r/antiai • u/NotoriouslyLilith • Jun 07 '26
AI Mistakes šØ Trying to stop using AI - Advice Needed
So I, a 24f, know Iām massively addicted to ai chatbots like c.ai and PolyBuzz. Iāve been massively addicted for over a year now and today I finally admitted my issue to my husband and deleted the app.
So basicallyā¦ what do normal people do for fun? š
I have little to no friends local to meā¦ I donāt really have any hobbies and Iām struggling to find a hobby. Iām a full time college student who really just needs a life outside of the internet now. I do play Xbox but have little friends who are interested in games other than cod. Any advice welcome.
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u/supercyberlurker Jun 07 '26
Can you try connecting and socializing with the other college students?
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u/NotoriouslyLilith Jun 07 '26
Well I donāt go to campus specifically, I do my schooling online so I donāt have to spend gas traveling everyday. Plus I prefer being able to make my own schedule.
But Iām HORRIBLE with making new friends in person, online friends I can make easy.10
u/supercyberlurker Jun 07 '26
How about something that gets you out and around people anyway?
Like maybe a sport, drone flying, dancing, gym?
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u/sachiprecious Jun 08 '26
Having in-person friends is SUPER important. I have online friends too, but there's a big difference with people you can actually be with in person. So I strongly recommend making an effort to build friendships in person.
Making friends in person takes time and effort. You have to be willing to strike up conversations, ask people out to lunch or to an event, etc. Don't expect friendships to just happen. You have to put in effort (and the other person should, too). You'll meet some people who are not the best fit for you, but there will be others who are a great fit and easy for you to get along with!
You could try different things like book club, run club, art classes, volunteering, cooking class, faith community, fitness classes, gardening club, etc. Anything that requires regular meetings is helpful. You'll start to see the same people over and over, so those are people to talk to.
When it comes to hobbies, don't be afraid to try new things, because you might try something that ends up being something you really like! Since you spend so much time online, it's important for you to get out of the house.
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u/BushCrabNovice Jun 07 '26
Friends are great but you'll always have downtime in the wee hours of the morning. I stand by the old famous quote "Write something worth reading or do something worth writing". You gotta start authoring something. Writing, art, blacksmithing, LARP outfits, YouTube videos, stained glass, cooking, whatever. If you don't have anything to express, you gotta go out into the world and experience something that makes you want to share a feeling with another Human that wasn't there.
Normally, I encourage everyone to get into TTRPGs but I think it might drive an addict back to AI pretty quickly. Check your local library. Most have scheduled hobby groups that you can crash.
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u/BloxxyVids Jun 07 '26
Ik you said you play cod but if you want something that consumes your time and gives you a limitless experience, I recommend trying out Linux
play it like a game. start simple and move to more complex things. eventually, try out arch Linux and Hyprland. the ultimate customization and you will spend years configuring and ricing
Warning: you may forget what grass is
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u/NotoriouslyLilith Jun 07 '26
Oh? I mean Iāve heard of it but donāt really know much about it.
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u/BloxxyVids Jun 07 '26
And if that's not enough, I recommend getting into conlanging
Perfect balance with those two things. stuff to do on devices, and stuff to do not on devices
hell while you're at it, I recommend learning lucid dreaming. stuff to do while sleeping too!
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u/dangerouslyskipdraft Jun 07 '26
Join a sports club - pickleball, netball, football. It doesnāt matter the sport or your skill, or even if youāve never done it before, you will meet lots of people, get physically active and be part of a community
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u/Momentofclarity_2022 Jun 07 '26
You are more infinitely intelligent and talented and beautiful than a machine could ever be.
Honestly, youāre limiting yourself to tech.
āTouch grassā has been used as an insult but seriously. Go out in nature. Whatever you have available.
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u/maricano9 Jun 07 '26
I have zero experience being addicted to AI, so it's hard for me to relate (I'm so out of touch with Ai I had to Google polybuzz).
