Smartphones exploit the brain’s short-term reward system with algorithm-driven content, making habitual checking automatic and hard to break. Common fixes like grayscale mode don’t address the core issue—neural conditioning from high-frequency, high-reward stimuli. More effective solutions include removing addictive apps from phones and using them only on computers, reducing environmental triggers by keeping phones in fixed locations, and strengthening long-term motivation through disciplined goal pursuit. For children, delaying smartphone access protects against bullying, addiction, and emotional harm, especially when supported by community-wide norms like the Wait for Eighth pledge. The desire to show off on social media is natural but better fulfilled through real-world contributions that earn genuine respect. Video game addiction differs in structure but shares neural mechanisms, with online multiplayer games posing higher risks. Messaging can also fuel compulsive phone use, best managed by shifting communication channels and setting boundaries. Even newspaper apps now mimic social media to maximize engagement. Using Instagram intentionally—via computer, not phone—allows aspiring photographers to maintain presence without falling into addictive patterns. Newport closes by reflecting on five books he read, spanning philosophy, fiction, and personal identity, underscoring the value of deep reading in cultivating a meaningful life beyond digital noise.