# Take Back Your Time: Beating the Algorithms & Breaking Screen Addiction | Aditi Mandal

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-indian-startup-show-1026402/take-back-your-time-beating-the-algorithms-breaking-screen-addiction-aditi-mandal
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-indian-startup-show-1026402/take-back-your-time-beating-the-algorithms-breaking-screen-addiction-aditi-mandal.md
Podcast: [The Indian Startup Show](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-indian-startup-show-1026402)
Published: 2026-07-31T23:00:00+00:00
Episode link: http://www.indianstartupshow.com
Audio file: https://cdn.simplecast.com/media/audio/transcoded/a6f1d091-f917-469a-9210-41d68cd4f5db/5a8e79e6-61c1-44d1-9a82-337838b6b0d3/episodes/audio/group/d091092e-9881-4e07-9ea5-d713ad664b86/group-item/36ba98f7-8034-4f04-9129-0b24a3652635/128_default_tc.mp3?aid=rss_feed&feed=6dj1W8C2
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Duration seconds: 2385

## Resource

Stop Doom-Scrolling! In 2026, the global average screen time has climbed to a staggering 6 hours and 38 minutes a day. We are constantly plugged in, but is it a lack of willpower, or are we just losing a rigged game? Today on the podcast, we sit down with Aditi Mandal to find out. Aditi spent a time working as a UX researcher, designing and making highly engaging digital products. But in 2017, she realized she was falling victim to the very systems she helped build. After embarking on a digital fitness journey, Aditi successfully beat the algorithms, engineering her own screen time down from 6 hours to just 1 intentional hour a day., Now, through her company Take Back Your Time, she coaches adults on how to build sustainable digital habits. We break down the exact mechanics of why we are addicted to our phones, the specific design tricks apps use to keep you scrolling, and the step-by-step toolkit you need to reclaim your attention without deleting the apps you need for work. Whether you're an entrepreneur struggling to focus or just someone looking to reclaim your attention span, Aditi breaks down actionable strategies—from introducing "positive friction" to buying an old-school alarm clock—that actually work in the real world.

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## Transcript

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