1. How do I get started with Bored and Brilliant?
You'll want to download one of our partner apps to your phone (more information here) and sign up to receive a week of daily challenges in your inbox.
2. Moment only works on iPhones. BreakFree is only for Android. What if I'm a Windows phone user?
For Windows, we’ve heard RescueTime works in much the same way as the other apps, and it should let you set a baseline (how much you look at your phone to begin with), and then participate in all of the challenges.
3. What if I have an iPhone, but don't want to upgrade to iOS8?
No pressure. You can use another app — like Checky — that doesn't require an upgrade. It'll give you your baseline stats to work with.
4. Isn't it ironic to use a phone app for a project that's all about decreasing phone usage?
Yes. Technically, it's a paradox. Our thinking: We're not suggesting anyone get rid of their phones. We don't want to get rid of our phones. We want to learn to live with them in a healthy way. So what better tool than the phone itself?
5. Do podcasts count as phone time?
Good question: That is your call to make. Kevin Holesh, the maker of Moment, decided that activities like listening to podcasts or talking on the phone don't count — his app only measures active screen time. BreakFree lets you choose whether or not to count phone calls in daily minutes. That said, Manoush does consider podcast listening part of her personal total. Her goal is to make time that is completely phone-free to encourage spacing out.
We feel the same way about ebooks, news, and listening to music: You get to decide what your goals are here. (We are curious though — please do tell us what you want to get out of this project.)
6. How do I take the challenges?
Challenges are issued via a mini-podcast episode for you over the course of the week. If you subscribe to the Note to Self podcast, you'll see the challenges in your feed (the originals aired in February 2015). Subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn, I Heart Radio, or via RSS.
Each of those mini-episodes will be short and sweet, explaining the logic behind the day's challenge, along with some research and/or personal stories to help you achieve your goal in the challenge. We'll send out an early morning email to keep you in the loop and on track each day that week, and you can (yes, we see the irony) follow along on social media as well.
Until then, use Moment, BreakFree, or the app of your choice to get a baseline. Gotta start somewhere.
You can listen to our first podcast in the series — A Case for Boredom — to learn more.
7. The Bored and Brilliant illustration is amazing. Where did it come from?
Right? The illustrator is named John Hersey. He lives in San Francisco. This is his website.
8. The music in these mini-podcasts is amazing. Where did it come from?
The Bored and Brilliant project features music by Broke for Free (brokeforfree.com). A unique, daily remix of "The Gold Lining" from the album Gold Can Stay begins each show, while"Add And" from the album Petal concludes them.
9. What is Note to Self?
Glad you asked! We're a podcast hosted by Manoush Zomorodi, taking on the questions of how technology is changing society, and changing us in personal ways. If you want to get to know us, may we suggest:
- Welcome to Note to Self
- Your Facebook Friend Said Something Racist. Now What?
- Me and My Girlfriend Texted Only in Emoji for a Month
- How Eating Disorders Evolved Online
- Screens Really Are a Nightmare for Sleep
- The Saddest, Most Beautiful Voicemail
- Learning to Code in One Day and Losing My Mind
Subscribe to the Note to Self podcast on iTunes, or on Stitcher, TuneIn, I Heart Radio, or anywhere else using our RSS feed.
10. I can't find you on Facebook. Link please?
11. I signed up, but I'm not seeing the newsletter in my inbox. Where are they?
Be sure to check your spam filter. We also send a Note to Self newsletter every Wednesdays. The sender is "Note to Self."
12. Moment has a location tracker. What is their privacy policy?
You can find Moment's privacy policy here. Here are some FAQs about Moment.
At WNYC, we promise we’ll only use your information as described in our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
13. I'm having a problem with Moment or BreakFree.
Unfortunately, we can't do much to help with our partner apps beyond pass on feedback. Here's the contact form for Moment. Here's how to get in touch with BreakFree.
14. You didn't answer my question. How do I get in touch?
Feel free to send us a message on Facebook, Twitter, or email (notetoself[at]wnyc[dot]org.)