How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over

Mel Robbins discusses how smartphones and their applications draw in users to maximize profits, emphasizing how these devices and their associated technologies manipulate the consumer experience to benefit tech companies.

Devices Like Smartphones Hijack User Attention For Profit

Big Tech Companies Engineer Apps and Content to Keep Users "Hooked."

Robbins acknowledges a worrying trend: people are increasingly glued to their phones, which are engineered to become addictive. She describes smartphones as devices designed to capture attention by making users turn over their time, which she considers a most valuable resource. The podcast also mentions that tech companies deliberately design social media, AI, and internet platforms to captivate people for extended periods, compelling them to stay longer on their phones.

Business Model Relies On Users Passively Spending Time On Devices

Robbins points out that the business model of these technologies is to profit from the amount of time spent by users on these devices. She articulates that apps and content are precisely engineered to keep users engaged with their phones—whether through social media, games, or streaming content. Robbins states that users often end up doom scrolling for hours, illustrating passive time spent on devices that benefit tech companies.

Extended Device Use Boosts Ad Revenue and Data Monetization Opportunities

The extended time that users spend on devices, Robbins reveals, leads to increased ad revenue and data monetization opportunities for these compa ...

Mel Robbins and Dr. Alok Kanojia (Dr. K) discuss the prevalent issue of technology addiction and its adverse effects on [restricted term] levels, which consequently affect motivation and overall well-being.

Tech Overuse Depletes [restricted term], Undermining Motivation and Reward Feelings

Robbins initiates the conversation by pointing out that constant phone use is changing the way people live. She brings up that tapping into our phones wastefully is depleting our [restricted term] levels. Dr. K explains that there is a reserve of [restricted term] in the brain each morning, which aids in experiencing pleasure and motivation. Using tech devices, particularly in the morning, can deplete [restricted term] reserves, dulling the rest of the day and making motivation scarce.

Morning Technology Use Depletes [restricted term], Reducing Later Motivation

Dr. K elaborates on how engaging with one's phone from the start of the day can consume the [restricted term] that should be reserved for pleasure and accomplishment felt from daily tasks. If technology is utilized in the first part of the day, the pleasure derived from later achievements diminishes because of the [restricted term] that has already been tapped. Robbins reinforces the point by highlighting how people spend their evenings doom scrolling, which continues the cycle into the next morning, leaving them feeling numb and exhausted by day's end.

[restricted term] Depletion May Spark a Cycle of Increased Technology Use As a Coping Mechanism, Worsening the Issue

Robbins indicates that this depletion leads individuals to return to technology in search of stimulation, perpetuating a detrimental cycle. Because their [restricted term] reserves have been exhausted, they may follow this pattern day after day, exacerbating the issue.

Tech Stimulation Rewires Neural Pathways, Impairs Focus Without Devices

Phone Separation Causes Anxiety and Fidgeting, Indicating Addiction-L ...

Mel Robbins sheds light on the importance of setting boundaries and using technology with intention to reclaim one's focus and well-being.

Breaking Habitual Technology Use With Physical Device Separation

Robbins underscores the need for users to wake up to the fact that their devices are designed to profit from their attention. She urges users to take their power back by using devices and social media to benefit themselves rather than allowing the platforms to profit from them. Robbins suggests that users be smarter about their engagement with technology to change their habitual use.

She discusses the importance of establishing boundaries by physically separating oneself from their phone. Robbins mentions charging her phone in the bathroom instead of next to her in bed to prevent herself from reaching for it. During work hours, she purposefully keeps her phone on her desk instead of on her person to avoid looking at it. On morning walks, she zips her phone in her fanny pack or pocket to stay present with her surroundings.

Turning Phones to Grayscale Mode Reduces Their Appeal and Stimulation, Decreasing the Urge to Engage With Them

A study found that switching the phone to grayscale reduces daily screen time by an average of 50 minutes. Robbins suggests turning phones to grayscale mode, explaining that the phone becomes less engaging and visually stimulating when the colors are stripped away. By transforming the phone into a tool for work and connections rather than an addictive element, it emphasizes its utility. Robbins recommends grayscale mode to make the phone less appealing, reminding individuals that the device is meant to be a utility rather than an addiction or time-waster.

Avoiding Phones at Meals Encourages Meaningful Interaction

While not directly mentioned, the strategy of not using phones at meals aligns with Robbins's overarching message of intentionality. Robbins has emphasized that phones are prohibited at the dinner table, both at home and in restaurants, to foster meaningful conversations and connections.

Unfollow Unaligned Social Media For Focus Reclamation

Robbins advises auditing who you follow on social media. If an account does not provide positive input, laughter, or help you become better, she suggests unfollowing it. Treat your attention as valuable and follow accounts that align with your goals. Robbins promotes curating a social media feed tha ...