I just finished the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. It's very good, and you might find it helpful. Though I don't use a smartphone, I find myself on my desktop way too much. I think this book will help me break free of the addiction.
I just finished the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. It's very good, and you might find it helpful. Though I don't use a smartphone, I find myself on my desktop way too much. I think this book will help me break free of the addiction.
Yes, I tend to justify the use of my desktop as a necessary evil for doing my job. It's still a distraction and time suck and I would love to exercise some discipline over my casual use of it. Before the internet I used to read several books a week - I literally could not be found without a book in my purse or in my car which I would read when I had to wait anywhere or for anything. I even took books on my walks when my kids were portable (one in a front back, one in a back pack and a book in my hands). I have lost focus with increased internet use and electronic media consumption.
I couldn't agree with you more. I used to read a lot of books and listen to music. I homeschooled my kids before computers were very important and founded a homeschooling support group without benefit of the Internet--just on word of mouth and using the telephone. Now I look back and am so glad there was no Internet because I probably wouldn't have accomplished nearly as much. I don't do any social media and everything I look at is worthwhile--like Coffee and COVID!--but it's just too much. I spend too much of my day reading Substacks or listening to podcasts, and COVID really ramped that up. I have to start picking and choosing which online resources to use and spend more of my time doing activities that used to mean something to me, like reading, playing the piano, gardening, etc. I do still take books with me when I go out to a doctor's appointment or some place where I'll have to wait because I don't have a phone to occupy my time, so that's at least a plus.
Oh my goodness, yes!! I have the same story. Covid really exacerbated my growing overuse of the internet, for sure. And I used to be SO productive (having five kids gave me no choice - I ran my house like a boot camp). But now that most of them are out of the house and I have more unstructured time, my first go-to activity is to check out what's happening on-line even though I could read, garden, play my cello (which I started learning during Covid) and reclaim just good old-fashion leisure time NOT in front of a screen. Everyone's comments are encouraging me though because I realize this is a universal lament and people have offered suggestions. Gosh, Coffee & Covid is great (and the one Substack I read without fail).
I just finished the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport. It's very good, and you might find it helpful. Though I don't use a smartphone, I find myself on my desktop way too much. I think this book will help me break free of the addiction.
Yes, I tend to justify the use of my desktop as a necessary evil for doing my job. It's still a distraction and time suck and I would love to exercise some discipline over my casual use of it. Before the internet I used to read several books a week - I literally could not be found without a book in my purse or in my car which I would read when I had to wait anywhere or for anything. I even took books on my walks when my kids were portable (one in a front back, one in a back pack and a book in my hands). I have lost focus with increased internet use and electronic media consumption.
I couldn't agree with you more. I used to read a lot of books and listen to music. I homeschooled my kids before computers were very important and founded a homeschooling support group without benefit of the Internet--just on word of mouth and using the telephone. Now I look back and am so glad there was no Internet because I probably wouldn't have accomplished nearly as much. I don't do any social media and everything I look at is worthwhile--like Coffee and COVID!--but it's just too much. I spend too much of my day reading Substacks or listening to podcasts, and COVID really ramped that up. I have to start picking and choosing which online resources to use and spend more of my time doing activities that used to mean something to me, like reading, playing the piano, gardening, etc. I do still take books with me when I go out to a doctor's appointment or some place where I'll have to wait because I don't have a phone to occupy my time, so that's at least a plus.
Oh my goodness, yes!! I have the same story. Covid really exacerbated my growing overuse of the internet, for sure. And I used to be SO productive (having five kids gave me no choice - I ran my house like a boot camp). But now that most of them are out of the house and I have more unstructured time, my first go-to activity is to check out what's happening on-line even though I could read, garden, play my cello (which I started learning during Covid) and reclaim just good old-fashion leisure time NOT in front of a screen. Everyone's comments are encouraging me though because I realize this is a universal lament and people have offered suggestions. Gosh, Coffee & Covid is great (and the one Substack I read without fail).