Cutting Back On Screen Time

Like I posted about the other day, I am trying to make more intentional and conscious choices in my life.

To do this, I've decided (in the Lenten spirit) to give up some of the screen time that has been dominating my life.

You want to talk about entrenched habits, this one is a doozy. I don't think I've been away from the Internet for any substantial period of time since I was in 6th grade. I also love episodic story telling, which is fancy talk for "I watch too much TV." Add to that the increasing distraction of various social networks, and it became pretty apparent that I needed to step back and evaluate some of my patterns around technology use.

Technology and social networking can be fantastic for many reasons, e.g., connecting with people, learning from others, staying informed. But it wasn't feeling healthy or helpful anymore -- it was more like a drug. I hated the way I felt when I was sucked down a Facebook rabbit hole or in a manically distracted state with a billion browser windows open (none of them getting my full attention).

What made it worse, is that I'm completely guilty of getting sucked into the Internet mentality of "see it all, see it first." This impossible mission can be seductive, making you feel like you know what's going on and you're a part of it all. Unfortunately, what it actually means is that you know what's going on in the small, clamoring echo chamber of the Internet.

I'm definitely not saying that there can't be meaningful interactions online. It happens all the time! But my own habits have become increasingly harmful, and the best way for me to figure out a more balanced path is to take a step back.

I'm still on the computer for work, still checking personal email a couple times a day, and still writing for this blog and the EL Twitter account. Most of my work will happen offline, though, and I'm cutting out the superfluous screen hours.

In the newly opened free time I have, I hope to refocus on what's most important to me -- creativity, food, friends, moving my body, and living the day-to-day stuff with a greater sense of urgency.

Maybe I'll even regain my attention span while I'm at it.

(Photo by Cristopher Saccaro.)