Take Your Life Back — Turn Off Online Distractions and Still Listen To Your Favorite Podcasts and YouTube Channels
I ran an experiment.
For one week, I was without distractions: I got a browser extension to block recommendations on YouTube. Suddenly, I had a bucket load of time.
Obviously, I didn’t really have more time — but it felt like it. Time slowed down, and my brain was able to notice how boring it was to do nothing. Suddenly, going for a run was no longer an obstacle, and neither was spending time with the kids. I managed to talk to them — truly and fully — without the nagging feeling of missing out on something else.
The best part is that I can still listen to my favorite podcasts and YouTube channels. Usually, the plan is to do so while I cook and do the dishes — but I always get sucked in by the algorithm. I tell myself, “Just a short video,” and thirty shorts later, I wake up wondering what happened.
Turns out YouTube is quite boring without the recommendations. Now, I must actively search for content — which takes the instant gratification away. I check my subscriptions, but I no longer stick around once I’ve gone through the latest updates.
As a consequence, I spend more time with my family and on things I find meaningful.
Nothing has really changed — I haven’t changed my job, family, or house — yet I live more on my terms.
I thought I didn’t have any time.
Turns out I was just distracted.
YouTube Recommendation Blocker
Here are links to the browser extension I use:
- Firefox: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/youtube-recommended-videos/
- Chrome: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/unhook-remove-youtube-rec/khncfooichmfjbepaaaebmommgaepoid
For the record, I have no affiliations or anything of the sort. I’m just a user.
