Signal Secure Backups (signal.org)

This works pretty well for me, and the key part is Foqos, which is FOSS that allows you to disable certain apps or features with the scan of a QR code or NFC tag. I keep the QR code / NFC tag in a separate building, so there's real friction if I want to scan it to use the phone beyond basic functionality.

Like the OP, I also have the issue of "semi-important" things, which is mostly email but occasionally some browser thing (often buying or viewing event tickets.) My plan for that is to use Foqos in combination with a QR code + scratch-off sticker, a sort of "break glass in emergency" option that adds some friction but not too much. Print a sheet of identical QR codes, scan it into Foqos as your unlock option, put stickers over them, cut them out and put them in your phone case.

amirathi · 5m ago

Just uninstalling the endless scrolling apps (Twitter, Reddit, Instagram etc.) was enough for me.

ausbah · 13m ago

somewhat simpler but paid (but pricey at $10 month) solution i’ll shill for is Opal. only app i’ve used that can actually lock app, set time limits, etc w a pretty great UI and config setup

https://apps.apple.com/app/id1497465230

xenator · 8m ago

Wow! It is crazy how much money people will to pay for such problems.

I restrict myself from distractions by disabling hosts via custom rules in my nextdns account. It is enough and free.

LeoPanthera · 24m ago

If you disable the App Store, as OP claims to, does that also stop installed apps receiving updates?

balder1991 · 1m ago

I also searched for this and couldn’t find an answer.

xenator · 13m ago

I think it only disable the icon, not underlying frameworks, etc

tolerance · 19m ago

The active readers counter is a trip. I’ve read and viewed graphs depicting how much traffic HN can bring to a web page, but to see it in real time is something else.

stopachka · 14m ago

Author here: It's powered by Instant, the company I helped found.

The counter is pretty easy to set up.

Here's how it works on the blog:

1. You set up a schema:

https://github.com/stopachka/stopaio/blob/main/src/instant.s...

2. And then use `presence` to write an ActiveCounter:

https://github.com/stopachka/stopaio/blob/main/src/app/Activ...

jonplackett · 1m ago

Your product placement link to instantdb totally worked btw (as in the one in your allowed websites not this one here)

pimlottc · 7m ago

TBH, it's kind of hard to square "I locked down my phone to have less distractions in my life" with "I put a counter on my page that changes 10 times a second while you're trying to read"

stopachka · 4m ago

Fair point! I guess I count that as a "positive" distraction. It isn't every day that the active number there is so 'active'.

As you read the post it should disappear with the scroll.

nominalprose · 27m ago

You can achieve the same more easily using Screen Time, and having a trusted friend or partner enter the screen time passcode. Still possible to override with your Apple ID, but this is a significant enough speed bump that it works (for me anyway).

parhamn · 6m ago

I do this too, and have them set the recover apple id to their own. Been averaging ~1.2 hours per day screentime the last few months (mostly messaging apps).

Basically in "downtime" mode all the time with a few "Always allowed" app. One thing is, you're phone (and it's browser) is pretty damn useless. Overtime you realize that a lot of things you need to lookup don't need to be looked up, etc but it can be frustrating at first.

RandallBrown · 23m ago

I wonder what the author is doing with those 2 extra hours of time he's not using his phone.

I use my phone a lot, but I never feel like it's taking away from me doing anything else.

stopachka · 19m ago

> 2 extra hours of time he's not using his phone.

Mostly reading. The 2 hours was a win for me, but the thing I appreciated even more was the that I feel less distracted throughout the day.

I remember reading about Ozempic, and how it "turns off the background food noise" that people have. I didn't realize this, but for me I have a "background notifications noise", which this hack has helped reduce.

twsted · 17m ago

It's strange to call a device with access to Claude and ChatGPT a "dumbphone"

stopachka · 13m ago

Strangely enough, I found Claude and ChatGPT crucial to making all this work.

In the essay:

> Whenever I need some information, I can just ask my LLM, and it can give me a distraction free summary. It helps the long-tail of weird situations too: for example if someone asks me to take a look at a website, I can ask my LLM to scrape it and summarize the details for me. It’s pretty hard to get distracted this way.

captn3m0 · 45m ago

afaik installing a configuration profile isn't supported with lockdown mode, so you have to pick one. but neat hack. I've installed hosted-profiles (.mobileconfig) files without factory-reset, curious why didn't you go for that route? Just to make it harder?

stopachka · 21m ago

> lockdown mode

That's interesting. I didn't know about lockdown mode. Noting!

> I've installed hosted-profiles (.mobileconfig) files without factory-reset, curious why didn't you go for that route?

Afaik the only way to disable the App Store is to go through this schlep of a factory reset and having Configurator prepare the phone for 'supervision'.

HelloUsername · 23m ago

> installing a configuration profile isn't supported with lockdown mode

You can disable lockdown mode, install the .mobileconfig, enable lockdown mode again. Which is what I did with https://apple.nextdns.io

browningstreet · 31m ago

Would this be good to multi-profile an iPhone for crossing borders? A "travel across borders" blueprint, and a "through the border" blueprint?

stopachka · 27m ago

Oh, that's a cool idea! I think that would work. You would still need to connect to your laptop twice, to switch the profiles. Outside of that it could work great! Would have to think about what would make for a good 'travel across borders' blueprint.

encom · 13m ago

>Maybe you’re at a restaurant and they need you to open a website for example.

Maybe I'll open the door and leave for a different restaurant.

orliesaurus · 31m ago

I cant believe people have to do this...what a world! nice to have the option I guess!

recursive · 20m ago

I don't think the author has to do this. They just prefer to.

Aside from not having a phone, how could someone not have the option?

tolerance · 21m ago

I really want to thank you for this comment; how it gave a well-needed jolt to my pride and taste for discipline.