Digital Distraction Ben Klocek
The Challenges
• Information Overload
• Constant Distraction
• Social Media Anxiety
• Alone Together
• Inner Life
flickr.com/photos/lukew/6171377827/
Information Overload “Informed bewilderment”
Information Fatigue My brain couldn’t keep up
Information Overload: Strategy
• Acknowledge that it's not possible to keep up. There's more info created each day than you can read in a year.
• Choose your sources wisely, budget the time you spend online, and when you feel your mind getting tired, move on.
• Take up an artistic practice. The time spent on aesthetic creation gives your mind a break.
Constant Distraction Tuned in and tuned out.
Distraction: Strategy
• Come back to your body.
• Do one thing at a time and know why you are doing it.
• Plan times to be plugged in, and times to be unplugged. Stick to the plan.
• Spend time in nature without devices.
• Create a “Distraction” folder on you phone for FB, Instagram, Twitter, etc.
“Yes, master” Who’s in charge?
Social Media Anxiety Maintaining your “second” self.
Social Media Anxiety: Strategy
• Remember that you are managing two identities, online and off.
• Remember that people are likely to only post things that make them look good.
• Be aware of how much benefit you are actually receiving from participating.
• Choose to respond when it’s convenient to you.
• FOMOs: Fear Of Missing Out. Acknowledge that you can’t ready every post.
Alone Together “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity” - Albert Einstein
Alone Together: Strategy
• Agree with your friends on when it’s ok for each of you to be on your devices and when it’s not.
• Make certain areas of your house (like the kitchen and dining room) device-free.
• For friends or couples, plan times to be unplugged together.
• Restaurant phone stacking. First to pick up, pays.
Inner Life Spend time with yourself.
Inner Life: Strategy
• Take a walk alone without your phone.
• One day a week tech-free (I do Sunday).
• Do art.
It’s up to you.“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”- Annie Dillard