Living a Less Commercialized Life: Why I Changed My Phone’s DNS and Stopped Buying Things

For most of my adult life, technology has been a tool that made life easier.

Recently, it started doing the opposite.

Websites became harder to read. Videos auto‑played. Pop‑ups blocked the content I was trying to see. Pages loaded slowly because they were busy loading everything except the actual article. I wasn’t using the internet — the internet was using me.

At the same time, I realized something else: I already own more media, devices, books, and entertainment than I could realistically experience in the next decade.

So I made two small changes:

1. I changed my phone’s DNS to block ad and tracking networks

2. I tried a “no‑buy month”

They turned out to be connected.

The Technical Change: Blocking the Noise at the Source

Instead of installing a bunch of ad‑blocking apps, I configured my phone to use a filtering DNS service.

For reference, the DNS address I used is:

dns.adguard-dns.com In simple terms, this prevents the device from contacting known advertising and tracking servers at all.

That means:

• No pop‑ups

• No autoplay video ads

• Less tracking

• Faster page loads

• Less battery drain

• Less data usage

But the biggest difference wasn’t technical.

It was psychological.

The internet became readable again.

Instead of fighting a webpage to find information, I could simply… read it.

This reminded me of the earlier web — when sites presented information instead of competing for attention.

Is Blocking Ads Wrong?

This is where many people feel conflicted.

We want creators to get paid. But we also don’t want our attention constantly manipulated by autoplay, infinite scroll, and behavioral targeting.

I came to a middle ground:

I’m not refusing to support creators. I’m refusing surveillance‑driven advertising.

There’s a difference.

Instead of paying with constant distraction, I’d rather support intentionally — subscriptions, donations, or directly purchasing something meaningful.

In other words:

Pay humans, not engagement systems.

The Personal Change: A No‑Buy Month

At the same time, I tried something simple: only buy essentials for a month.

What I discovered wasn’t financial — it was mental.

Modern consumption isn’t about needing things. It’s about refreshing novelty.

Shopping scratches the same mental itch as scrolling.

When I stopped buying, something interesting happened:

I started using what I already owned.

• Watching DVDs I never opened

• Reading books I meant to read years ago

• Exploring tools I already had

• Finishing projects instead of starting new ones

I didn’t feel deprived. I felt calmer.

The Real Problem: Too Many Inputs

Most of us don’t lack entertainment or information.

We lack continuity of attention.

Modern life constantly injects interruptions:

• Ads

• Notifications

• Recommendations

• New purchases

• New subscriptions

Every one of them resets focus.

Blocking ads reduced digital interruptions. Not buying reduced physical interruptions.

Together, they created quiet.

Practical Rules That Helped

Instead of relying on discipline, I started using simple systems.

1. The 72‑Hour Rule

Add any wanted purchase to a list. Wait three days before buying. Most impulses disappear on their own.

2. One In, Two Out

Any new item requires removing two. The cost becomes decision effort, not money.

3. Finish Before Starting

No new show until the current one is finished. No new project until one is completed. Completion is more satisfying than novelty.

4. Replace Buying With Organizing

When tempted to shop, improve what I already have:

• organize files

• catalog media

• repair equipment

• learn a tool more deeply

The brain still gets novelty — but from mastery instead of accumulation.

What Changed

I didn’t become anti‑technology. I didn’t stop using the internet.

I just removed manipulation pressure.

The result:

• Less urge to scroll

• Less urge to buy

• More enjoyment from things I already own

• More intentional online time

The internet felt useful again.

The Goal

This experiment wasn’t about saving money or blocking everything annoying.

It was about a simple question:

Can we live intentionally instead of reactively?

Reducing advertising noise and reducing consumption turned out to be the same project — protecting attention.

And attention is the one resource we never get more of.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by digital clutter or constant purchasing, you don’t need a total lifestyle overhaul.

Try one small change that reduces input.

You may find that nothing important is missing — and a lot of mental space returns.