This week alone, I’ve deleted and reinstalled TikTok on my phone three times. Over the past two weeks? Seven times. And in the last month? Fifteen. It might sound like I’m just hopping on and off the digital app wagon—but strangely enough, I’ve never been more productive.

Self-Control Is Hard

My on-again, off-again relationship with my favorite apps started because I’ve been preparing for a notoriously difficult exam, and to give myself the best shot at success, I’ve had to overhaul my regular schedule to make every hour count.

After taking a hard look at how I spend my time, I realized a huge chunk of my day was going into apps like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok—and not for anything useful. Just mindless scrolling and falling into endless content loops.

So, I made the decision to cut them out, and I really meant it, too. I activated Focus Mode, set app time limits, and tried every unconventional trick I knew. But still, I found myself opening those apps purely out of habit. I’d pick up my phone to Google something, and before I knew it, I’d be ten videos deep into a 52-part TikTok series.

Despite my best efforts, it kept happening, and eventually, I was forced to admit that self-control alone wasn’t going to cut it. So I deleted the apps entirely.

Going Cold Turkey Works… but Only for a While

For the first few days, everything was going great. I’d swipe through my phone, about to tap on an app, only to realize it wasn’t there. That moment of realization felt like a small win. It reminded me of my goal, and most times, it was just enough to snap me out of the distraction and get me back to studying.

Honestly, if the exam were just a month away, I probably could’ve stayed off those apps completely. But the problem is, it’s still six months out. And while I can stay locked in for a few weeks, keeping that same intensity for half a year? That’s a lot harder.

Once the initial burst of motivation wore off, I found myself craving my favorite distractions. During my downtime, I’d try to watch a movie or read something light, but deep down, I just wanted to catch up on trends and funny videos.

I'm not proud of it, but eventually, I caved. I reinstalled all my apps.

The Delete–Reinstall Cycle

As soon as I reinstalled my apps, I slipped right back into my old habits: mindless scrolling and losing track of time. So I deleted it again. And the cycle began. I’d focus for a while, make progress, then start craving the app again.

Delete. Focus. Crave. Reinstall. Repeat.

There’s No Shame in Deleting (and Reinstalling) an App

There’s this strange guilt that creeps in when you delete an app—especially if it’s not your first time. I felt it each time I deleted, reinstalled, and then deleted TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram.

You start thinking, “Why bother? I’ll probably just reinstall it anyway.”

But that logic is a trap. Just because you might come back to an app doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take a break from it. Deleting it—even temporarily—is a valid and powerful move.

And here’s the kicker: deleting and reinstalling time-wasting apps can actually make you more productive. The trick is not to wait until you've sunk an unreasonable amount of time into the app to delete it. Instead, use it for a bit, delete it, and move on to more productive tasks.

I did the same thing, and I was able to let go of the shame of deleting and reinstalling my apps. I’d lock in and study for long stretches, and then in my downtime, I’d reinstall the app for a quick dopamine hit. By doing it this way, I wasn’t just reacting on impulse and opening these apps without meaning to. I was choosing when to engage—and that, in itself, was a win.

My Productivity Has Been Through the Roof

Ever since I started deleting and reinstalling my time-wasting apps, my productivity has shot up massively. When I'm studying, there is no opportunity for distraction because the apps just aren't there, but I’m also not wearing my self-control thin by trying to keep off the apps completely.

In fact, I’ve fallen into a groove. At the start of the workweek—when I have classes and long study sessions—I delete my time-guzzling apps. Then, when the weekend rolls around, I reinstall it to unwind.

Sometimes, if I have a bit of free time midweek, I’ll redownload it for 30 minutes, then delete it again. It sounds weird, but it really feels like I’ve hacked the system.

Backup Your Files First Before Trying This Strategy

I don’t lose anything when I delete TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube because I don’t keep drafts. But if you’re someone who creates content or stores things in these apps, back them up before you delete. That way, you don't accidentally lose anything.

Productivity doesn’t always look like perfect restraint, and you don’t have to white-knuckle your way through digital discipline. You just need a system that helps you stay focused and get more done. And if that system involves deleting Instagram on Monday and redownloading it on Saturday, so be it.

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