So enough, I thought. What sucks my time the most? It came down to Facebook. So much of it is drivel, unenlightening and unfulfilling. Birthdays, obits, anniversaries, happy families around the campfire/table/birthday cake/wedding - these are all lovely, but by the time I troll and scroll another hour has been swallowed up or 2 or even 3.
It was a big leap but I removed the app from my phone. No more notifications, no more sideways glancing down at the screen as I sit having coffee or dinner.
I still have my online Scrabble games, 30 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes at night. 14 games. I like the brain activity, the searching back for long lost words from my youth.
I still use Messenger for quick contacts with people.
I still have Instagram - which is a quick fix for photo displays.
I still tweet, the odd time, I tend to let it go most days but it is good for newsfeeds. And fast.
I don't bother with Skype or Facetime or Snapchat and never have.
So here I am with about 3 fresh hours in my day to fill and with what you might ask.
Well, this is interesting indeed.
I have hauled out my many unfinished (mainly they need editing, fixing) manuscripts and am working away on one for the past few days. About time. Even with Grandgirl here.
It's a new life of amazing opportunities - to be continued.
Social media is really beginning to become a waste of time......I have never used FACEBOOK and never will.
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MGS, good for you, I don't think you've missed much. I have enjoyed distant family photos, etc and also my groups but the time consumption (screen sucking) took a huge chunk out of my day.
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I'm spending decreasing amounts of time online but do not plan to give up the blog, still enjoy that, and yes, a sensitive tooth, temporary crown and an expensive week here as I had to have a new crown. I hope you and grand girl are having a good visit and all the best with your writing.
ReplyDeleteI can't see myself giving up blogging, I sound off and also get to write of "other stuff."
DeleteGosh E, you've had some challenges and expensive ones.
Yes, we are having a lovely visit. And I check in with her every day on how much I've accomplished.
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Your mind is genius.
ReplyDeleteSeriously Gemma? You flatter me, but I'll take it!
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Good for you WWW! I've never been into F/book, but used to spend lots of time on political sites, reading comments, occasionally commenting. I've given that up, never watch TV news, never read newspapers. I glance at headlines and the occasional article on the BBC website, news-wise each day, write my blog, and glance around Quora, but intend to reduce time there too - that's my lot. Time's precious, anything that makes one feel depressed, frustrated or worried is best avoided, once we reach life's last lap, however long or short that lap turns out to be.
ReplyDeleteVery good insight there T. It is a time gobbler and not a healthy one at all. I make the odd tweet now but it's not holding any charm or positivity for me. I may just back away from that too and focus on the blog and Instagram for my pics.
DeleteTime for the mellow years methinks!
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Well, if you've read my recent post "No News Is Good News" then you know what I think about that. I guess we all have to remember that all these social media outlets are supposed to be tools we use to make our lives better, not machines that control our lives. Anyway, everyone has to make their own peace with social media. I do about an hour a day; that's enough for me.
ReplyDeleteAn excellent post you made there Tom in the way of a wake-up call and almost an existential one - i.e. is the news still there even if I don't read it or detach from it.
DeleteAnd hour a day is a good indicator. I am amazed at how much reading (novel) and writing I'm doing.
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I'm thinking about doing the same. However, I have a rare illness, and the group that specializes in that illness has been a godsend. With a upcoming second brain surgery--or perhaps not as I've just received news that I need to see a hematologist/oncologist as soon as possible--I have plenty of questions to ask of fellow comrades of this type of brain surgery. I am often unable to participate in the marches or protests I'd like to engage in, but the FB group for my local Indivisible group has been important in letting me know what's happening in my community and how I can help. As soon as I get past this brain surgery and recovery, I'm going to go on a FB vacation. I suspect I won't miss FB, but for now I get benefits that I won't anywhere else. I, too, see time spooling away from me whenever I sign on.
ReplyDeleteLinda, all good thoughts go your way as you meet these challenges. I will miss some of my online groups too, and this is only temporary, for now, until I get the novel I'm currently working on to the publisher. I may decide I haven't missed it at all. Daughter joked with me there were hundreds of notifications on my FB status but I'm not even tempted to peek, I know the time cost.
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My facebook account is mostly for contacting family and friends but I too found I was wasting way to much there. I downloaded an app on my computer and set it. I can have 1 hour to catch up, wish everyone a happy birthday and then it locks me out for 24 hours. Just knowing it's there has helped. I've only been locked out twice. I've also added a few of the other sites I get lost on.
ReplyDeleteAt this point I will say I could never give up social media. I love it. It's my contact with the world.
ReplyDeleteI have facebook, which I check on occasion. I'll suspend my account at times when I feel overwhelmed (I just got back on after several weeks hiatus). And my blog, of course. That's it for me and social media - no twitter, no instagram, no snapchat, no pinterest.
ReplyDeleteCongrats to you for recapturing your time. I opened FB acct years ago and quickly realized I was the product and that my privacy was being violated so I’ve rarely gone there, didn’t friend. Opened Linked-In but not using it either since I’m not looking for work. Haven’t wasted my time with Twitters nonsense either. Keep reminding myself to stay in charge and that technology serves me, not the other way around. I think this is going to be important to remember in the future as more and more devices are created for automatic functions all interacting. Also may be problems for those whose basic functions lessen for multiple reasons. Even blogging gets relegated to my taking a rest when it interferes with life, starts to feel like an obligatory activity and ceases to be fun. Can feel like abandoning friends given relationships established.
ReplyDeleteI just quit most social media and wrote about it as well. Great minds!
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