Internet Addicts (not really) Anonymous
Since I've spent the better part of a year in bed, the internet, largely via the phone, has become my friend. I lurk around observing Instagram, pinning, reading blogs, researching whatever burning question is on my mind at the moment, etc. I have had times of being without my phone (accidentally) that I've had to have a conversation with myself that I will be ok. Some of that is the reality of my life and the emotional/mental toll it has taken, but some of it is just plain too much dependance on that device. I'm half tempted to get a dumb phone. A money saving option I just may consider, though I'm not sure how to go back to life without the calendar and contacts and maps available at all times. Anyway...
I am setting up some rules for myself, and if anyone else would like to join me for accountability (or just keep me accountable), I would love it.
So here are my goals as of now:
I am setting up some rules for myself, and if anyone else would like to join me for accountability (or just keep me accountable), I would love it.
So here are my goals as of now:
- Keep the sound on (quietly) so I don't compulsively check to see if someone has called or texted. I can leave my phone in one place and hear if they did, then respond.
- Charge my phone in the kitchen again. I have been charging by my bed at night-since large bits of this past year I didn't move far from it, but I am not at that point anymore, and I am back to the place where it would clearly be healthier to keep the phone out of my room. (I would undoubtedly get more sleep!)
- Phone goes to the charging station at 9:30, unless I'm out somewhere.
- Phone does not get checked in the morning until the family is fed and off to their days. (Or are all still in bed/not up and around yet.)
- I can check email once in the a.m. and once in the p.m.
- I can check Instagram, Pinterest, and blogs once a day.
- Just stop Facebook. Use it as a tool to keep in contact when helpful, but avoid all the processing that is needed when being exposed to SO much information about EVERYTHING. :)
- I want to use my phone as a tool-largely as a phone and for texting-and be polite. Not only give my attention to the people in stores, doctors' offices, but also to my family. It is so easy to be in my own little world.
I'm not sure what to do about Safari. I think I look up the answers to compelling, burning questions ALL THE TIME. I'm not even sure how to address this. Ideas?
Comments
Keep us updated on how it is going!
em-i am sort of dreading going back to my obnoxiously loud alarm, but maybe in time i'll invest in a gentle one from somewhere... let me know if you find such a thing.
saran-thanks! will do!! at least i can hold myself accountable by reporting here once in awhile or something. :)
Sandra-I hear you!! I like the strong independence I felt just a few short years ago with no phone at all! :)
One of the big problemas I ran into was bedtime-so tempting to be on my phone then because my phone is the perfect quiet alarm clock that wakes me up without waking my kids. Except then trent & i weren't praying as often together at night. : ( I think I'm going to plug it in a bit farther from my bed, so that I can't use it in bed.
As far as the researching...i like to research too. I just kind of (try to) limit my researching times to once a day max and only when certain things around the house are done. Unfortunately I've noticed that as I research more on my phone, my consumption of non-fiction has dropped drastically-trying to reverse that trend because I think reading right before bed was really good for me.
Tonight i failed and took my phone to bed with me. And here I am online, but I can't sleep, so I guess it doesn't count. :)
I totally read less, too, when I'm active on my phone. I haven't enjoyed reading as much this past year because too many topics seemed overwhelming, so researching felt like a better fit, but I am starting to miss it more.
Anyway, I am going to get up and try again tomorrow, and not take it to my room because i 'need to figure something out' and 'jaret is looking at his anyway'. ;)