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How to stop being “terminally online”

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11–20 of 238 posts

Re: How to stop being “terminally online”

#11
Recently I was arrested and had all my electronics seized by the police.

The whole experience was a wake-up call, not just in terms of being arrested but being without a computer or any way to get online for a couple of weeks.

It really made me realize how 'addicted' I was to the internet, and going cold turkey was horrible, time slowed down and I was sure I was missing out on everything.

But I read so much more and all the days seemed longer (time dragged so much) and then when I finally got back online I hadn't missed sh*t.

Re: How to stop being “terminally online”

#12

Recently I was arrested and had all my electronics seized by the police. The whole experience was a wake-up call, not just in terms of being arrested but being without a computer or any way to get online for a couple of weeks. It really made me realize how 'addicted' I was to the internet, and going cold turkey was horrible, time slowed down and I was sure I was missing out on everything. But I read so much more and…

Yikes! Was this in the US? Did you get a lawyer?

Re: How to stop being “terminally online”

#13
post #12

Recently I was arrested and had all my electronics seized by the police. The whole experience was a wake-up call, not just in terms of being arrested but being without a computer or any way to get online for a couple of weeks. It really made me realize how 'addicted' I was to the internet, and going cold turkey was horrible, time slowed down and I was sure I was missing out on everything. But I read so much more and…

Yikes! Was this in the US? Did you get a lawyer?

[deleted]

Re: How to stop being “terminally online”

#14

Honestly, I'm an information addict. I'm online far too much mainly reading news etc. I think I've forgotten how I lived without a constant stream of information. I'm seriously tempted to get a dumb phone to remove temptation to browse when I have a few minutes to spare. The stupid thing is for all my reading, I don't feel any wiser or even knowledgeable. At the same time I think I'm less able to engage in normal con…

I have a few rules and habits that helped me kick. They might help you?

Never to walk down the street looking at my phone. Eyes on the road. If I need to look at my phone, I stop somewhere out of the way of foot traffic.

All notifications are silent except calls or text messages from specific people. Calls from people I don't know and text messages get only a slow blinking light. Social media get no notifications.

When I am with someone or a group in person, phone goes away.

If I wouldn't allow someone to interrupt a conversation, the phone doesn't either. I won't answer it if someone is talking to me, especially something important. When there's a pause in the conversation, I'll ask politely to check to see who called.

Finally, and this might be the biggest, I am constantly listening to audiobooks and podcasts. It scratches that itch of needing constant stimulation, but I can still be aware of everything around me.

Re: How to stop being “terminally online”

#15
It's a balancing act and for me, Internet use is an addiction like gluttony. Forgive my lack of empathy, but addiction takes on a whole other quality when you're addicted to some necessity of life.

Food is, of course, a quintessential necessity, and someone who overeats or has an eating disorder needs to come to terms with temperance, moderation, and balance of lifestyle, rather than quit eating altogether.

15 years ago, it was realistic to hang up the modem, unplug the computer, get face out of screen, and get some fresh air for long stretches of time. But my reality today is that I use a device online to manage my household and do ordinary, everyday tasks, including working for my employer is 100% online. Implicit in this article is the fact that the Internet is no longer something to be avoided or removed from our lives; the article simply suggests that we can use it differently, improving our attitudes and our approach.

So rather than a "kick the habit" strategy, we typically need to devise time-management techniques and ways to form better habits around good, productive use of our devices, while balancing that with actual needs to unplug and take a walk in the fresh air.

That may mean that I don't obsessively check bank balances and twiddle my bill payments 3 times a day, 7 days a week. And it means that I'm not allowing every email and SMS to distract me from a task. And perhaps channels about home meal preparation and gentleman's grooming should be dominating my YouTube suggestions, above SNL and Avril Lavigne tracks.

I also need to cope with being triggered. If I have an anxiety attack or fit of rage over someone who's Wrong on the Internet, I am guaranteed to suffer insomnia and all the rest. And so we need the skillsets to short-circuit and defuse those situations, and sometimes the situation is avoidable and sometimes we need to find a way to push through it without losing our heads.

This blogger offers 15 pragmatic, common-sense strategies for coping. And it can get better. Do not believe that you can escape the Internet by avoiding it, nor can you escape real life by going online. Develop good hygiene, good habits, be productive, and learn to cope when things inevitably get difficult.

Re: How to stop being “terminally online”

#16
Well it is a good message but a tad poorly researched and underdeveloped thoughts.

Being stuck in a "compulsion loop" online is not healthy for your mind. It doesn't matter if it is Twitter, TikTok or even Hacker News. What I'm seeing online now and those around me. Online behaviours that take the form of addictions are not healthy and should not be a part of a healthy persons lifestyle. And I wish that it would become a trend.

Re: How to stop being “terminally online”

#20
post #2

One thing I've noticed about 'terminal online' is that people vastly underestimate how much it affects them. Myself included. It seems if I ever call out a loved one, whether my brother or wife or friend, for being on their phone too much, they immediately get defensive and argue they were just doing some one task. Even if this was initiated after them being zoned out for an hour or longer. And I've done the same whe…

>mom is too busy with Facebook again

That sent shivers down my spine, wow.

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