1) Executive Summary

Algorithmic Boundaries treats your phone as infrastructure, not entertainment. We stop asking “Do I feel like resisting?” and instead design rules that run by default. You set them once; they enforce themselves every day.

Interlink: See /ops/focus for deep-work rituals and calendar design.

2) Threat Model (for attention)

Security begins with a threat model. For attention, we ask: What reliably hijacks me? What must always get through?

2.1 Attack Surfaces

• Infinite Feeds: Social, short-form video, news roulette.
• Notification Debt: Badges and interrupts that convert minutes into hours.
• Context Switching: Micro-pings during deep work; phantom vibrations.
• Bedtime Drift: Late-night scrolling killing sleep & next-day cognition.

2.2 Critical Requirements (Must Pass)

• Emergency Bypass: Caregivers, school, medical numbers ring through 24/7.
• Navigation & Payments: Maps and banking have daytime windows + travel exceptions.
• Two-Factor Auth: Authenticator/SMS not blocked by DND tiers.

2.3 Risk Appetite

Choose the strictness preset that matches your life stage. You can escalate later.

2.4 Constraints & Guardrails

• Care Responsibilities: Emergency whitelist is sacrosanct.
• Work On-Call: Use a separate app or line with distinctive tone; route through VIP tier.
• Mental Health: News/social “fasts” capped at 14 days; schedule support & alternatives.

3) Policy Draft & Pilots

This is your living contract. Start with a 7-day pilot, measure, then ratify.

3.1 App Policy (Whitelist / Blacklist)

3.2 Time Windows

Define hard windows for inputs. If it’s not inside a window, it can wait.

3.3 DND Tiers & VIP Lane

3.4 Inbox Architecture & Batch Replies

Stop drip-feeding attention. Batch by service level.

3.5 Social Detox & Relapse Plan

• Trigger Map: Note contexts (bed, commute, post-meeting).
• Replacement: Swap with 5-min stretch, breath, or a paper book within reach.
• 48-Hour Reset: Remove apps, web-block on desktop, tell one accountability partner.
• Re-entry: Reinstall on desktop only; once-weekly window.

3.6 Pilot & Ratify

1. Install: Apply windows, DND tiers, and whitelists.
2. Measure 7 days: Phone minutes, sleep time, deep-work blocks, relapses.
3. Ratify v1.0: Keep what worked; tighten one rule per week.

Policy Template (copy & adapt)

TITLE: Algorithmic Boundaries v1.0 (Do not rename)
OWNER: Me (Reviewed monthly, 1st Monday)
RISK: Moderate (upgrade to Aggressive after 30 days)

1) APP POLICY
   - Whitelist: Banking, Auth, Calendar, Notes, Tasks, Maps, Camera, Photos, Reader, Ticketing.
   - Blacklist: Short-video, News roulette, Mobile games, Social (phone).
   - Social: Desktop-only, weekends 15:00–16:00.

2) TIME WINDOWS
   - Email: 11:30 & 16:30 (20m)
   - Messages: 12:30 & 18:00 (15m)
   - Deep Work: 09:30–11:30, 14:00–16:00
   - Family: 18:30–21:00
   - Sleep: 22:30–06:30

3) DND & VIP LANE
   - DND Max (sleep): Only VIP + alarms.
   - VIP List: Caregivers + school + medical. Repeat-call escalation.

4) INBOX ARCH
   - VIP (24h), Standard (48–72h), Async (weekly digest Sat AM).

5) DETOX/RELAPSE
   - 48h Reset: uninstall, block web, accountability ping, replacement rituals.

6) LOGS
   - Track: minutes, deep-work blocks, sleep duration, relapse count.

SIGN: ____________________   DATE: __________
      

4) Device Setup

Once the policy draft is written, the next step is device enforcement. You are no longer negotiating with your feelings; you’re delegating to automation. Below are platform-specific instructions (iOS and Android) plus universal principles.

4.1 Universal Principles

• Greyscale Mode: Colour is a reward cue. Remove it. Keep photos in full colour for camera apps only.
• App Limits: Default zero. Add time windows as exceptions, not vice versa.
• Home Screen Hygiene: One page only. Dock = utilities. Page = calendar, tasks, maps. No feeds.
• Notification Audit: Off by default. Turn on only if it’s time-sensitive and mission-critical.

