"Save Your Sanity, Downgrade Your Life."

[moonpalace]

Some interesting nuggets in this Times article. I'm not endorsing the whole thing, just sharing because folks might be interested and it's a quick read.

I just returned from a six-day vacation in a house with no internet and no cell service (but a really nice lake to swim in!), and it was pretty darn amazing!

[liveitupoutdoors]

This resonates with me, for sure!  There are so many "simple" pleasures in life, none of which are based on the latest and greatest app or electronic gadget or drug or large outlay of $$.  It can be good to "stop and smell the roses" more often than not!

[lizzzi]

Yes, I'm not as extreme as the writer of the NYTimes article, but I do find that I have to keep a tight rein on my technology. I use it for what I need and enjoy, and don't let it get the upper hand. For me the phone is not addictive--and it is never on the table if I'm with others--but browsing the Internet on my laptop is hard to stop. I can stay online for eight hours a day, and completely waste my day looking at shoes, the crowned heads of Europe and their outfits, the tabloid newspapers, and this forum, of course. lol I'm getting better all the time though--at beating the laptop demon and doing "real" things. My Kindle is not much of a problem. I have one and use it, but much prefer a hardcopy book. The experience is different--much richer--makes my imagination three-dimensional.  The stories seem flat on the Kindle. For music I play Sirius XM or CDs in the car, but like to sing and/or play my own acoustic instruments in the house. I do a couple hours of TV most evenings--still have cable, also Netflix and Amazon Prime--and sometimes buy DVDs. I know, I know. But it's a personal choice. I'm in the woods a lot with my dog--the natural world is great for saving your sanity.

I do find I'm happier in general and sleep better at night if I curtail the technology. (And no screens in the bedroom, of course.)

[Gone_Hiking]

I do find I'm happier in general and sleep better at night if I curtail the technology. (And no screens in the bedroom, of course.)

This

I have had a few conversations with folks lately regarding their stress level.  The company I work for tries to dupe employees into installing work email on their phones.  The wise ones ignore the claptrap.  The ones trying to impress someone don't.   Some of those can't fall asleep because they worry about work email coming from India or Australia.   This in a place that extols Agile methodology which assumes sustainable level of effort without overworking anyone.  Someone said they envy me because I am willing to completely disengage.   I preach disengagement, but it's tough going with the crowd on the floor.

[Monkey Uncle]

Pisshh.  Amateur.

Never had a smart phone.  DW and I share an ancient trac flip phone that we carry with us on long car trips as a safety back-up.  Only turn it on if we need to make a call.  We've got a $10/mo land line through the cable/internet provider.

Even the work phone that I'm forced to carry is a flip phone.  It discourages my staff and boss from texting me all the time.

DW and I share a 6 year old gigantic tower computer.  My work computer is a laptop, but I leave it at the office most evenings and weekends.

Never done any social media, unless you count popping in to linked in once a week to see if any of the cobwebs on my profile have moved.  Mainly just keeping the profile in case I feel the need to do some consulting after I FIRE.

When people talk about all these apps and photo, social media, whatever sites that they spend so much time with, I literally have no idea what they're talking about.

Basic cable only.  Wouldn't even have that if we could pick up a decent broadcast signal here.  Personally, I probably wouldn't have any form of TV, but DW wouldn't go for it.

Our "main" car is 8 years old.  It has an am/fm radio and a single cd player.  No backup camera, beepers, self-parking, or any of that shit.  Unfortunately it has an automatic transmission because manuals are getting as scarce as hen's teeth.

Our back-up vehicle is 32 year old pickup (well, the body is 32 years old; chassis is 39 years old).  And no, it's not a fancy show truck.

And even my MMM forum vice isn't too bad.  I've been here for three years plus, and still haven't reached handlebar status.

[monkeymoustache]

Great article that really resonates with me.

I'm currently working on paring down lots of the technology based distractions in my life. I often feel like my brain is completely fried by the number of inputs and spinning plates it's trying to manage. Ironically I work in technology but over time have found myself opting out more and more of those things that I don't feel are adding value to my life. Things are moving at a break-neck speed and we're not very good at questioning what new inputs we allow into our lives.


 

[bobechs]

I do find I'm happier in general and sleep better at night if I curtail the technology. (And no screens in the bedroom, of course.)

What about the Goddamn mosquitoes?

Or do you just embrace the (blood)suck?

[lizzzi]

I do find I'm happier in general and sleep better at night if I curtail the technology. (And no screens in the bedroom, of course.)

What about the Goddamn mosquitoes?

Or do you just embrace the (blood)suck?

Ha, ha. It took me a minute! Yes, screens on the windows--not that the occasional mosquito doesn't find its way in. So get up, turn on a light, put on glasses for through walls and around corners X-ray vision, and hunt that little buzzing biter down!

[GuitarStv]

Windows 10 has a cool feature that lets you shift the displayed colours to show less blue.  I find it much easier to get to sleep after using the computer late at night with this night mode turned on.

[bacchi]

Windows 10 has a cool feature that lets you shift the displayed colours to show less blue.  I find it much easier to get to sleep after using the computer late at night with this night mode turned on.

f.lux for Mac and Windows does the same on a schedule. There's Twilight for Android.

[GuitarStv]

Windows 10 has a cool feature that lets you shift the displayed colours to show less blue.  I find it much easier to get to sleep after using the computer late at night with this night mode turned on.

f.lux for Mac and Windows does the same on a schedule. There's Twilight for Android.

Yeah, same idea on Windows (it can be set to turn on when sun sets in your area).  I was just surprised how much difference it made.