Oh, and I didn't want to exclude anyone when I said stay-at-home moms might struggle more. I was just thinking in terms of not necessarily being super-committed to something else (but what am I talking about, hello children?). For instance, a full-time worker has commitments from 8-5. There still might be the occasional Facebook check every once in a while. Full time employees, what do you think?**
My typical internet usage throughout the day looks like this: open Google Chrome, hit g and go to Gmail, then hit f and go to Facebook. I might go back and forth between the two for a while, it just depends if I'm anxiously waiting for someone to message me back on either site. --Sometimes I'm incredibly impatient when I message someone about something I'm excited about. I want to hear their response as soon as possible! It's a little ridiculous, really.-- Occasionally on Facebook, I'll link through to an interesting article that one of my friends has shared. Sometimes I'm incredibly disciplined and am able to close out of both. Sometimes I'm incredibly undisciplined and will scroll through the home page for a while, go back to Gmail and see if there are any new emails, then go back to Facebook and check the newly refreshed home-page-news-feed-importance.
I had to stop myself every time I got online yesterday. It really is a habit to go through that cycle. Sometimes I will go through it a lot. On days when I'm hanging out with friends, or have things to do outside the home with Henry, I don't go through it that often. Those days I'm usually much more content and happy, though it could be the combination of not going through the comparathon and of getting out and about (something I enjoy).
As far as inconveniences go, there were a few that I experienced:
- I had to email a friend to ask for another friends email address so that I could start some planning for an upcoming event.
- I started an email chain as opposed to a message chain.
- I had to plan ahead and write down an address to a baby shower I was attending.
Not too bad, really. Let's not forget, this was after only after not logging on for one day. The break from Saturday to Wednesday might allow for more inconveniences.
As far as benefits, there were several!
As far as benefits, there were several!
- I was able to play more restfully with Henry and his friend Lucy.
- Once my emailing was finished, there wasn't much else online I had to do, so I would close my computer allowing for a more restful heart.
- I felt more calm and content.
Honestly, there were times where I wanted to check my Facebook to see what people were up to. My sister, Jalaena, was on her account and I definitely wanted to read things over her shoulder. There's such a pull to it. I want to be in control of Facebook, I don't want it to control me.
What's your usual online routine? If you work full-time, do you still find yourself checking your phone?
I've thought about doing the same experiment. About the only time that I go completely "offline" anymore is Thursday evening (daddy date night with T) or out at the ranch. It's amazing how much more relaxed and in the moment you are when you aren't trying to keep up with social media.
ReplyDeleteI heard a really good piece of advice about how to think of your social media accounts:
Think of it as a stream that is constantly flowing, but when you come to visit it, you just dip your toe in and feel the current water flowing by. You don't try to get the water that's already downstream, and don't plan to catch all the water flowing by, you are just dipping your toe in for a bit.
That helped me stop trying to scroll back and read everything I missed since the last time I was on Facebook etc. Now I just visit and dip my toe in every once in a while.
Good luck with your experiment!
Mateo
I'm posting a comment, maybe, the first one disappeared! It was probably operator error, lol.
ReplyDeleteIn the evenings, I get on fb, check my wall, click like on some things, make occasional comments, play the games your aunt and I are signed up for, and get off. I'm not real good at checking my email, probably once a month on it, but I use my work email more (& my blackberry email) since I'm there 8-5. On lunch hour I might check fb on my phone to pass time since we have to have a certain length of lunch hour, but that's maybe only a couple of times a week unless i get an email notification that one of you kids posted something, and I might check it out then or wait til I get home and use the computer instead.
I don't feel the need to check it a lot and having only about 70 friends and acquaintances, my wall doesn't change that rapidly, although I have gotten to a point that i use it almost everyday where at first it was just a couple of times a week.
I didn't have this technology growing up and you, Thomas & Jalaena didn't either and I don't think that was a bad thing, we had activities that we participated in. You got your computer when you went to college, same with sis, and even Thomas just recently got a home computer and smart phone. Like most other things, it can be used in either a good or bad way and should probably be used in moderation. If indulged in too much it can lead to problems with people becoming depressed, anti-social or even addiction when a person escapes into the online world to avoid dealing with the real one. I think its far better that people interact personally with each other rather than just being a picture on a social media site. :)