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I recommended it in a similar discussion before, but Cal Newport's "Digital Minimalism" offers reasonable ways to introduce intermittent fasting patterns into y
by prostoalex 5y ago
I recommended it in a similar discussion before, but Cal Newport's "Digital Minimalism" offers reasonable ways to introduce intermittent fasting patterns into your social media consumption vs quitting cold turkey.
Some sample strategies to adopt:
1) Mobile sites only, never apps. Always log out when done to increase the friction of subsequent logins. The most insidious pattern of mindless engagement is when you're bored at the checkout line, waiting in-between meetings with nothing to do, sitting on the toilet.
2) Even better: computer access only, never mobile. Your phone is always around, unlike your PC. Set a time slot (20 min or so) when you know you're around your computer. Social networks really excel at this pattern of usage. You'll get the most important stuff, fluff relegated to the bottom of the feed, which solves the FOMO and shield you from the rest. This can be daily first and then cut down to whatever pattern you feel like (Newport himself claims he catches up on social media once a week).
I am sure I am butchering some of his advice, so worth reading the book.
- nuclearnice1 5y agoWhat would Cal have us do on the can, if not doom scroll Twitter?
- mattgreenrocks 5y agoI'm not Cal, but it seems like the real fix to that isn't finding another attention-consumer, but instead fixing whatever is causing excess can time.
- jimmygrapes 5y agoThat's why Readers Digest existed
- cutthegrass2 5y agomemorise the ingredients list on the shampoo bottle, at least that's what I do when I forget to take my phone to the bathroom.
- valbaca 5y ago> The most insidious pattern of mindless engagement is when you're bored at the checkout line, waiting in-between meetings with nothing to do, sitting on the toilet. Just curious, why is this considered the "most insidious"? Isn't that time wasted anyway? Before cellphones you would just stare off into space (you're not getting any deep thinking or deep work done waiting in line) or would just browse the gum or trash magazines. > computer access only, never mobile This one definitely makes sense. It was interesting time when Facebook was around but smartphones weren't fully ubiquitous. You would only see your feed on the laptop and had to text friends to stay in touch in real-time (even if async)
- 100011_100001 5y agoYou could think and self-reflect. There is a reason why shower thoughts are a thing, in a society dominated by things that illicit emotional reactions it's hard to have time to just be.
- valbaca 5y agoShower thoughts are great b/c you know nearly exactly how long a shower takes, you're relaxed, doing something basically automatic, and can take longer if you need to. You can also talk to yourself. I guess what I'm saying is I find other moments in my day (shower, sipping my coffee in the morning, the few moments I take after I close my work laptop but before I start my evening, journaling, jogging or walking) to be much more effective and rewarding for thinking and self-reflection. Those times give insight and clarity. Not out in public with the cacophony of other people. Obviously one can do both and more power to them/you. I personally find the worst mind-scrolling is when I could be doing anything else (opportunity cost) not when I'm literally just waiting around.
- haswell 5y agoWhen out and about, I think it’s less about finding some meaningful insight in that moment, and more about cultivating a habit of being present.
- 5y ago