https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=at.cwiesner.android.visualtimer&hl=en-US is a free android version of a TimeTimer that looks to be privacy respecting, and doesn’t have ads, as far as I can tell… (Although I run an android variant that let’s me turn off an app’s access to the internet, so YMMV)
Built in tasks and data view for filtering.
Ping me separately if you want to compare notes…
I have separate logins on my machine for work vs home.
I also have my obsidian task manager synced on both machines so when non work stuff pops into my head, I add it to my list to work on after work in my personal task manager and get back to work.
I have a sacred 30mins at the start of the day to drink a coffee, and review my work task list, and plan what I will do today. From there, I ONLY work on what’s on the list, unless my boss rings me and changes the priority (or equivalent person etc).
As for not getting sucked into these things at all: I just avoid anything non work related while working, until I’ve achieved my list of work deliverables for the day, and finish work…
That works for me, until I have some work related YouTube video or equiv… I had a 4hr YT Shorts spiral the other day, was just lucky it started at 430pm!
I’ve since found that the DuckDuckGo browser let’s me watch YT videos without going to YT, so I don’t get the autoplay trap sprung one when the work related video is finished, which has helped a lot.
Oh, I totally get it… I’ve been in the same place many times (and I’m sure I will be again…)
I just have a policy of trying to support these things whenever I’m able to, otherwise I feel I’m not able to grumble when privacy respecting apps disappear from existence through lack of financial support…
For what it’s worth, I ended up choosing the obsidian sync service. While it goes against my “self host everything” mantra, I do also want to support software makers who make great products that respect peoples privacy. As such, I decided the $8/m investment was warranted.
My son in highschool uses Obsidian for all his school note taking, so he actually is able to use the same sync subscription… As each vault has separate keys, there’s no privacy issues between us…
My favourite part of this solution is it supports live update from multiple devices at once, so I have the vault open on phone, tablet, home laptop and work laptop simultaneously, and it just works…
Just thought it was worth sharing.
I’ve been using it on multiple devices for multiple years.
It works for me, and every app in want to use works. I’ve found that when they don’t, it almost always is broken on the stock OS also.
I just went with GrapheneOS on a Pixel… It’s as close to “it just works” as you’re going to get in my opinion on a device that respects your privacy. .
Alright. I have a confession to make…I actually DID make sure my eldest son heard ALL of these things… (And more, but wow…the WHOLE list…)
#proudNerdDadMoment
Got my daughter with it! W00t!!
I feel almost 90% aligned to your story…
Was diagnosed formally in my 40s… Described as “super high functioning” by my psychiatrist, but really just felt like I’ve white knuckled the years from age 8…
DM me if you want to chat…
[Edited to add]: 90% of my coping mechanism were self taught and had large similarities to what you describe.
I have burnt out completely twice and the recovery taught me to develop better coping methods.
My recent diagnosis has given me the final piece to better understand (retrospectively) how and why I’ve operated and grown the way I did.
Medication is actively helping me overcome the largest remaining parts as my career has become more senior and exec function failings became more pronounced.
Unsure if that is helpful to you, but I’m also happy to chat more thoroughly in a less open forum if you’re interested or think it might be helpful.
It’s also OK if just knowing you’re not alone was what you were looking for…
I only skim read, but the provided link seems to me that opting out isn’t an option:
However, if you would prefer to decline them, then you will need to close your PayPal account prior to the applicable effective date, as described in the user agreement.
smart watch with a “make my phone go bleep!” button…
I have a simple rule now: “in the case, or on my face”.
Sunnies on my face? Clear pair in the case. Clear pair on my face? Sunnies in the case.
Case is in my EDC bag… And DOES NOT EVER LEAVE THAT POCKET…
The ONLY exception is when sleeping, I have a bedside nose holder my clear specs go on.
THIS. Thankyou…
I’ve just had to explain to the 80yo grandmother that you can’t yell at my 19yo son because his anxiety ticks are annoying you.
She went full send on telling him that no woman or friends would ever want to be around him unless he stopped… She got even angrier because she yelled at him to stop, and the ticking got louder and more frequent… (duh…)
The only way I managed to get even a glimpse of consideration out of her was to leverage her pride in being a “baby whisperer” as a grandmother, and explained that yelling at an anxious ND about their ticks is like yelling at a baby to make them stop crying…
Only then did she stop for even a moment and actually have a thought about what was happening…
She still yells at him, but at least now we have a way to puller her back a little, as this description makes her feel terrible enough about it, that she leaves him alone for a bit out of feeling guilty…
there are ways to make it easier; it’s been gamified:
https://github.com/streetcomplete/StreetComplete
Available on FDROID.
When my partner stops to play pokemon go, I complete some Open Street Map info quests…
???
I’d love it if you could expand on this to help me understand better…
I’ve had meditation suggested to me many times, and I just don’t get it…
It leaves me wondering “What am I missing?”!
You lost this one… They’ve even written songs about it…
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=LuJHgb5RB-4