It started as a domestic experiment. My wife wanted to improve her English, so I decided to “hack” her phone.
I didn’t bother with textbooks. Instead, I curated her Facebook and TikTok feeds. I followed vocabulary influencers, joined “Learn English” groups, and flooded her algorithm with educational content. I thought, Great, now when she scrolls on the bus, she’ll be learning by osmosis.
A week later, I checked her phone. I didn’t see a single English verb. I saw a masterclass in Mutton Curry.
The algorithm had buried my lessons and replaced them with endless videos of slow-cooked meat and spicy gravy. The machine noticed she didn’t want to study; she wanted comfort. So it gave her exactly what she subconsciously craved.
I laughed at the time. I felt pretty smug about it, actually. But then, I unlocked my own phone.
My “Mutton Curry” Was Rage
I didn’t see food. I saw The Mob.
For years, my digital diet was 100% Nepali politics. My feed was a 24/7 stream of the “Blame Game”—finger-pointing, outrage, and noise.
I realized I was just like my wife. The algorithm wasn’t giving me what I needed (growth); it was giving me what I craved(drama). I thought I was “staying informed.” Looking back, I was just cognitively congested.
So, about six weeks ago, I did what I couldn’t do for my wife: I audited my own algorithm.
1. The Void
I pulled the plug. I deleted my YouTube history and snoozed every political source on Facebook.
The next day, my screen was blank. The algorithm didn’t know how to trigger me anymore. I felt a Void.
It was uncomfortable. Without the drama to keep me angry, I felt a sudden boredom. But that boredom was a gift. For the first time in years, I had the bandwidth to ask: Who do I want to be when I’m not angry?
I started typing with intention. I filled that void with strategy, wellness, and mental models. I built a feed designed for balance, not reaction.
2. Trimming the Weeds
I am now in the second phase of this detox, and I’ve learned a hard truth: The weeds are aggressive.
Even “educational” content can morph into anxiety if you aren’t careful. A single click on a tech update can flood your feed with “AI Doomsday” drama.
And with the elections approaching, the political noise is relentless—actively trying to bypass my filters. But in consciously cutting it off, I found something unexpected. Silence didn’t make me ignorant; it made me clear.
When I was in the feed, I was lost in the noise of “who said what.” Now that I’ve stepped back, I can see the framework. I stopped reacting to the daily gossip and started seeing the structural reality.
I missed the drama. I preferred the clarity.
3. The Harvest: What Clarity Actually Bought Me
The biggest return on this audit wasn’t just a cleaner phone. It was an upgrade to my reality in two specific ways.
First: Clarity at Work That same clarity followed me into my work. Instead of reacting quickly or staying busy for the sake of momentum, I became more deliberate about where attention was actually needed.
A clear mind helped me slow down decisions, ask better questions, and avoid unnecessary complexity. Sometimes the biggest win isn’t pushing forward — it’s knowing when to pause. That shift alone changed how I approach work.
Second: The Personal ROI (The Dad Dividend) Most importantly, I got my presence back.
I’m no longer mentally arguing with a politician while playing with my daughter. I’m actually there. I’ve realized that a clear mind is the best gift I can give my family. When I am home, I am home.
I stopped trading my peace for the algorithm’s engagement. And that has been the highest return of all.
Be The Gardener
I’m starting to suspect that the algorithm behaves less like a “feed” and more like a garden.
If you leave it alone, weeds (outrage, fear, distraction) will grow automatically because they are aggressive. If you want flowers (growth, strategy, peace), you have to plant them intentionally.
So, I’m curious: If you look at your feed right now, what is your “Mutton Curry”? What does the algorithm feed you when you are tired or avoiding the hard work?
Let me know in the comments. I’d love to know I’m not the only one fighting the weeds.
The Invitation: Let’s Plant Together
A few friends asked for the specific steps I used to do this—the settings I changed and the “seeds” I planted—so I’m turning this into a shared experiment.
I’m guiding a small cohort through a 5-Day Algorithm Audit. We will do the work together: wiping the history, muting the noise, and curating a feed that serves you.
I’m trying a “Pay on Results” model because I want this to be about trust, not a transaction. You join for free. We do the reset. If, after 5 days, you feel lighter and clearer, you can support the project with whatever amount feels right to you (£50, £20, or nothing).
If you don’t feel the difference, you pay nothing. No risk. Just a clean slate.
Let’s stop eating weeds and start planting flowers.
Be the Gardener
What is your ‘Mutton Curry’?
