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"how you use your phone while watching TV" I find myself doing this all the time, even when the show is engaging. I'll automatically open Reddit and start scro

by donkeyd 10y ago

"how you use your phone while watching TV" I find myself doing this all the time, even when the show is engaging. I'll automatically open Reddit and start scrolling through the front page, and before I know it I missed 5 minutes of the show. I do it on autopilot, and it annoys and scares me.

sleepychu 10y ago
Why I quit reddit and uninstalled all the quick games on my phone. After a while I lost the compulsion but it's an interesting experiment to show yourself just how often you're opening your phone for drivel.
Tomrn 10y ago
I realised this is why I've been enjoying shows with subtitles recently (some anime titles on netflix) because it forces you to watch the show without the constant phone checking.
TeMPOraL 10y ago
Oh yes. I do that a lot with HackerNews, actually. The show goes to one screen, HN goes to the other. I usually start skimming the site when the show gets "slower", only to realize few minutes later that I missed an important part of the action. An annoying habit I try to fight off. I think it stems from the need to have the brain occupied to some level, and the show reaching close, but not to, that level. I feel the need to add something to cross the boundary. Eating while watching helps (it seems to require just enough cognitive effort to reach the comfort level), but it has its own bad side effects (like scheduling meals to the shows).
JadeNB 10y ago
These days, I only watch TV (usually through Amazon Prime) on my iPad while using the treadmill or stationary bike. That consumes enough of my attention—and makes it enough of a pain to use my hands—that it prevents the urge to do a third activity while watching. (Plus it's healthy!)
PKop 10y ago
You might find this podcast[0] (and his[1] other writings on the subject very interesting. Cal Newport discusses "Deep Work" and how deep, concentrated, uninterrupted focus is 1) becoming more rare these days with so many feed, notifications, devices, etc. and 2) absolutely essential to being productive and successful in almost any field in today's society / economy. It's more interesting than I'm describing. Cal's insights into learning, research, lifestyle, studying were very influential on my study habits and mindset during college. Check him out. [0] https://www.33voices.com/interviews/deep-work https://www.33voices.com/interviews/deep-work [1] http://www.amazon.com/Cal-Newport/e/B001IGNR0U http://www.amazon.com/Cal-Newport/e/B001IGNR0U
zippergz 10y ago
A while back I instituted a personal rule that I am not allowed to use my phone or laptop while watching TV or a movie. My rationale is that if I am uninterested enough in the show to need additional distraction, the show is not a good use of my time and I should just turn it off. It was really hard to get out of the habit, but it's worked pretty well for me. I find that I understand and enjoy the shows I'm watching more, and I also watch less TV because I more consciously notice when I'm getting bored, and I go do something else.
prawn 10y ago
I will do it while watching a movie, except I'll often pause the movie to check a couple of sites (that I've already checked within the last 30 minutes) and before long it's taken me 6 hours across 2-3 nights to watch a 2 hour movie. It's pretty stupid behaviour. Procrastinating even while relaxing.

by donkeyd 10y ago

sleepychu 10y ago

Why I quit reddit and uninstalled all the quick games on my phone. After a while I lost the compulsion but it's an interesting experiment to show yourself just how often you're opening your phone for drivel.

Tomrn 10y ago

I realised this is why I've been enjoying shows with subtitles recently (some anime titles on netflix) because it forces you to watch the show without the constant phone checking.

TeMPOraL 10y ago

Oh yes. I do that a lot with HackerNews, actually. The show goes to one screen, HN goes to the other. I usually start skimming the site when the show gets "slower", only to realize few minutes later that I missed an important part of the action. An annoying habit I try to fight off. I think it stems from the need to have the brain occupied to some level, and the show reaching close, but not to, that level. I feel the need to add something to cross the boundary. Eating while watching helps (it seems to require just enough cognitive effort to reach the comfort level), but it has its own bad side effects (like scheduling meals to the shows).

JadeNB 10y ago

These days, I only watch TV (usually through Amazon Prime) on my iPad while using the treadmill or stationary bike. That consumes enough of my attention—and makes it enough of a pain to use my hands—that it prevents the urge to do a third activity while watching. (Plus it's healthy!)

PKop 10y ago

You might find this podcast[0] (and his[1] other writings on the subject very interesting. Cal Newport discusses "Deep Work" and how deep, concentrated, uninterrupted focus is 1) becoming more rare these days with so many feed, notifications, devices, etc. and 2) absolutely essential to being productive and successful in almost any field in today's society / economy. It's more interesting than I'm describing. Cal's insights into learning, research, lifestyle, studying were very influential on my study habits and mindset during college. Check him out. [0] https://www.33voices.com/interviews/deep-work https://www.33voices.com/interviews/deep-work [1] http://www.amazon.com/Cal-Newport/e/B001IGNR0U http://www.amazon.com/Cal-Newport/e/B001IGNR0U

zippergz 10y ago

A while back I instituted a personal rule that I am not allowed to use my phone or laptop while watching TV or a movie. My rationale is that if I am uninterested enough in the show to need additional distraction, the show is not a good use of my time and I should just turn it off. It was really hard to get out of the habit, but it's worked pretty well for me. I find that I understand and enjoy the shows I'm watching more, and I also watch less TV because I more consciously notice when I'm getting bored, and I go do something else.

prawn 10y ago

I will do it while watching a movie, except I'll often pause the movie to check a couple of sites (that I've already checked within the last 30 minutes) and before long it's taken me 6 hours across 2-3 nights to watch a 2 hour movie. It's pretty stupid behaviour. Procrastinating even while relaxing.