After looking back at the comments on my last post, I have decided to look at my diet differently. I need to remember to provide myself with choices and teach myself to choose which information I want to obtain. I want to keep the positives and cut back on the negative information I receive.
It was interesting thinking about “food labels” for information. Most foods come with food labels, but our information sources do not. The labels tell us how many calories and the specific macros of that particular food, however, our information sources do not come with these warning labels. It got me thinking, how the heck do I cut back my intake if I don’t even know what it is that I am consuming?! Maybe I need to create my own food label, one serving of Facebook is 10 minutes, one serving of Instagram is 15 minutes, etc. Maybe I need to limit myself to 10 servings a day across all information sources. But then how do I account for parent and other work related emails…...I haven’t quite figured that out. I know I need to cut back on my information consumption, however, just like any diet, getting started is a learning curve and then once you understand it, it's hard to form the new habit.
I need to allow myself to fail at my diet a few times, and keep trying. In the long run, I will probably be a happier person without carrying all of this (information) weight on my shoulders. What strategies have you tried using to cut back? What strategies have you actually stuck to?
Jordyn, when you think about, you've already made the first step...you've identified that you have a problem (using that sarcastically). I like the idea of you developing your own "label", but it kinda read more like a currency of sorts or like a chore chart for kids that get to earn screen time. :)
ReplyDeleteI've tried to put the phone down, especially when I get home. I had my first successful attempt last night. I am so tired of my kids (my 8 year old especially) watching youtube videos of fishing and others playing mindcraft and then giving flack when it's time to read before going to bed. I turned off the tv, made the conscious effort to tell my kids "Mommy will put her phone away" and had game night and read books. Then at least my mommy guilt felt less intense. And my kids were calmer when it was time to go to bed. One day down, one day to go.
Hahah whether it is an 8 year old or my husband watching silly videos on Youtube - if I make an effort to spend more time with him he would be happy to step away from YouTube. But I struggle getting all this homework done and he is left to watch tiny houses ;) - which he thinks someday we are going to live in but he is VERY wrong ;)
DeleteI think our Net Smarts gives a bit of insight as well with attention and mindfulness. Whether we are working on or offline we have to make choices and be mindful or where we are placing our attention mentally and physically. It is so hard not to get distracted and like a budget or diet it takes work to write down everything you are spending or eating to see where the possible problems are. But I find when I do take the time and "report to myself" then it is clear that I need to make some changes. Each day is a bit different as some sort of "fire" need more attention than other days. That is where we think we have "failed" but I think if we are just trying and being mindful and aware of our information consumption we have more control and will make better choices. In my head this all makes sense so I hope I have tried to communicate these thoughts to you.
ReplyDeleteBeing a little older and old school at times we still play board games in our house and not so much games on the phone. We also enjoy putting together puzzles and always have one on the table at our mountain home that doesn't have internet. It is time to get away and hang out with friends. When I have friends come for a weekend the first thing they ask is what's the wifi name and password. When I tell them we have no internet connection there is a big sigh and they have to fill their time without use of the internet. Sitting by the firepit, sipping a beverage of choice, star gazing, listening to the night sounds and the train tooting it's whistle are all ways to fill the time. It can be done but like you say it takes a strategy.
ReplyDeleteAt school students love the new Prodigy math game on-line but they also like the hands-on math activities. It takes time for me to plan but it is worth the extra work. On Friday, we measured potatoes, onions, lemons, apples, grapes, and butter. There eyes lit up when they saw the real things and were very engaged with making their scales balance to equal a pound. They are bringing to school something that ways close to a pound this week.