4.2 iOS (Step-by-Step)

4.3 Android (Step-by-Step)

4.4 Greyscale Toggle Script

For both iOS and Android, bind greyscale to a triple-tap shortcut (iOS: Accessibility Shortcut; Android: Quick Settings). This way, you can allow temporary colour (e.g., photo editing) but default is grey.

IF time between 22:30–06:30 OR Focus=ON:
    SET Display=Greyscale
    DISABLE Notifications (except VIP)
ELSE:
    Display=Greyscale (default)
    Notifications=Minimal (Calendar + Auth)
  

4.5 Emergency Bypass Verification

1. Call yourself from VIP contact: should always ring.
2. Text from non-VIP: should be silent outside comms window.
3. Auth push (bank/login): should bypass limits instantly.

5) Communication OS

Communication is the primary attack surface on attention. Instead of defending with willpower, we build a Communication Operating System (OS) that routinises inputs, filters noise, and enforces service levels.

5.1 Principles

• Batch, Don’t Stream: Replies are grouped into specific time windows.
• Service Levels: Not all messages are equal. Define VIP, Standard, and Async tiers.
• Automated Filters: Use labels, rules, and pinned threads to pre-sort before you look.
• Scripts: Don’t improvise every reply. Standardise common responses.

5.2 Email Architecture

5.3 Messaging Protocol

Most drift comes from asynchronous chat pretending to be synchronous. Fix it with batch protocols and clear norms.

5.4 Scripts & Templates

Standardise replies so you don’t reinvent the wheel under pressure.

Subject: Thanks for reaching out

Hi [Name],

I check messages in set windows (late morning and late afternoon).  
If this is urgent, please call or mark as high priority.  
Otherwise, I’ll reply within 48–72h.

Thanks for respecting this system,
[Your Name]
  

Hey [Name] —
I’m in a focus block right now.  
I’ll get back to you during my next window.  
Thanks for understanding. 🙏
  

5.5 VIP Escalation Lane

• Define VIP contacts (caregivers, school, medical, key partner).
• Rule: repeat call within 3 minutes = bypass all DND modes.
• Distinct ringtone or vibration pattern signals “drop everything.”
• Review quarterly to add/remove VIPs.

5.6 Async Consumption

Information should arrive on your schedule, not theirs.

• Newsletters → auto-archive “Weekly Digest,” read Saturday morning.
• Podcasts → queued, not subscribed. Download intentionally.
• Communities → mute by default, read once/week.

6) Review & Adjust

Policies are only as good as their feedback loop. Without review, your “Algorithmic Boundaries” will quietly erode under social pressure, app updates, and your own cravings. This section installs a self-audit framework that keeps boundaries alive and adaptive.

6.1 Metrics to Track

• Screen Time (Minutes/Day): Compare baseline vs. pilot weeks. Target: -50% drift apps.
• Deep Work Blocks Completed: Count 90-min sessions without interruption. Target: 2–3/day.
• Sleep Duration: Logged via device or wearables. Target: +45 min/night improvement.
• Relapse Count: Number of policy violations (scroll outside window, unplanned app open). Track without judgement.

6.2 Weekly Audit Ritual

Set a standing appointment — Sunday evening, 20 minutes. Open your log, compare against metrics, adjust one rule only. Improvement compounds by incremental tightening.

1. Review: screen-time stats, deep work tally, sleep hours.
2. Note: triggers for any relapses (location, emotion, time).
3. Decide: one adjustment to make (shorten a window, block an app, add a replacement ritual).
4. Ratify: sign the v1.1 policy template and archive v1.0 for record.

6.3 Monthly Reset

Once/month, perform a deeper reset:

• Emergency Lane Test: Call yourself from VIP. Verify bypass still works.
• Whitelist Audit: Remove any app you haven’t used purposefully in 30 days.
• Social Detox: Take one 48h weekend off socials, even on desktop. Journal cravings + substitutes.
• Policy Upgrade: Move from “Moderate” to “Aggressive” risk appetite if metrics plateau.

