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> When I look at my children, I see that they hardly pause anymore. They are always accessible, and almost always busy. The three of them tend to sit in front o
by colmvp 9y ago
> When I look at my children, I see that they hardly pause anymore. They are always accessible, and almost always busy. The three of them tend to sit in front of a screen — usually alone. I do it sometimes too. Become engulfed in my smartphone, enslaved to my tablet — as a consumer and at times as a producer. I am constantly interrupted on my tablet, interruptions engendered by other interruptions. It is stupid.
Sadly, I've noticed this with myself and friends.
We'll be playing a game together on PS4 and instead of just naturally carrying a conversation during a loading screen, a friend will pick up their phone and check their messages. A break in between plays, and yes, they'll check their messages. Check the score. Check a webpage. Sometimes my friends will literally be distracted from playing the game by checking his phone.
It's not until we're sitting at a table eating food for which all distractions are off the table.
Even when I'm tackling a tough problem like a programming challenge or trying to type a detailed reply, instead of sitting with the problem in my head I find myself trying to quickly distract myself. Instead of giving myself 10 minutes to struggle and think, I'll open a new tab and take a quick break to YouTube or HN.
I have noticed that I'm in that very distracted state, one thing I find helpful is to meditate for 10-20 minutes. Just accept the fact that I'm being 'inefficient' for that time and slow down. Reset. Breathe and let my mind kind of settle. I find that if I keep doing that over a course of a day, I'll find that I'm more productive and able to think about things instead of constantly demand to be distracted.
- raziel2701 9y agoI envy those that can quiet their minds in 10-20 minutes. I need to take about an hour to let the dust settle in my head.
- bornonline1 9y agoAttentive breathing helps me
- bamboozled 9y agoLately I've realised I'm exhausted from consumption of * media and entertainment (I don't watch TV, more YouTube etc). Last night I was awake at 2am just thinking I would like to just purge all phones and computers from my house, permanently. I'm not entirely blaming the devices; However, this behaviour is unsustainable. I've also noticed a worrying trend, my parents are getting more and more addicted, I feel they have less change of realising it and getting help.
- cpsempek 9y agoInteresting, I have a similar sentiment. I am aware and dismayed by my abuse of online media on my phone and computer. And so I think I have an addiction to some extent, as I tend to partake in it despite not wanting to. I have taken some preventative measures. I have not gotten a new phone yet, and do not plan to until totally necessary (using an iPhone 6s currently), since most new smart phones are appealing only in the ways that matter if I increase engagement with my phone, which is the opposite of what I'd like to do. It's this awareness of addiction, or at the very least, being multiple company's sucker at once via their products, that is most disheartening. We are able to function right now going on and off the devices/apps/games/feeds, but when will be the point at which weaning off of these things creates real withdrawals, and will we be able to identify that transition if it ever occurs? I'm gonna go sit on my couch now...
- Aspirin_Park 9y agoI often enjoy the silence in the car alone, Especially on a rainy day. No more cell phone, no more TV, and no more noise, It's comfortable.I can hear some true voice from my heart and ponder some problems from work, personal development or anything else. Enjoy the silence at the proper time is necessary, it can create the unexpected value. Moreover, it can free up the heart, and make me better and better.
- mrweasel 9y agoPulling into the parking lot at work, or the driveway at home and turning of the car (and radio), opening the door, and just sit there for a few minutes is oddly relaxing to me. It's just a few minutes of nothing, and it's so comfortable.
- carlivar 9y agoI've recently started running regularly. At first I got a phone strap thing and some Bluetooth earbuds. Used them while running for a while. Music or podcasts. Then my friend, who is a much better runner than me, told me he likes to keep it simple. None of that stuff, just a Garmin watch for pacing/tracking reasons. So I've started running "quietly" as well. It's great. Not only am I exercising my body, I'm cleaning my mind.
- air7 9y ago> Even when I'm tackling a tough problem like a programming challenge or trying to type a detailed reply, instead of sitting with the problem in my head I find myself trying to quickly distract myself. Instead of giving myself 10 minutes to struggle and think, I'll open a new tab and take a quick break to YouTube or HN. Damn it. That's exactly what I'm doing right now. Back to the task at hand...