In this article, I want to expand on a thought that came up in The Benefits of Going Off the Grid. The last thing most people do before bed is check their phones. It’s also not a coincidence that late at night is the time most people watch porn. You’re alone. You’re tired. And the possibilities of the internet are endless. If change is what we’re after, then we need a strategy tailored to the times we are most vulnerable to temptation.
I had a housemate in college who had the habit of charging his phone in the kitchen at night. I thought it was a little odd. Eric was the first person I had ever seen do that. For me, scrolling was my favorite thing to do before falling asleep. And I used my phone as an alarm clock. But when Eric explained to me how vital this step was for him to live a porn-free life, it made perfect sense. Simply by moving the place he charged his phone—an action that took maybe 30 seconds— he was able to make progress in an important area. When you add that to the other remedial measures he took, Eric went from being an almost daily consumer of pornography to someone who lived true to his values and whose mind was in a much healthier place.
The greatest victory is that which requires no battle.
Sun Tzu
Today I charge my phone in the hallway, and I use my old iPad as an alarm clock. It’s a small step to take. But change is all about the little things.
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Very interesting! Nice one.