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| I need more of this |
It's so much easier to *read* about crafting while I veg in front of the computer than actually sit down in the craft room and work actively on a project. I can pretend like I'm informed about current events and social injustices by reading links friends have shared on Facebook, without actually *doing* anything to right wrongs in the world, in whatever small way I might be able to help.
I can claim I'm "keeping in touch" with friends as I passively read their updates about new babies, parenting challenges and cool jobs, without actually seeing them in person, chatting with them on the phone or exchanging a detailed personal email. Or (gasp!) a handwritten letter.
I'm starting to feel like Facebook is like an adult version of preschool, where a bunch of kids are all together in a room and learning how to interact with each other. We're all shouting things out about ourselves, without really taking turns like you would in a one on one conversation, or just shutting up and listening quietly while someone tells their whole story. It's loud and chaotic. Everyone is only listening with half an ear, while they talk themselves.
Sure, I have made and strengthened friendships on Facebook as I've written before. I've gotten some great parenting advice there. But right now it's just overwhelming. How many different articles do I need to read about the Boston bombers or gender inequality? Do I really need 17 affirmations every day about how awesome I am, in fonts and colors that make my eyes hurt?
I'm starting to feel the same way about blogging. I do love reading posts that are useful to me, especially time management and parenting topics. But I'm finding myself in that same rut, where I'm desperately reading every new time management book or post I can get my hands on in an attempt to structure and control this new stay-home life I'm in.
My new genre is apparently "mommy time management" books and blogs. And I know, they're probably meant for dads too, but most dads I know don't spend time reading about this stuff, they just jump in and do whatever they think is right. I need more of that kind of action right now.
The irony of posting this on my personal blog is not lost on me. How many people really need to see my scrapbook pages? Or the photos I post on Instagram? I can say proudly that we don't have TV in our house, but we have more than 12 Internet-enabled devices (seriously). If I'm sitting in front of those all day, is that really any better?!
I'm saturated by all this media, social and otherwise. I need to figure out my path through it. I think for now it might involve turning a lot of it OFF. This is different from our "tech sabbath" where we did the "no screen" thing for 24 hours (and didn't quite make it). This is more of a selective process, trying to decide what I need and want from the chaos. Email obviously will stay, since I'm job hunting. But the rest of the "infotainment"? I think it has to go.
Thoughts?
It is a very selective process. I find I hardly go on facebook anymore unless I get a notification and I've limited myself to two scrapbook sites and so far I've been able to balance things :)
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of only checking when getting notifications.
DeleteBeautiful picture. I know how you feel. It is too much sometime. Then, I force myself to put my phone down for an hour and someone is pissed because I didn't answer a text right away or something.
ReplyDeleteI actually think instagram is the one thing that I can stand these days. FB I use very selectively to post on myself, but I do read it constantly throughout the day. It is too much. Blogging is fun I think, so that stays. MB are definitely more trouble than they are worth, but I can't help rubbernecking all the drama there sometimes. Definitely good to get away from..
I know, it's the drama stuff on the MBs that is like some sort of weird guilty pleasure for me. And it's really not good.
DeleteI love Instagram more for the filters and saving the pics to my phone than the actual sharing part. I guess I could switch to some other app that's not inherently "social".
Love your post. I think I've never felt that I need to stop anything because I'm so structured with my time.
ReplyDeleteI am on instagram and I feed some of those (only one a day) through to Facebook so the family and friends can see pics of the babies or what's kind of happening in my life.
If I have 5 minutes before I have to get out of bed, I FB otherwise really, my life is too busy :)
This is good. I think because my time is suddenly so unstructured, I end up wasting a lot more of it, which is a travesty.
DeleteYes, I do have thoughts!
ReplyDeleteThe new Facebook update has made it clear how much time people spend posting links, reposting inspirational photos, etc. I just skip them all and look for real information. I check once in the morning and once in the evening. Maybe lunch time if I am multi-tasking during a work conference call and am bored.
Blogs - the removal of Google Reader made me go through and completely clean out my reading list before I moved them all to Feedly. It was good, like spring cleaning.
Being at the beach a lot the last year has made me realize how much more I love time AWAY from the computer. So I am making an active effort in 2013 to put down the phone, walk away from the screen, and spend more time in person. Focusing my time only on the things that are important to me.
This is so good. I know I'm happier with "real life" things than just sitting in front of the computer where I feel like I'm not accomplishing anything.
DeleteGood point about the Google Reader/Feedly. I should probably use mine more - now I just skip around to stuff that looks good (what a time suck!!!)
Loved this post, I have felt the same way lately! Well, about everything about the MB's, where I truly love connecting with others. But totally agree about sitting in front of the computer loading up on inspiration, but not sitting in my craft room and doing anything about it. And Facebook? Don't even get me started. Would love to scroll through just once and not see a picture of a tortured animal or "inspirational quote". Annoying.
ReplyDeleteI'm not on Facebook for many of the reasons you list. But it's just as easy to get sucked into other sites....Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter all get much of my valuable time. Lately, I have been setting an alarm on my phone for 15 minutes so I'm more aware of the minutes that tick away while I'm online. It's been an eye opener!
ReplyDeleteI'm very wary of social media. I don't do facebook. Never have.
ReplyDeleteI hope you can find a balance that allows you to find inspiration and then put it into USE!
I love this post! I think the balance is different for everyone but I agree that more often than not, I spend more time looking at/pinning/thinking about projects/inspiration than actually DOING anything. Maybe because my time to pin an image is so much less than actually finding the time to sit down and do something? Facebook is "meh" but I still check it. I love blog reading so if I were to give up anything, it would be twitter/FB.
ReplyDeleteIt's interesting that you feel this way. How much of it is your own mind telling you to keep up with this stuff? Can you learn to let go of its importance? I go on Facebook or peruse blogs with the same constraints I use for any entertainment. That is, if I have time to kill, I'll do it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I stay off devices if Maya's around because a) I want to reduce temptation for her and b) I want to model a good example. Plus, nothing is so important (not phone calls, not text messages, not FB updates) that it can't wait a little while. And when it comes to FB, nothing is important enough that it can't be missed. That's my philosophy anyway, but I'm never an all-or-nothing type.
Divya, this comment has really stayed with me the past couple of days. Your point about being a good example hits home. I *try* to stay off devices around T, but I've gotten worse lately. I think maybe a "no device" policy might actually be better than "in moderation".
DeleteI don't actually feel like I'm missing stuff if I'm not on FB, but it has become such an integral part of my day that I'm checking it as much as I check email. It's like this insidious bad habit that's crept in.
I think it's different for everybody at different times in your life, you need to do what works for you. I enjoy surfing and looking at blogs and couldn't give it up but I try and limit how much I am on the Internet.
ReplyDeleteI definitely feel like this some time...the ultimate irony, reading about increasing productivity when I'm supposed to be working! Good luck with your decision; I keep SAYING I need to turn off for a while, but I've never actually gotten around to it. I'm thinking of NOT finding an alternative to Google Reader and seeing how that works for me...
ReplyDelete