6.4 Annual Review

6.5 Relapse Handling

Relapse is not failure. It is data. Treat it as a learning log:

• Trigger Mapping: Was it boredom, fatigue, loneliness, or a work lull?
• Environment Shift: Move charger out of bedroom, add physical books to desk.
• Accountability Ping: Message a trusted partner with “reset complete” after uninstalling apps.
• Reset Ritual: 48h social detox, daily journal entry, substitute habit (walk, stretch, paper writing).

6.6 Tools for Tracking

7) Social & Work Norms

Device boundaries fail fastest when social context resists them. To succeed, you must align family and team expectations. This section installs explicit agreements so others support — rather than sabotage — your Algorithmic Boundaries.

7.1 Family Agreements

• Device-Free Meals: All phones docked in a basket during family dinners. Exceptions: emergencies only.
• Bedtime Rule: Devices out of bedrooms after 22:30. Use alarms or books instead.
• Shared Windows: Family messages answered at 12:30 & 18:00. Urgent calls can bypass via VIP.
• Kid Protocol: Children mirror adult norms: whitelisted apps only, bedtime device cut-off.
• Accountability Ritual: Weekly “tech check-in” — 10 minutes Sunday evening to review boundaries.

7.2 Partner Protocols

Partners need explicit alignment to avoid friction:

• Agree on notification norms (no pings after 22:00 unless urgent).
• Negotiate social media sharing (e.g., no posting family pics without consent).
• Use shared calendar for coordination — replaces reactive messaging.
• Respect focus windows by not expecting instant replies.

7.3 Team Agreements (Work)

7.4 Meeting Hygiene

• No-device rule unless screen-sharing or note-taking.
• Default length = 25 min (not 30) or 50 min (not 60). Forces boundaries and focus.
• Standing agendas: If no agenda, no meeting.
• Post-meeting recap: Shared notes reduce “follow-up pings.”

7.5 Social Norms (Friends & Community)

• Communicate: “I batch messages, don’t expect instant replies.”
• Plan meetups via calendar invites instead of last-minute texts.
• Social media: weekly digest only. Encourage others to join detoxes.
• Explicitly allow emergencies to break rules — prevents guilt trips.

7.6 Norm Enforcement

Rules without enforcement decay. Use light but firm methods:

• Silent enforcement: Don’t answer outside windows. People adapt quickly.
• Written agreements: Teams/families sign simple boundary contracts.
• Quarterly reviews: Revisit agreements, adjust to life changes.
• Positive framing: “I want to give you full attention when I’m present, so I keep my phone away.”

8) Scripts & Templates

Boundaries collapse under social pressure unless you pre-script responses. These templates let you reply quickly, politely, and consistently — without emotional labour or negotiation.

8.1 Messaging Templates

Hey [Name] —  
I’m in a focus block right now.  
I’ll respond during my next comms window (12:30 or 18:00).  
Thanks for understanding 🙏
      

Hi [Name],  
I’m tightening my phone rules for the next 7 days.  
If urgent, please call — otherwise I’ll reply in my set windows.  
Appreciate your patience.
      

8.2 Email Templates

Subject: Thanks for reaching out

I check email twice daily (late morning & late afternoon).  
If urgent, please call.  
Otherwise, you can expect a reply within 48–72 hours.
      

Subject: Fastest way to reach me

For urgent issues, please use a phone call.  
My phone is set to allow VIP calls through 24/7.  
All other communication will be answered in scheduled windows.
      

8.3 Social Detox Announcements

• 24h Detox: Post “Offline today, back tomorrow. Urgent? Call.”
• 7-Day Detox: Post “Taking a week off socials to reset. Reach me by phone if urgent.”
• Relapse Reset: DM auto-reply: “Resetting device rules for 48h. Back on [date].”

8.4 Family & Team Agreements (Copy-Paste)

FAMILY DEVICE AGREEMENT v1.0
- Devices docked during meals.
- No devices in bedrooms after 22:30.
- Shared message windows: 12:30 & 18:00.
- Emergencies: phone call only, VIP lane active 24/7.
- Weekly review: Sunday 19:00.

