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Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

theminimalists.com

211–220 of 278 posts

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#211

I haven't dealt with my laptop based computer addiction, but I have solved my cell phone addiction. It's important to understand how much behavior around technology is based on ingrained habits. My goal with dealing with my phone was to "short-circuit" the habitual/addictive behavior. To do this, I did two things. 1. I turned off all automatic notifications on my phone, as well as all background updates of apps/email…

Similar for my phone. I have vibration turned off for all apps, and most limited to just 'badges' for me to check when I want. I feel more relax; it's a better way to live.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#212
post #164

What the author suggests is highly impractical, and makes adopting this way of life all the more challenging. I suggest for people who have a serious problem, to try out time-managers and site-blockers. When I was going through a highly unproductive phase, I used ColdTurkey. The software's not too good and if you're really craving for a fix, you'll find a way to get past it. But, for the regular procrastinator it doe…

The author suggests that if you assume that not having an internet connection at home is highly impractical, you should take a moment to really think about whether you're assuming too much. I agree. As for me, I'm a remote worker but I rent a desk in a coworking space, which means I can use their high speed internet for hours every day. That's a lot of time to acquire information and do chores. So the consequence of…

> The author suggests that if you assume that not having an internet connection at home is highly impractical, you should take a moment to really think about whether you're assuming too much.

Perhaps it is my young age, but all the people I know are effectively lepers if they're not, atleast, connected to the internet.

I was rash in assuming everyone was similar. Now that I think of it, there are older people that wouldn't miss a beat if they took time away from the internet.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#213
People of my generation around me, myself included, tend or tended to boast how we are living without any TV at home compared to our parents or the time we spent watching TV when we were younger. Now, people in my flat sharing were watching series on their own laptops most of the evenings, otherwise spending their time on internet.

In retrospective, I wonder if we will have the same "relationship" with Internet our parents have with the TV, and if our children will behave the same with Internet as we do now regarding our pride not to use a TV anymore.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#216
post #215

Why dedicate all your life to making money? All these "productivity" things, working 20 hours each day. To show others that you are not "loser"?

If I may play devil's advocate:

1. to retire early

2. if you are in america, to ensure you can afford to live someplace where the schools are good for your kids. A sad state of affairs but it is what it is.

3. assuming you enjoy your work, to make some positive difference in the world before you inevitably die.

4. if you do not enjoy your work, then so you can get your hateful work done sooner, and then have time to do what you actually want to do.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#218
post #203

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I solved that problem with a far simpler solution. I don't own a smartphone. I spend eight to ten hours watching a screen at work. Don't want to spend another five doing the same thing in my leisure. I also don't own any tablets, for the same reason, except a Kindle which I use every now and then in commuting. Most people I meet feel surprised when I tell them I don't have a smartphone especially considering that I'm…

Perhaps you are just using your smartphone wrong? I use it to do: - Read News article and books on my communte - Use the flashlight in the morning or evening when it is to dark (when winter i use it every evening when going home from the train to my flat 10 minutes) - Use it as a phone - use maps for navigation - Check out gps stuff when sitting in a plain - use the sync feature to have an up to date contact list - g…

I think it is actually your first point regarding reading news articles and books that people are trying to avoid. People become addicted to constantly looking up things to distract themselves instead of paying attention to what is going on around them.

If you take public transportation, look around, everyone is looking at their phones and no one is interacting with the real people around them.

We have become a society lost in their digital devices.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#219
If you have kids and ever go to some sort of school function like a play etc. Look around at all the parents watching the play through the phone screen recording instead of just putting it down and looking at their kids as they perform.

I noticed I did that and decided to just leave my phone in my pocket and watch it directly with my eyes. You feel so much more connected with the moment and your kids value the eye contact.

Re: Removing Home Internet Is the Most Productive Thing I've Done

#220

Earlier quoted context omitted.

After a long addiction where I had used my phones as projects rather than tools, I decided to unwind. The blinking notification light was the first one to go, as I couldn't concentrate when it was active (which was most of the time). The next step was to buy a huge battery which made my phone twice as thick, but I only needed to charge it every few days which was a huge thing not having to worry about constantly. Aft…

I did a similar thing. I replaced my iPhone (after I dropped and smashed it) with a Nokia 105 "dumbphone". It can only do calls and SMS messaging. It's the best thing I've ever done. I knew I'd get by without most things but I wondered how I'd get by without google maps in my pocket. I bought a road atlas for the car and quickly re-learned how to read a map and plan a route the old fashioned way. If I'm going somewhe…

Just be aware that SMS 2FA isn't considered secure anymore:

https://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2016/08/nist_is_no_lo...

https://www.wired.com/2016/06/hey-stop-using-texts-two-facto...

http://blog.kraken.com/post/153209105847/security-advisory-m...

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