How I make reddit tolerable
.....and I still don't use it much, which I promise you is a good thing overall.
Yeah, I'm aware no one really asked for this lmao.
1: mod that thing
Reddit just isn't usable with the ads taken out. To be fair, you could pay for this if you think this is the way, but personally I have adblockers for the desktop site, and I use a mod to make the app usable. I'm going to be honest and say the mod might be better than paid, because it allows for a lot of customization with content and interface, which I love! I can't link you to it but I trust the stars will guide you. I like how it can hide recommended communities and sanitize sharing links, and a few other things (which you can toggle) that make browsing easier. I need the distractions, however small, to go so I can get my time back.
2: Content curation aka custom feeds
Imo you shouldn't be wasting too much time on Reddit with things you dislike or things that bore you. I'm all for new discoveries, but this isn't the way. Instead, I try to keep things in separate lists that I follow and can switch through depending on what I'm browsing for. I like that I can have certain things I follow in a list such as say, cute cat and animal stuff, that I can just pull up and enjoy without any outside stuff like, I dunno, the PMDD community posts getting in the way. I assume everyone else is doing this? I love that I can open up a feed for art inspiration and well, actually get a little inspired or at least informed.
3: using a timer
Honestly, I don't even really need this but I think it's worth considering if you're really on here a lot. Look, I understand it might be your core entertainment or interest or even connection to a community, but I think even in these instances you have to ask yourself what amount of time each day is too much. Sometimes it's not that reddit is even a place that has something bad for you there, but that you're not giving yourself enough time to process what content you're consuming and it's stopping you from your other hobbies and interests. I think even just checking in every week or so how much time you're spending on the app or website could provide some pretty valuable insight. But hey, I'm not your mom!
that's it lol, see why it's kinda silly for me to make this post? But sometimes I just want to yap about a thing I do. I'm like Alice, wandering Wonderland, saying advice out loud as if it's for an audience but it's actually for myself. To be fully transparent, I have gone entire weeks without Reddit just fine. I think it can be a nice place but I can see where it feels like you have to keep checking over and over for a new dopamine hit of a post. I have in the past fell into that rut; I was so invested in political subreddits like Antiwork (back in it's peak) that I would develop a habit of checking it all the time. I think you have to really ask yourself if getting on there to be upset, or angry, or argue/debate with people is really worth your time. You can make an essay or post on here, you know? It would probably make for a better learning experience for yourself and anyone reading. But I get it. Sometimes people on the internet are being stupid and it's up to you to save the day. Just know you don't like, have to do that.
You can email me the angry rant you wanted to send to the stupid person if you want. I'll even keep my mouth shut from responding if you ask me to! Or I can send back a digital thumbs-up.
(or you can just send a normal email?)
here!