Signed: ___________________   Date: ___________
  

TEAM COMMUNICATION CHARTER v1.0
- Email checked 2x/day. Service level: 48–72h.
- Slack/Teams status indicates next check time.
- Urgent = phone call, not DM.
- No expectation of responses outside 09:00–17:00.
- Quarterly review of norms.

Signed: ___________________   Date: ___________
  

8.5 Detox Ritual Script

Use this 48-hour reset script when relapse happens:

1. Uninstall all social apps from phone.
2. Block sites on desktop via Freedom / Cold Turkey.
3. Text accountability partner: “Reset in progress.”
4. Replace habit: physical book, notebook, or 5-min walk.
5. Journal cravings at 10:00 and 20:00 daily.

9) Case Studies

Abstract rules become believable when anchored in real contexts. These case studies show Algorithmic Boundaries applied across different life setups: family life, a solo professional, and a startup team.

9.1 Family Household

Result: Dinner conversations revived. Parents reported +5 hours of reclaimed sleep/month. Kids adapted fastest when rules applied equally to adults.

9.2 Solo Professional

Result: Screen time down 42%. Client satisfaction up — replies became predictable. Sleep improved by 50 minutes/night.

9.3 Startup Team

Result: Slack messages fell 60%. Team reported deeper focus and fewer weekend interruptions. Employee satisfaction scores rose by 18% in 6 months.

9.4 Student Example

Result: GPA improved by 0.4. Sleep stabilized. Anxiety around group projects decreased — clear norms reduced tension.

Interlude — Use Your Ledger to Secure Logins (X/Twitter, Facebook & more)

What this does: The free Ledger Security Key app turns your Ledger Flex or Ledger Stax into a passkey / hardware security key for supported sites and apps. Instead of typing passwords or waiting for SMS codes, you authenticate with a secure tap/approve using your Ledger device. This works anywhere that supports WebAuthn / FIDO2 passkeys (e.g., Google, Coinbase, X/Twitter, Facebook as it rolls out on mobile, and many others).

Service notes (as of 2025)

• X/Twitter: Passkeys available globally on iOS and broadly on Android; enable via Settings → Security → Passkey.
• Facebook (Meta): Mobile passkeys are rolling out on iOS/Android; find it under Accounts Center → Password & security → Passkeys. (Messenger support following.)
• General: Many sites (Google, Microsoft, Coinbase, etc.) already support passkeys; look for “Use a passkey / security key.”

Loss & recovery checklist

• Add a backup passkey (e.g., platform passkey on phone) and keep recovery codes where offered.
• Maintain a secondary security key or platform authenticator for critical accounts.
• If you lose a Ledger, revoke its passkey from each account’s security settings and re-enrol on the replacement device.

10) Execution Framework — 7-Day Boundary Reset

The fastest way to install Algorithmic Boundaries is a 7-Day Reset Sprint. This structured week enforces new defaults, tracks cravings, and cements environment design before old habits return.

Day 0 — Prep

• Write your Policy v1.0 (see Section 3).
• Set Screen Time / Digital Wellbeing passcode (store securely).
• Whitelist apps, block feeds, enable greyscale, set DND tiers.
• Tell accountability partner: “Starting reset tomorrow.”

Day 1 — Removal

• Uninstall socials from phone. Desktop-only, weekend-only access.
• Block addictive sites with Freedom / Cold Turkey.
• Run emergency bypass test (VIP call rings through).

Day 2 — Replacement

• Add physical replacements: book on nightstand, sketchpad on desk.
• Install habit triggers: water bottle on desk, shoes ready for walk.
• Replace scroll trigger (e.g., bed) with auto-play meditation audio.

Day 3 — Ritualisation

• Define morning launch ritual: review calendar, one deep work block, then comms window.
• Define evening shutdown ritual: device dock, journal, sleep by 23:00.
• Use same rituals daily to anchor behaviour.

Day 4 — Communication Contracts

• Enable auto-responder: “Email checked twice daily.”
• Send team/family agreements (Section 7 templates).
• Pin VIP threads, mute all non-VIP groups.

