Youtube addiction?

I think I'm also addicted to Youtube but I have my special time to watch videos. Usually is when I've done all the work and then I chill at some point at night and watch videos as my reward.

 

Have you tried setting your goals for the next day and reviewing them in the morning ?

Procrastination is tough and I can totally relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed. There are lots of books you can read about time management and productivity, you can grab some ideas from there.

 

For me the best incentive is that I feel waaaay better when I've done my work, it just feels bad to procrastinate, but as always is like a muscle you have to train it.

 

I would consider myself addicted to YouTube as well. Like porn, it started at a young age. All of my youth basicially consisted of playing games, watching YouTube videos and PMO. I didn't do anything else pretty much.

Since I started NoFap, I also tried to get rid of all these other bad, unproductive habits I developed over the years like eating trash, YouTube, gaming, surfing the web for no reason, lying in bed all day long. I have shifted my life around in most of those areas, but YouTube is one, which still is very hard for me.

I used to watch a lot of gaming and entertainment videos, but now I only watch educational videos. So, that's better stuff to watch at least.

My tips are basicially the same as for NoFap. Exercise, meditation, reading, learning, social activity. I know it sounds so easy to do, but it is extremely difficult. That is because it is pretty much the same thing as a porn addiction as you also get a big shot of dopamine without doing anything for it. It is all about novelty, exactly like porn. So, for me, it is absolutely necessary to kick YouTube as well in order to live the life I want to live.

Good luck. Take care!

 

Just remember this "The law of least effort is the law of least happiness". There is nothing like doing what you have to do and then be free to use your free time to do anything you want. You enjoy things 10x more.

 

A blocker is absolutely worthless if you have control over activating & deactivating it.

Start by deleting the app from your phone, and then block the App Store (or the Android equivalent) so you can't download it again. Ideally, you'd have an accountability partner who sets your phone's passcode for you.

If the problem is on a desktop or laptop computer, you can use something like Covenant Eyes, which will allow you to view YouTube, but it will flag and report any that have sexualized content. If you still can't stop watching videos for hours, then you need to block YouTube completely.

In the end, your ability to recover is proportional to how drastic the measures are that you're willing to take.

 

You can give a shot to David Allen's "Getting Things Done" for starters.

 

I do what I enjoy. I play video games, listen to music and go on youtube a lot. I also exercise a lot.

By all means stop things, but you can't stop doing everything you enjoy. NoFap doesn't mean you can't enjoy what you enjoy. The only thing you need to be sure you do is make sure you go to bed/sleep when you are supposed to. Just have a set time to be in bed without being on the internet aka lights out

 

i had to unsubcribe bullshit chanels that distracts me i only left educational/motivational chanels

 

When you eat while watching videos you link the feeling of happiness to the videos.
Try to eat without the PC being on. Get busy with life.
Then there are always libraries where you can do your work and then just go home and relax.

All the best!
/Baldur

 

I can relate to this issue and consider myself a YouTube addict. For the past five or so years, I have wasted so much time on the site for mostly pure entertainment. Even now, after a long day of work, I watch only a few videos and realize that over two hours have vanished. YouTube is one of the sources of addiction that I am trying to focus on diminishing from my life. My inclination to watch YouTube is similar to my previous interest in PMO, they are a byproduct of stress, boredom, or the combination of the two.

 

personally i believe it is an addiction to the smartphone rather than youtube. the smartphone i blame for alot of my impatience and lack of focus. i have now deleted facebook, and purposely ignore my phone until late evening. i am slowly gaining back focus

 

I think that while I do watch YouTube quite a bit on my phone, this issue is not necessarily related to the smartphone, at least not in proportion to other sites. I think date sites are problematic for me because I have apps for them on a smartphone. I think that the smartphone is a hindrance in that regard. However, I watch YouTube more and for much longer periods on a laptop computer. The vast majority of my YouTube viewing time on a smartphone is when I am walking. Thus, I am being entertained while I walk for possibly 45 minute or so increments at a time. I get in at least 12,000 steps per day (usually closer to 18,000). I don't find that type of usage to be as problematic as it helps me get exercise.

 

i think the mental effects of it though are the fact that nowadays as soon as we find ourselves bored we start to panic. why do you need to watch a video while you walk? have you heard of mindfulness? it may be of help to you. take care

 

I like to multi-task while I walk. When I am not watching YouTube on my smartphone, I am either reading a book or studying flashcards for the GRE while I walk. I watch YouTube to keep up with certain individuals that I find entertaining. However, I realize that it is a problem when I continue to turn to YouTube when I am overstressed. My new goal is to stay away from YouTube for at least until the end of October, with minimal exceptions (if I need to watch a 'how to' video for a project). This would be a substantial change for myself. Besides, I walk either on a treadmill or in my basement. I can't imagine just walking for maybe over an hour straight without also doing something else. Then again, I do have a lot of negative thoughts in my head. I need to work on those.

 

I have bingewatching TV(netflix) addiction which I would say is kind of similar! Sometimes I am addicted to it sometimes I could go many days without it! the best advice I got is try to stay out of the house more! if there is a near by library that you can walk or bike too then thats great do your work there!

 

I used to spend most of my days watching Youtube videos in between my fapping sessions of old. Like video game let's plays to opinion pieces. Since then I still do browse YT but now I use it for new music mostly.

Only advice I can give you is find something else to do, a hobby or interest that doesn't involve Youtube. Something to get your mind out of wondering when that next banger of that Youtuber you follow is gonna hit. My interests have helped me get away from Youtube and my computer in general and actually do something not computer or Internet related.

Also echoing @Harry Maclad's advice try to get out of the house more. Ask a friend to hang out with you at the local coffeeshop or whatever, visit the local library, go for a walk at the nearby park. This advice sounds like something that would come out of some harsh parent's mouth but hey it's very effective.