I've been working on writing more about the book tour, but I've been a bit stumped. See, I've been LOVING not being online so much.
While we were gone, I checked Twitter and email once or twice a day, when I could. I made sure there were no publishing fires (or fires of any other kind for that matter) and I responded only to the things that needed a response.
Know what? There weren't that many emails that REALLY needed a response. And I loved that feeling that I had more time for life. Because I did have more time. It was great.
Since I've been home, I've found myself dealing with a bit of resentment for all the time it took me to stay on top of everything online. Then I started wondering if I could put myself back on vacation-time albeit without outdoor tubs or crocodile sightings.
Here are the things I'm experimenting with:
1. No push notifications on phone. I don't need to know if anyone has emailed/Twittered/Facebooked me. I don't. If someone really needs me, they'll call me (and my ringer will be off as it always is, and I'll see the missed call two hours later, but that's another story). Related: no pop-up notifications on the computer.
2. No Twitter app open on my computer. I'm checking it once or twice a day on my phone, skimming through quickly, sending articles I might want to read to Pocket (a great app) for offline reading when I have the time/inclination. As a Twitter addict, this is the hardest part so far.
3. No Facebook open ever. (This is easy. I post things to Facebook from Hootsuite but I almost never go to the site itself because I abhor it as a platform.)
4. EMAIL CLOSED. What? This is the biggest, hardest thing so far (I take back that part about Twitter being the hardest. I was wrong). The other night I was lying in bed, thinking about all the time I lose online, and I thought with a tiny flash of rage about the fact that emails were always coming in, and I never got to ignore them like I did while on vacation. After all, my email inbox needed to be open at all times on my computer, and I'm on or near my computer for most hours of most days (either at the day job or at the writing job).
Then I had this stunning realization. I could close the email window. I swear to all that is holy, this had never occurred to me as an option. What do you do when you restart your computer? Start email, right? It's always there in the background. I couldn't even begin to guess how many times a day I glanced at it.
Now: I'm checking email when I wake up and clearing it to zero (with the judicious use of Sanebox, which I use to send emails to future dates and times — they land in my inbox again and I deal with them then — I use this a LOT. It might be fake zero inbox, but it works for me.) Then I'm checking again around 1pm, near the close of the business day in the New York publishing world, and once at night (and neither of those times do I try to clear the inbox, I'm just making sure there's nothing that needs immediate response).
5. Being okay with dropping things. I take it back! THIS is the hardest thing so far! I'm working on not feeling guilty for putting things off. While I was gone, I did miss one thing that was kind of important, and you know what? The person who needed the info emailed me again saying, "Hey, did you get my email?" It spurred me into action, and no one was harmed in the process. I cleaned up my email when I got home from almost a month away, and there was only one thing I really needed to apologize for not doing. So I did. And it was done.
Dude, I work 911. I have for fifteen years. I think I have this knee-jerk OH MY GOD IT'S AN EMERGENCY DO IT NOW reaction for, well, just about everything. Laundry not done? How will we go on? Dinner not planned? Lord help us all! Emails stacking up? CODE RED CODE RED!
I'm dumping that attitude. Right now.
In the free time I have, I hereby pledge to: write, knit, spin (oh, I'm spinning some Anna Gratton merino fiber that is so amazing I could just die), walk, play, and rest.
In delicious irony, I give to you a great video — I loved the song already, and I adored the video when I saw it this morning (after following a link from Twitter. Hey. No one's perfect).
Passenger, Scare Away the Dark
All of the above I've only been doing for about 24 hours. I'm no success story, and I may break and go back to normal in another hour. But I don't think so. Stripping it down like this feels good so far. It feels right.
What about you? Any time saving get-off-the-internet-and-have-a-life tips? Keeping in mind that we all, actually, have to be on the internet sometimes?
This. Holy lord this.
It’s worse for me when the kid is in school and the hubs is in school and I’m homebound. Then I feel like “OMIGOSH I NEED SOMETHING IN THE BACKGROUND and it’s either the tv on while I browse the net or the tablet in my lap while I watch tv. And it’s just got to end, man.
