Comments on: the beauty of disconnection

By: Minimalist Web Surfing |

Minimalist Web Surfing | — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 22:58:26 +0000

[...] down the number of blogs I follow to a few high quality ones and if I’m really desperate, disconnecting once in a [...]

By: sergey samokhov

sergey samokhov — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 22:00:25 +0000

A few more disconnection ideas:
- A netbook with WiFi off (I actually use that for writing. It even has no firewall or antivirus, because it’s not supposed to be connected, ever).
- Separate user account with only the necessary icons present (if a separate netless netbook is too much for you).
- Like CW Hong said above, “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.” :)

By: Twitter Trackbacks for The Beauty of Disconnection : focus [focusmanifesto.com] on Topsy.com

Sat, 29 Aug 2009 22:05:18 +0000

[...] The Beauty of Disconnection : focus focusmanifesto.com/2009/08/the-beauty-of-disconnection – view page – cached #focus RSS Feed focus Atom Feed focus » The Beauty of Disconnection Comments Feed focus The Age of Distraction Focus Rituals — From the page [...]

By: Number Focus. | 7Wins.eu

Number Focus. | 7Wins.eu — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 15:15:54 +0000

[...] Focus on a Program: Master of Global Management in the Sultanate of Oman « PIM Admissions BlogHealth Affairs BlogTEEN FOCUS CAMPS » Teen Focus TimeThe Back Channels for the Science Online 2009 Conference « UK Web FocusFocus on PHP » Archive » Two (or more) Zend Framework projects on a shared hostA New Session Annoucned for “Focus on Flowers” « ArtPlantae Today Audience Experts Focus Groups : Audience Experts Panel BlogDon’t Give Up… Just Narrow Your Focus « Reachd BlogThe Beauty of Disconnection : focus [...]

By: CW Hong

CW Hong — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 08:58:30 +0000

A few weeks ago (after my first child was born), I came to a realisation that I had been spending too much of my non-working time connected to the Internet or sitting in front of my laptop.

Suddenly I just decided that every Saturday is my “NO or ABSOLUTE MINIMUM PC/INTERNET DAY” and I scheduled it in my diary. Each of my Saturday from then on would be filled with maximum interactions with my family members, friends, reading printed books, mags, outdoor activities or self-reflection of my thoughts, feelings and actions.

By simply being disconnected, my mind is no longer “crowded” and I am able to see clearly how some of my weekly activities (that seems to have short-term satisfaction) actually have no impact on the long-term results that I desired. I simply cut out those activities. Now I have more time to relax and think about how I can further reduce my activities to the those that really matters.

By: Alan Popely

Alan Popely — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 06:46:51 +0000

It’s very simple to build up the addictions or the ‘need’ to be connected. It often starts out very simply with a ‘subscribe’ to an eletter, ezine or feed, blogpost etc. And before you know it your inbox is bombarded with ‘contacts’ and a feeling builds up that you MUST read, respond or just deal with each one.

Now the simple thing is to unsubscribe – but, hey that’s a bit like ‘cold turkey’ and some people can fear that they’re missing out or falling behind.

Irrational? Sure. But real. So…what to do?

First. Create a few different folders, say one for each major area of interest like Yoga, Alternative lifestyles, News, Model Trains…whatever broad category.

Second. Create a series of rules for your incoming emails that just places them in the appropriate category. See…now you’ve removed a lot of junk seeking your attention but you haven’t lost it.

Third. Resist the temptation to open these folders for a few days. promise yourself that if you want to look at this stuff you can only open one topic a day. This will limit your ‘lost’ time and let you indulge one passion each day.

Fourth. If you haven’t looked at an area in say a week – then delete the emails and look to ‘unsubscribe’. This is control. You make the decision and exercise discretion.

Voila.

By: Scott Sheperd

Scott Sheperd — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:35:04 +0000

Here’s an interesting thing about reinforcement and addiction. Things like drugs and gambling and sex and eating might start out as positive reinforcement but eventually they turn into negative reinforcement. Negative reinforcement is the process of doing something because it removes pain or discomfort. Heroin, at first, gives a major rush. Eventually people use it to get rid of the pain the body feels from not having it. Negative reinforcement is incredibly powerful. So what happens, as you suggest, is that these behaviors start out as positive reinforcement – powerfully reinforced quickly, into a negative reinforcement routine. I think the communication problem you discuss is very similar to heroin. There is this vague discomfort that can only be relieved by doing email or tweeting or whatever. What you are offering is most amenable to those who are getting to see the situation as you do. If they are reading your stuff like I am, they are on some level saying, as I guess I am, I’m not happy in this mess. I need to focus on something else that reinforces my meaning of life. This is just my suggestion, but the idea of people trying to relieve discomfort might be discussed by you. – - Can I just say I am not trying to lecture you or usurp your obviously high level of understanding. It’s just something from my angle and my experience. I love what you are doing.

By: Scott Sheperd

Scott Sheperd — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 02:25:43 +0000

I think one thing that might add to your great thoughts would be the idea of disconnecting from what and connecting to what. Maybe a little more exploration of that process. To say just disconnect, I think, is a little broad. I think I know what you are saying but just discussing it overtly might be useful.