Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

I Used to Be a Human Being

nymag.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 230 posts

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#11

Post by CMYK5 »

resetting wrote: post #7

I'd be interested to hear everyone's strategies to combat this, as I assume many of us that work in the industry encounter similar problems of distraction and inundation. First, I don't use any devices directly after waking up. I meditate for about 20 minutes upon waking and then try to read fiction for 40 minutes. So, all in, somewhere around an hour of no device distractions before starting my day. Slack is one of…

One thing that has helped me is a "digital purge." I do mine on New Years Day, and I go through every app and ruthlessly un-follow/unfriend anyone who doesn't isn't contributing positively to me in some way (sometimes deleting entire apps).

At the end of the day I'm offering these people direct access to me multiple times daily. If I don't get a positive outcome from these interactions, why keep them around?

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#12

Post by gerbilly »

resetting wrote: post #7

I'd be interested to hear everyone's strategies to combat this, as I assume many of us that work in the industry encounter similar problems of distraction and inundation. First, I don't use any devices directly after waking up. I meditate for about 20 minutes upon waking and then try to read fiction for 40 minutes. So, all in, somewhere around an hour of no device distractions before starting my day. Slack is one of…

>I'd be interested to hear everyone's strategies to combat this, as I assume many of us that work in the industry encounter similar problems of distraction and inundation.

- Close any social media account not used for your job.

- Stop using GPS unless in dire emergencies, even in foreign cities. Buy a map, ask directions.

- Read physical newspapers and books.

- Text people only for coordinating where to physically meet up, no conversations.

- Take up a sport and interact with your friends face to face more.

- Use your phone literally as little as possible. Start with a cold turkey period, and then re-introduce slowly.

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#14

Post by hammock »

simonbarker87 wrote: post #8

I read somewhere recently that smart phones have essentially become random gratification engines in the same way as slot machines. Sometimes on a slot machine you win the jackpot, because of this every pull gives you an endorphin kick, each time we pick up our phones or get a notification it might be an important/interesting thing, therefore we get a little endorphin kick that keeps us checking. Because of this I tur…

Look up "Skinner box." Basically codified the psychology behind a slot machine. A mouse hits a single lever that either releases or doesn't release food. When the lever is set to Always release food, the mouse soon gets bored and only eats when he's hungry. When the lever is set to Randomly release food, the mouse gets addicted, compulsively hitting the lever all day without concern for how fat he is getting.

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#15

Post by nxzero »

gerbilly wrote: post #12
resetting wrote: post #7

I'd be interested to hear everyone's strategies to combat this, as I assume many of us that work in the industry encounter similar problems of distraction and inundation. First, I don't use any devices directly after waking up. I meditate for about 20 minutes upon waking and then try to read fiction for 40 minutes. So, all in, somewhere around an hour of no device distractions before starting my day. Slack is one of…

>I'd be interested to hear everyone's strategies to combat this, as I assume many of us that work in the industry encounter similar problems of distraction and inundation. - Close any social media account not used for your job. - Stop using GPS unless in dire emergencies, even in foreign cities. Buy a map, ask directions. - Read physical newspapers and books. - Text people only for coordinating where to physically me…

Always fun watch someone go cold turkey, since it becomes obvious to them their an infozombie really quick; reaching for a phone in their pocket that's not there every few minutes, going through withdrawals from not being able to read feeds/email, etc.

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#16

Post by CMYK5 »

The problem is that these technologies are increasingly necessary to function within normal society. Do we somehow regulate the allowable behaviors of apps? Is it on us to improve our self control so we can act as engaged, but distant participants?

There's also the ethical question around people not being aware of their obsessions/addictions (especially in the mobile gaming space)

Re: I Used to Be a Human Being

#20

Post by zeveb »

resetting wrote: post #7

I'd be interested to hear everyone's strategies to combat this, as I assume many of us that work in the industry encounter similar problems of distraction and inundation. First, I don't use any devices directly after waking up. I meditate for about 20 minutes upon waking and then try to read fiction for 40 minutes. So, all in, somewhere around an hour of no device distractions before starting my day. Slack is one of…

> Slack is one of the biggest interrupting factors while coding these days, more so than IRC ever was for me, so I try to have chunks of time during the day with it closed.

I used a client which enables me to mute most of the notifications, which is pretty nice.

> For personal things, I deleted Facebook and feel quite a bit better.

I like it, but I only check it once in the morning and once in the evening, from my desktop.

I don't have any social apps on my phone, except G+ — and it's hardly brimming with notifications!

Post reply on HN