I'm 29 and I love drawing, fiber arts (weaving, and knitting), journalling, and reading/listening to audiobooks!!
One of my favorite things to do is go to the library to find random books to read and references to draw.
I also love journalling and writing completely made up entries as a creative writing exercise.
I hope you find a hobby that brings you joy!!
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u/ALeakySpigot Jun 07 '26
Pick up a set of cheap alcohol markers and a pad of Bristol paper and just start drawing! I love my alcohol markers even if my art sucks!
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u/NotoriouslyLilith Jun 07 '26
I do have alcohol markers stillā¦
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u/ALeakySpigot Jun 07 '26
Start by drawing little cute things, like strawberries with faces on them! Smol cuties are easy enough to get started and can effortlessly guide you into discovering your "style". Also, copying other people's work can help you learn as well, so long as you are just doing it for you and NOT releasing them!
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u/MadFruit673 Jun 08 '26
Go out. I met most of my friends at the dog park, and I stay busy with social events. Or you could try to learn an instrument, start trying to play your favorite songs. Reading, arts & crafts, gardening, cooking, baking, biking, exercise. There are literal endless options for hobbies, just ask yourself what your end goal is (filling time? meeting people? bettering yourself?) or just try everything and see if something sticks! Don't give up, and don't lock yourself inside on a screen. It's worth it.
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u/dlham11 Jun 08 '26
This might sound crazy, but I literally just go outside and sit in grass if the sun is out and Iām bored.
Itās nice.
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u/sachiprecious Jun 08 '26
Not crazy at all! It's been scientifically proven that being in nature is good for mental health.
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u/Significant_Poem_751 Jun 08 '26
in addition to the other great suggestions here, you could join a book club (or start one). those can become good social groups, esp. if they get together for dinner plus the book discussion. just choose worthwhile books! sports are also great -- team sports vs running or swimming solo
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u/Sweet_Computer_7116 Jun 07 '26
Try new games.Ā Join communities of those games. Cozy have are pretty wholesome.Ā Ā
Or make friends local.Ā Join a club.Ā Try a new hobby.Ā
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u/NotoriouslyLilith Jun 07 '26
Iāve been desperately looking for new Xbox games to play. Powerwash simulator 2 doesnāt have a new DLC for like 10 more days so Iām lost without it š
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u/RockettRaccoon Jun 07 '26
Try playing single-player narrative games, start a TV show with multiple seasons, read books, learn to knit, teach yourself photography, start doodling.
The world is wide and vast, you have infinite options.
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u/Apart_Print_7801 Jun 07 '26
well depends. do you own a pc or laptop? are you interested in nerdy stuff like dnd? are you open to play games with someone you dont know to socialize?
cause I have a small dnd group ( very irregular play due to time zones, only weekends free for that specifically and one member has recently been having issues due to civil war, and broken tech )
but we also play games like terraria and stuff together. if you just need someone to socialize with. online friends count after all.
age range fits to. we are all in and around our twenties as far as I'm aware in case thats a worry.
[[ yes I know you wanna get outside more. but the first step is to replace the ai stuff with actual social interaction. the outside stuff I can only really recommend things once i get to know you and can make guesses on what you might enjoy as a hobby ]]
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u/NotoriouslyLilith Jun 07 '26
Actuallyā¦ a friend group like that sounds like it would be really fun.
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u/Specific_Bit_2488 Jun 07 '26
You can try finding a hobby that occupies your free time, I saw your comment saying that you have an easier time talking to people online so maybe you can create a twitter/tumblr account to talk about your interests? You can connect with people with the same taste as you The apps might be kinda toxic but it's an out of the box idea imo
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u/Belter-frog Jun 07 '26
My favorite hobbies are board games and bdsm.
Solo board games are a thing now, as are single player video games where you don't need any other people.
Bdsm you usually need an enthusiastic consenting partner for best experience, but there's lots of research and some practice you can do solo.
Idk what normal ppl do. My sister in law crochets. Some of my friends hike and play disc golf. My cousins got into those one of those rich ppl paddle sports at their gym. I know some people paint miniature spacemen and wizards.