Day 5 — Review & Adjust

• Log: screen time, deep work blocks, sleep hours.
• Note: any relapses (time, place, trigger).
• Tighten one rule: shorter window, greyscale always on, block 1 extra app.

Day 6 — Social Detox Sprint

• Commit: 24h with zero social access (desktop included).
• Replacement: 3 x 20-minute walks, 1 offline meetup, 2 hours reading.
• Journal cravings morning and night.

Day 7 — Ratify & Lock

• Sign Policy v1.1 with adjustments from review.
• Archive v1.0 (for record of progress).
• Tell accountability partner: “Reset complete, new defaults active.”
• Celebrate reclaimed hours: list what you’ll do with them.

Reset Log Template

DAY 1: Screen time ____ min | Relapses: ____ | Sleep: ____h
DAY 2: Screen time ____ min | Relapses: ____ | Sleep: ____h
DAY 3: ...
Notes: Triggers, adjustments, replacements
  

Next Steps

• Run a Reset every quarter as a system audit.
• Upgrade from Moderate → Aggressive mode once baseline is stable.
• Integrate with other life OS modules (see /ops/focus).

Confucian Community Framework (Applied Here)

Like Confucian rituals, Algorithmic Boundaries thrive not in isolation but in community enforcement. Families, partners, and teams become the living infrastructure that sustains your personal device policy. When rules are social, not just personal, they become culture — and culture is harder to break than willpower.

Extended Narrative — Life After Algorithmic Boundaries

On the seventh night of the reset, the house was quiet. Phones were docked in the hallway basket, glowing only with the faint light of charging indicators. For the first time in months, the family’s dinner conversation had run long enough to spill into laughter, stories, even silence — the kind of silence that feels full, not empty.

In that silence, something important had shifted. The parent who once dozed off with thumb still scrolling now closed their journal with satisfaction. The teenager, once sneaking messages under the duvet, had finished a graphic novel before bed. Even the youngest, who still begged for “just five more minutes” of cartoons, now expected the nightly ritual of docking devices like brushing teeth.

This wasn’t the work of willpower. It was the work of architecture. Walls had been built where before there were none: time windows, greyscale filters, baskets by the door, policies pinned on the fridge. The rules lived outside the mind, which meant the mind was free to live again.

The Solo Worker

Across town, a freelance designer woke to an alarm clock that wasn’t a phone. For the first time in years, the first thing they saw wasn’t a feed. It was the morning light. By the time they opened their laptop, two hours of deep work had already been logged — before any client email had a chance to demand attention.

When a friend messaged at 10:00, they didn’t feel guilt ignoring it. The system had already answered for them: Not now, check at 12:30. And when 12:30 came, replies were faster, sharper, more thoughtful. The friend noticed. The client noticed. Most of all, the freelancer noticed that work no longer felt like sand slipping through their hands.

The Startup Team

In a startup’s Slack workspace, the shift was even clearer. Where once the sidebar burned with 47 unread channels, now there was calm. “Status: Next check at 16:30.” Suddenly urgency had a cost. Suddenly deep work had a chance. Meetings shortened because nobody wanted to waste the narrow windows where attention was still free.

Employees who once complained of burnout now reported momentum. The founders — who had feared rules would slow the company down — discovered the opposite: structure had sped them up. In place of constant noise was rhythm. Rhythm delivered more than chaos ever did.

The Pattern

What unites these stories is not discipline but policy. People are fallible; systems can be firm. Every relapse became data, every craving a signal, every rule an external scaffold for the fragile human will. Over time, the scaffolding became the architecture of life itself.

Algorithmic Boundaries are not about phones. They are about attention as infrastructure. Just as roads, plumbing, and electricity shape daily existence, so too do the invisible rules of notification, feed, and screen. When those rules are left to chance, drift wins. When they are written, shared, and enforced, presence returns.

The Invitation

If you’ve read this far, the invitation is clear: stop blaming yourself, and start writing your device constitution. Sign it. Share it. Live it. Adjust it. And remember: the point is not to have less life inside your phone — the point is to have more life outside it.

FAQ — Short Answers