YouTube Addiction

[Abhishaik]

first post on this forum.

I feel like I suffer from a internet addition, I cant seem to do anything productive, all I do for my days off from work is watch hours upon hours of YouTube videos on my smartphone and gaming PC and occasionally checking social media. 

I feel like this procrastination is taking away my ability to progress in life, achieve goals such as improving my body, finding a girlfriend and ultimately finding my life purpose. I'm one third away from completing the life purpose course however it has taken me over 6 month to get to this stage. I still have 1 week off from work and I really want to try and improve my life and get that intrinsic motivation, the will to find something worthwhile! I have also developed a porn addiction over the year which I think links in with my addiction to watching YouTube all day.

please help me with some tips or tricks to overcome this! 

[Forestluv]

One common strategy is to manipulate the pain/pleasure dynamic to your advantage. Try to create an environment/mindset in which procrastination/screwing off is more painful than taking action. And taking action is more pleasurable than procrastination. Second, set up both short term and long-term goals. Third set up accountability. Fourth create a habit. Fifth create an inspiring social group. Sixth create a lifestyle. Seven - give back and help others that are struggling like you had. Eight, along the way - maintain momentum through PD work and identifying blocks.

For example, if someone is overweight and out of shape, they could write down how painful it is to be unhealthy and out of shape. How painful it is to be missing out on things in life. They could also write about how pleasurable it would be to be in great shape. All the exciting new things they would do. How awesome it would be to feel and look healthy and strong. Yet this can’t be half-assed. You only get one real shot at it and have to go “all in”. The pain needs to feel painful and the pleasure pleasurable. 

This person could set a short term goal of running a 5k in a month, a 10k in two months, a half-marathon in six months and a full marathon in a year. This person could set up accountability by telling their friends and family their goals. They can find a training partner to go to the gym and run. You hold each other accountable and don’t let each other down. You celebrate small accomplishments. You join a local group of runners and are now surrounded by healthy people. Within the running group you are exposed to all sorts of new healthy things on life. You have created a habit. After a month or so the new normal is working out and running. After a year or so, it is a new lifestyle and living any other way would seem weird. You are no longer trying to be a healthy person. You now ARE a healthy person. And you can inspire others that are struggling with watching YT/gaming all day. 

And it always starts Now. Right now, write down two things you have been procrastinating and avoiding. Then write a list of all the pain of procrastinating and all the pleasure of taking action. Then write two action steps that would lead to significant progress toward that end. It could be making a phone call, cleaning, running a mile etc. Then take that action Now. Get psyched up and do it. Then feel that small sense of empowerment. Start some momentum to change orientation. 

[Dan502]

Maybe try creating some separation here and there. Don't go straight home after work, go to a library (for example). Get up and at some point during the day, go to a coffee shop and work there.

Swipe dating apps on the train or bus or when you're walking somewhere. Watch out for lamp posts though.

[Leo Gura]

There is software you can install which will block your access to certain websites you select, like YouTube or whatever. You can even set a schedule in this software so that you can access YouTube after work, or on the weekends but not during weekdays.

This kind of thing can help give your life some structure if you are unable to discipline yourself.

[Thewritersunion]

@Leo Gura

also block out your feed so you can only do research on YouTube 

[remember]

some onions are unstoppable it`s like with a cookie jar, if you don`t want to give away your cookies in the end you have to eat them yourself.

[ivory]

I found it really difficult to give up addictions without healthy outlets. I can't emphasize enough the importance of exercise. Exercise builds willpower. So does meditation. Having a healthy set of friends is also a good replacement. So is art and reading books. Do you have friends, hobbies, or interests?

[PenguinPablo]

 

19 hours ago, Serotoninluv said:

One common strategy is to manipulate the pain/pleasure dynamic to your advantage. Try to create an environment/mindset in which procrastination/screwing off is more painful than taking action. And taking action is more pleasurable than procrastination. Second, set up both short term and ling-term goals. Third set up accountability. Fourth create a habit. Fifth create an inspiring social group. Sixth create a lifestyle. Seven - give back and help others that are struggling like you had. Eight, along the way - maintain momentum through PD work and identifying blocks.

For example, if someone is overweight and out of shape, they could write down how painful it is to be unhealthy and out of shape. How painful it is to be missing out on things in life. They could also write about how pleasurable it would be to be in great shape. All the exciting new things they would do. How awesome it would be to feel and look healthy and strong. Yet this can’t be half-assed. You only get one real shot at it and have to go “all in”. The pain needs to feel painful and the pleasure pleasurable. 

This person could set a short term goal of running a 5k in a month, a 10k in two months, a half-marathon in six months and a full marathon in a year. This person could set up accountability by telling their friends and family their goals. They can find a training partner to gi to the gym and run. You hold each other accountable and don’t let each other down. You celebrate small accomplishments. You join a local group of runners and are now surrounded by healthy people. Within the running group you are exposed to all sorts of new healthy things on life. You have created a habit. After a month or so the new normal is working out and running. After a year or so, it is a new lifestyle and living any other way would seem weird. You are no longer trying to be a healthy person. You now ARE a healthy person. And you can inspire others that are struggling with watching YT/gaming all day. 

And it always starts Now. Right now, write down two things you have been procrastinating and avoiding. Then write a list of all the pain of procrastinating and all the pleasure of taking action. Then write two action steps that would lead to significant progress toward that end. It could be making a phone call, cleaning, running a mile etc. Then take that action Now. Get psyched up and do it. Then feel that small sense of empowerment. Start some momentum to change orientation. 

this man serotonins

[Abhishaik]

could reprogramming your subconscious mind through NLP techniques, affirmations etc work to help reduce or eliminate procrastination. to stop the porn and youtube masturbation addiction? 

[bakuri batsashi]

i use "Block the youtube feed" extention on my browser, it helps me a lot. 

2) AFTER you block your youtube feed you will have a need to direct this energy elsewhere, generally it will be something negative again, like video game marathons, porn, or etc. I had the same issue,

3) but the process goes like this, you block your youtube news feed, then you start directing that energy to mething negative, then find a way to block that again, after youtube addiction i directed my energy into video games so then i just sold my graphics card, but then the cycle stopped and i directed this energy into productivity

this technique is called a "path of least resistance" - when you finally direct this energy twards something positive.
but based on what you said, i think it would be best for you to take a separate course on self-discipline,

and i recommend you to search on youtube 'path of least resistance' it worked for me and i hope it will work for you too.
cheers!

[Commodent]

I can definitely recommend Cold Turkey website blocker. The pro version is pretty cheap too (one-time payment unlike many other services), especially if you use the student discount. 

[Giulio Bevilacqua]

I would suggest a great empowerment. Inner Engeeniering program  by Sadhguru. This programs are all over the world. This will boost your body energies to high states. Lot of things will fall in place by it self. 

If you are not familiar with IE you can buy his book "IE a inner guidance to joy"  obviously it is not the same as the full program.