As everyone in this generation, I have struggled with phone addiction and wasting time in apps for much of my teenage/adult life. I have setup my phone to strictly allow for only that which is productive and allow focused work. We can so easily forget that a smartphone is a pocket-sized computer, one which is more powerful than the ones which put people on the moon.
So, how can we use this computer for helping us to learn/grow/produce? Generally by removing the distractions.
But, this means that social media apps are out of the question to have on our devices. So, my question was: "how can I still post and share without the distractions?"
For some time, I have wanted the ability to use a phone from my computer screen, so that I could free up my phone from the distractions that plague it. This is important because I don't want to spend time in distraction, I want to produce more, spend time doing the things that matter, and just have focus that is lasting and meaningful.
I have found the way to do this, and it is pretty awesome:
What is Waydroid?
Waydroid is an Android container running in Linux, a full virtual device running LineageOS that works as your phone would, permitting you to install apps and use them on your computer.
The cool thing about this, is that it integrates apps on the Virtual android machine to your desktop, so if you want to check Instagram, or post something, it opens the waydroid instance and shoots you into whatever app it is.
You may say "but that is too accessible/distracting" - but the apps that it uses are more like the desktop versions than mobile, so the tendency to infinitely doom scroll isn't there (at least not for me.)
Waydroid uses your computer's resources, so apps run well on any modern laptop/desktop.
Installation
Waydroid is only available on Linux unfortunately (or fortunately). One more reason you should make the switch!
You can see how to do so for your distro of choice in their documentation here.
Install Apps
You will likely need to allow Google Play certification (I did). The instructions to do so are here.
After this, you can use the pre-installed browser to download the f-droid APK and from there install the Aurora Store or use the Play store app on the homescreen.
My Workflow
My workflow to post content now looks something like this:
- I want to post something to social media.
- I load it into a note to self in telegram - image/video/text etc.
- I send it to myself
- Opening Telegram in my waydroid instance, I then share that piece of content to the apps I want to share it to.
- I close waydroid, and I am back to doing what I was previously doing.
The benefits of this is huge - I am able to interact with the mobile version of these apps without using them on my phone, which as previously mentioned quickly devolves into a doom scrolling session. The issue with the browser version of Instagram for example is that it doesn't easily allow posting of stories and places limitations on how you can share other things. Not so in Waydroid.
I can very quickly post content and move on with my day, no mobile distractions, notifications, or silliness.
Other use cases
- development of apps and testing
- mobile banking apps
- Use android exclusive apps on your computer
- termux scripting and automation
- retro emulation/android gaming (if you're into that kind of thing)
- GPS and mapping
What are your hacks for using distracting apps? Are you using Waydroid already? I personally cannot have these apps on my phone or my screentime just balloons to numbers I would rather not talk about (still well under the average of 4.5 hours per day, but still..). When speaking of temptation in the Bible, it is said to flee from it, not to entertain it or give it any place to fester.
So, I don't allow my (real) phone to be anything other than a device for communication, mapping, notes, and music/reading.
As always, God bless, and until next time.
If you enjoyed this post, consider supporting my work by Buying me a Coffee, Checking out my book, or sending me an email to tell me what you think.