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Working Mum in TV Land's avatar

My dog loves cheese. He loves to bark. I also like cheese. I am addicted to my phone. I should give Jumble’s method a try.

Phone Free Will's avatar

Thank you for reading!

If you and your dog both like cheese and if you have a barking dog and if you are a heavy phone user then you are fortunate enough to be in the centre of the Venn diagram for this particular strategy.

I really hope it works. I don't suppose it's too much to hope for that you are also a train commuter? I offer only very specific fixes here.

Working Mum in TV Land's avatar

Sometimes! Mostly bike. Which is about my only 100% guaranteed phone free time.

Phone Free Will's avatar

Ah bike commuting is awesome! I used to commute by bike when I worked at the BBC. It was about 45 mins each way so enough to make a proper difference. I definitely noticed the better mood at the time.

Since then I've learnt a few more techniques for getting the most out of the mental quiet. But tbh just having a day with built in breaks from the phone made a big difference.

Working Mum in TV Land's avatar

It’s the constant reaching for the phone to “fill” gaps. I actually bought myself a watch so I couldn’t use the excuse of “I need my phone nearby to know the time” which has helped. But it’s a conscious uncoupling from the phone that is needed! All food for thought. Really liked how you tackled it.

Phone Free Will's avatar

Thank you! And sorry I can't resist this but just as you mentioned my absolute number one favourite way of thinking about this… but if you get a chance I wrote a post called Mind The Gap about my years and years reaching for the phone in the tiny holes in family life. If you get a chance and are bored.

Stupid phone. Conscious uncoupling is too right.

Thank you again

Caroline Nolan's avatar

My dog is a barker and he loves cheese so I'll give this a go. Your stories really make me ponder my own growing phone use.

Phone Free Will's avatar

Thank you for reading! Really kind of you to say so!

Very best wishes for your dog training. And your phone training!