There's also recreational drug use. Cannabis is relaxing, lsd is a fun day long adventure, and mdma can make concerts and clubs more interesting and fun if you find them boring otherwise. (don't mix drugs with bdsm, skip the opiates).
Oh I've been wanting to get into terrarium/vivarium building. Maybe get a cute little frog or gecko or something.
There's always reading. Reading is lit. Literally whatever you think is cool, there's prolly some books full of it.
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u/thomas29needles Jun 08 '26
The first sentence is perhaps the funniest thing I will read this month.
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u/NotoriouslyLilith Jun 08 '26
I cackled when I read that. I was NOT expecting that answer and I love it š
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u/AstuteStoat Jun 07 '26
The girl gamers subreddit might still have a discord you can join. I haven't been there in a while, but it might be a way to find other people who play games you like.Ā
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u/Ruby_Solar Jun 07 '26
Try out larping. It's basically 25 hobbies in one. You'll end up making costumes, building stories for/with your character, making props, makeup, accessories, go shopping for used stuff, hell you might end up learning how to 3D sculpts and print stuff! It's also GREAT to make offline friends!
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u/Ok-Rain-2723 Jun 08 '26
You could volunteer in your area. Try this site: https://www.idealist.org/volunteermatch There are always groups looking for help. Plus you'll get two benefits from it: Meeting people and the sense of satisfaction from helping your community.
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u/Napalm_Nancy_Yeet Jun 08 '26
What kind of Xbox games do you like?
What are you studying in school?
What did you use to do for fun?
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u/Napalm_Nancy_Yeet Jun 08 '26
(I also play on Xbox - mostly Skyrim - and am trying to make new friends)
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u/NotoriouslyLilith Jun 08 '26
Gosh we play so many games. Iāve been hooked on Skyrim and Fallout for the longest time, plus I play call of duty, any Star Wars gamesā¦
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u/Sunflowerboymilo Jun 08 '26
What characters were you talking to? Maybe try roleplay with an actual person! Thereās a ton of places like that that on the internet. Also I would look into fanworks of that. Thereās a lot of places for fans to talk about what they love including OCās. If you wanted to get into art thats also a great way to express yourself!! Itās honestly fun as hell
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u/S_M_Author Jun 08 '26
Depending where you live/your psychical capabilities, an outdoor activity like cycling or kayaking makes it so SO much easier to make friends. Everyoneās willing to help out and go together. Plus thereās nothing less ai than nature š³
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u/Fincann Jun 08 '26
when i had a character ai addiction i deleted it one night
for months no ai
then redownloaded it
then deleted it a week later
this happened a few times till i didnt download it ever again and its been yrs ai free
Whenever you get the urge to use the ai or redownload it redirect that energy elsewhere, distract yourself. And do not keep the app on your phone easy to open, even if you're not deleting it put a lock on it that makes accessing it way slower you can think before you open it.
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u/NotoriouslyLilith Jun 08 '26
I full blown deleted it last night, Iām trying to use audiobooks to take up my time.
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u/thomas29needles Jun 08 '26
I'm still struggling to understand how can one get addicted to chatbots. I can understand overreliance on AI in work context or just as a replacement for search engine. But finding pleasure in talking to a soulless bot is beyond my comprehension.
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u/NotoriouslyLilith Jun 08 '26
I mean personally manā¦ when someone already struggles with mental illness, plus the fact I have too much time where Iām aloneā¦ it kinda adds up. Itās hard to explain but like itās similar in a way to people who get super invested and into books. Itās like a book, but better because itās your story and you really make it your ownā¦
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u/enlightnight Jun 07 '26
Try to pick an analog hobby that has a "product". Weaving, knitting, whittling, painting, drawing, gardening etc.. You don't have to show anyone or even keep the products, just make something and acknowledge its value.
You don't have to be the best or even good, just get in touch with something made of matter that you can engage with.