# My phone makes it harder to switch off at night **URL:** \ **Category:** Addiction\ **Created:** [October 26, 2026, 11:00am UTC](https://forum.sharedquill.org/t/my-phone-makes-it-harder-to-switch-off-at-night/54433 "2026-10-26T11:00:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Carl\_Hicks](https://forum.sharedquill.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Carl\_Hicks](https://forum.sharedquill.org/u/Carl_Hicks)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2026, 11:00am UTC](https://forum.sharedquill.org/t/my-phone-makes-it-harder-to-switch-off-at-night/54433/1 "2026-10-26T11:00:28Z")
My phone makes it harder to switch off at night. I’ll get into bed planning to check one thing, then end up scrolling through random videos or reading stuff I don’t even care about. Even when I put it down, my brain still feels switched on. The worst part is that I’m tired but not actually relaxed. I’ve tried leaving the phone across the room, though I keep making excuses to bring it back beside me. Lately I’ve been turning on grayscale and setting a cutoff time, which helps a little. The evenings still feel strangely empty without it, but I think that’s probably a sign of how used to the constant stimulation I’ve become. ---
**Author:** ![Michael\_Young](https://forum.sharedquill.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/m/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Michael\_Young](https://forum.sharedquill.org/u/Michael_Young)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2026, 11:00am UTC](https://forum.sharedquill.org/t/my-phone-makes-it-harder-to-switch-off-at-night/54433/2 "2026-10-26T11:00:56Z")
The “tired but not actually relaxed” part is so familiar. I can be physically worn out and still feel like my head is waiting for the next bit of information to arrive. Grayscale helped me a little too, but it didn’t stop the habit by itself. What’s worked better is replacing the phone with something low-effort, like a paperback or a quiet radio programme, so the evening doesn’t feel completely blank. Do you have anything that makes that cutoff time feel less like losing a source of entertainment? ---
**Author:** ![Eric\_Burton](https://forum.sharedquill.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/e/8491ac/32.png) [@Eric\_Burton](https://forum.sharedquill.org/u/Eric_Burton)\ **Post date:** [October 26, 2026, 11:01am UTC](https://forum.sharedquill.org/t/my-phone-makes-it-harder-to-switch-off-at-night/54433/3 "2026-10-26T11:01:52Z")
Carl, the “tired but not actually relaxed” feeling is the bit I find hardest too. My body can be ready for sleep while my brain still expects another clip, message, or headline. I’ve had better luck giving myself a simple replacement rather than just taking the phone away. A few pages of a paperback or a quiet radio programme makes the cutoff feel less like the evening has suddenly ended. Grayscale and the across-the-room trick still help, but having something low-effort to switch to makes them easier to stick with. ---
**Author:** ![Jessica\_Green](https://forum.sharedquill.org/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/j/958977/32.png) [@Jessica\_Green](https://forum.sharedquill.org/u/Jessica_Green)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 9:31am UTC](https://forum.sharedquill.org/t/my-phone-makes-it-harder-to-switch-off-at-night/54433/4 "2026-10-27T09:31:30Z")
The quiet radio programme is a good idea. I’ve started keeping a crossword book beside the bed, since it gives my mind something small to focus on without pulling me into another screen. I still reach for my phone sometimes, especially after a stressful day, but having the crossword already there makes the cutoff feel less like I’m being deprived of something.