it's over.

I'm truly considering being post-internet.

At this point in time... there is no government mandate for you to be online. So I'm not going to be.

My attention, my focus my habits are worth money and I'm not interested in being exploited anymore.

I wanna delete my account, but i'm in this knitting group that is valuable to me, to get help with patterns.

But i'm mindlessly opening the app to scroll reels. Hate it.

Can you really learn to just not scroll, and keep the app?

Hi there. I just have a few questions on what people think is best when it comes to lowering dopamine intake and limit surfing...

1. Would you say cutting out social media and scrolling, and replacing those habits with reading books or fanfiction online be any better? Or would you say that I should replace the habits with something else entirely.

2. What about watching TV? If I am cutting out social media for the dopamine affects, would watching TV be doing more harm than good?

3. Does it feel different, once you are in a dopamine detox? Does it feel better?

TIA