I don’t get email problems like that but I am a FB addict, largely because it’s how my BFF and I communicate all day. But those days when I’m offline (especially those days spent with her!) are glorious. I read and I walk and I just exist separate from the computer and it is grand.
I’m going to work on it better. Especially now that fall/winter is setting in. Thanks for being (once again) an inspiration.
P.S. Passenger rules
Dude. Good good plans. I can’t turn off email because it’s how work happens, but I lose too many hours to unnecessary computering. You are wise indeed. xo
Thank you for providing me the template for my months stress leave that starts today.
Brilliant xx
Hmm. I avoid most social media. I am on Facebook, but I only joined it when I realized my friends had moved their communication there from email. And because I don’t have a work reason to use Facebook, I only friend people I a.) know in real life, b.) am related to (not always the same thing, through my husband’s family), or c.) really interact with and/or admire through other avenues. You are one of only two or three friends on my Facebook list that don’t fit a. or b. I don’t use Twitter or Instagram or a lot of those others.
For those of you who have careers, maybe create accounts that are only work, leave those on to get the updates that are useful, and then check the personal stuff only rarely?
But I think you made an excellent point connecting your 911 work with your attitude towards everything else. Modern living seems to happen at the speed of our digital connections, and *it doesn’t have to.*
Good. On. You.
These fantastic tactics are the same as recommended at the day job, with one more: don’t read your email first thing in the morning. Do 2 hours of work first, if the first hours of your waking cycle are your most productive. I’m a slug by 4pm, so sorting email is about my speed then. If your cylinders aren’t all firing until 2pm, then go ahead and sort email in the morning 🙂
Auto-filters on email can help, too. Here’s hoping you keep the internet in a box, where it belongs!
Mysti
I’m forever searching for the golden bee-bee of how to work smarter faster etc. But one day when the internet was out I wrote about 6 times more words then I normally do – so the no distraction thing is key. I have contemplated pulling out the plug to the modem everyday for 5 hours but haven’t worked up the ovaries to do that yet. (it’s scary not to have it all ready to steal my focus and time) LOL.
Great video. No, no EXCELLENT video.
Went and got a new phone yesterday. I had the toughest time explaining over and over I use my phone to call people, text and emails from the colleges where I work. NOTHING else. I do NOT need a dat plan if I’m up in front of a class teaching. Sheesh.
I used to spend hours depressing myself reading the news online (Salon, Slate, etc.). So I subscribed to the paper paper on Sundays, and don’t allow myself any online news. Such an improvement! And I don’t have a smart phone, just a $100 a year “Go Phone,” because I don’t travel for work and I really don’t need to be THAT connected all the time. I haven’t missed it yet. (Plus I’ve saved a ton of money!)
Heh. You wrote this post a day after my phone was stolen– pickpocketed on a SF bus. I suppose I’ll try and see the bright side and enjoy these phone-free weeks? Good for you for figuring out what makes you happier and doing it!
I totally just turned push notifications off on my phone about two weeks ago and I cannot believe how much better is. I was treating every work email like an emergency too – and man they AREN’T. I love being able to check when I WANT TO. such a little thing but such a big difference. I love my internets so much but it is nice to take a breath.
I am one of those people (despite being on the computer right now) who am not tied to either a computer or phone. I use a computer when I am at work but it is only on the hospital system. I have a cell phone but I don’t check it very often unless it rings. (Half the time it is dead.) Also, I check my email only every few days. Everyone who knows me knows to call the house phone if it’s important. (Yes, I still have a house phone. I prefer it to my cell.) I guess I already do the offline thing. I grew up without a computer (I am 38 so they were out there) so maybe that’s the difference. My work stays at work when I leave (Med Lab Scientist at hospital) so I don’t need to be on a computer for work so this helps. I guess I am lucky. Great song by the way. You can do the offline thing, Rachel. Have faith in yourself and forgive yourself if you slip. NO guilt, right? Sorry for the long post. Jenny