Why Willpower Without Accountability Fails in Forming Digital Well-Being Habits?
And How Community Solves It
For years, I struggled to cut down my screen time. I used to spend 4–5 hours a day on my phone or laptop consuming content and content consuming me. Now, I’ve managed to bring it down to 1 to 1.5 hours a day. It wasn’t easy.
My partner and I tried to do it together, but we didn’t have a group or community to share our wins or struggles with. We had each other, though, and that made a big difference. Whenever one of us started slipping-like watching too much YouTube or scrolling news in bed-the other would call it out. Sometimes, just seeing my partner reading a book would remind me to put my phone down and do the same.
But I know most people don’t have that kind of support. And here’s the thing: unlike quitting smoking or junk food, spending too much time online is often seen as normal because it usually doesn’t bother anyone else. It’s only you who suffers.
If you are a working adult, no one really tells you to stop, as 5-6 hours of screen time is considered normal. So, it’s easy to break the DWB (Digital Well-Being) journey and fall back into old habits. Unless you have superhuman willpower (like Yuval Noah Harari, who famously limits his screen time), it’s tough to change on your own. That’s why so many people give up before they even get started.
This is where communities come in. Groups like Alcoholics Anonymous or Weight Watchers have helped millions of people change their habits by giving them support, encouragement, and a sense of belonging. The same idea works for digital habits, too.
Willpower is like a muscle-it gets tired. Every time we promise ourselves, “Tomorrow will be different,” but end up scrolling late into the night, it’s not because we’re lazy or weak. It’s because the pull of our screens is strong, and we need a little help along with our willpower to beat the pull.
That’s why we created the Take Back Your Time (TBYT) Slack Community. It’s a place where you can find others who are on the same journey-whether you’re just thinking about cutting down your screen time, have already started, or feel completely lost. Here’s the community will help:
Accountability: When you’re part of a group, it’s harder to slip back into old habits because others are there to notice and support you. It’s like how some people work better in an office than at home-there’s someone to keep you on track.
Encouragement: When things get tough, having people cheer you on or share their own progress can keep you going. It’s like having a workout buddy for your digital habits.
Validation: Knowing you’re not the only one struggling makes a huge difference. We all feel better when someone else says, “Hey, me too.”
If you’re ready to take back your focus and spend less time lost in your phone, join us in the TBYT Slack community by filling the intake form - https://qualtricsxmbjdyvwxfk.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0MqunJzJjxFAXNs .