this post was submitted on 08 Mar 2025
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Asklemmy

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A couple weeks ago, I deleted social media off my phone. Insta and reddit was all that was left, but I noticed how much of a useless time sink they were becoming. My daily mood has also improved.

Now, I've been reading manga and playing chess online to fill the gap. But I'm still looking for suggestions on what else there is to do besides doom scroll. It's not like I'm outlawing the internet entirely, I still have interests and hobbies etc, but I'm open to just about anything.

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[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago

Reading a paper book, playing balatro on mobile. I'm not using my phone as much, not with the current events happening.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (3 children)

Physical Games

Not sure what your personal in-person social circle looks like but playing physical games (board/card, etc) with people is great. Spent 2 weeks with family and we had a blast playing some games every night.

A few I really enjoyed:

  • 5 Crowns
  • Phase 10
  • Cribbage (good grief the rules are nuts)
  • Hues and Cues
  • Organ Attack

3D Printing

A time sink hobby is 3D Printing. It’s a challenge enough, and can be so low cost per part, that it’s fun. Starting with a lower cost 3D printer means the cost of entry is not much. Once you get a printer dialed printing things for people and functional prints for home is great. You can also learn 3D Modeling enough to design your own prints. Definitely gonna take some time to do so.

Retro Gaming

If you like retro games setting up a retro handheld is a ton of fun and then playing the games is great too. Handhelds from Anbernic, Retroid, or Powkiddy is a low cost of entry and much higher quality than you think, and they can run up to PS1/N64/Dreamcast. Took me ~1 month to go from never having done one to having a great OS with a tailored UI (Anbernic RG40XXV running Knulli OS). Going over guides from Retro Game Corps (YouTube and website) was easy but took long enough to teach me a ton.

Gardening

Obviously depends on your personal circumstances but even if you’re in a city/apartment a lot of cities/towns have community gardens. Setting up a raised garden is pretty easy and doesn’t have to cost a ton. Maintaining it is a challenge based on your location and takes learning many different skills. We grow Lettuce, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Green Beans. We had no success with Tomatoes in our climate (although a lot of people have no issue growing them). We’ve had limited success with potatoes (another really easy to grow crop, that we suck at, lol).

Canning

My wife LOVES canning. That’s a massive rabbit hole in its own right. Cost of entry is decently mid due to having to buy canning supplies like the glass jars (called cans), lids, rings, canning pots, pressure cooker, etc. You’ll get incredible quality vegetables and fruits out of it and can can meats and other things. My wife has been canning for 5 years now and we don’t buy store bought canned vegetables and fruits anymore. You wont really save any costs but you will know exactly what you’re eating. Does take having access to fresh produce at local markets to make it as cheap as the grocery store.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Organ attacks a good one.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Read using REadEra, play Forge of Empires - plus Lemmy via Voyager.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

I play 20questions, and then get upset at the contradictions in my answers to others'

http://www.20q.net/

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I only technically have smartphone. its either not on me or turned off in a foil pouch.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

The pouch also lets people know that you’re totally sane.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (3 children)

not only my phone case but my wallet. Not sure how someone could tell at a glance though.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Doomscroll the news, play some games, check if there are any updates to social media accounts. If I'm feeling ambitious I'll follow rabbit holes on wikipedia or google some obscure science subjects.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

I mean, people were fine without social media before, I dont think we need those. :) At least not the big tech ones.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

There's always some number of browser tabs, old apps, or miscellaneous files that accumulate on my phone. I like to clean those up during otherwise wasted time like waiting in line or while on public transport.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Nothing. I only use a gaming PC to go online, draw, and play games on. I rarely even use my phone...

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

Read books, comics, journalist articles, chess puzzles, crosswords

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

In terms of chances:

  • 90% Tiktok
  • 8% Lemmy
  • 2% YouTube

When I'm actively doing something (not just on my phone):

  • 70% YouTube
  • 10% Crunchyroll
  • 5% Friends jellyfin servers
  • 5% Netflix
  • 10% Browser / Chatgpt / Termux / any other tool
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Check if my apps are up to date. Then remind myself fun is in real life not my phone. I'm not being pedantic it just helps to focus on my real happiness and keeping my hands busy than not and dooming in my phone.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Sir, please stop recommending crack to cure OP's smoking addiction.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago

Reading articles and books

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Tighrope most days https://www.britannica.com/quiz/tightrope

Other than that just Lemmy.

Keep meaning to try learning Chess so I can play it online a little.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

A Modern Family reference. Nevermind, its a bit dated now i guess.

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[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Reading, honestly. Though I don't read on my phone, too many distractions. I read whenever I'm out and about and waiting, which isn't much these days.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

I read comics/manga, browse Lemmy and read news mostly, and not in any particular order. Otherwise I do games like Wordle or just look up how to do home projects on YouTube.
So go into learning more about your hobbies?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

I decided to subscribe to digital accessible news papers with proper articles, a left-leaning, center and a right-leaning. While articles from public domains and opinions from online forums can at times give an idea about what goes on, a well researched and well expressed article by a paid media is very well worth the money spend.

So I dropped social media from my idle-time and and now read interesting articles and feel I have a much more in-depth knowledge on current important topics and less directed by sudden breaking news opinionated clickbait titles.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

My battery usage says I spend around half my time on TikTok. I also spend some considerable time here on Lemmy and chatting on Discord, Signal, etc. The third place is for reading. Sadly, I spend more time than I would like on shopping apps, and the rest are usually in the '< 1%' (phone settings, e-mails, etc.).

I guess the only healthy suggestion is reading.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

I have some novels on royal road i keep up with. But after than i enjoy the tranquility

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Same here, Manga and lemmy. I've been slowly trying to add discord to the rotation but I find it taxing. It's so hard to keep track of which friend group is which and I can't label servers with my own label

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

I have a few dozen mobile games

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 week ago

Lately it's been sifting through IMDB collections to find movies to watch.

That or I check the groups I'm in to see what I'm late to the party on now.

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