Digital Minimalism Discussion Thread

[Luxuria]

I don't mean this be just a discussion of the book of the same name by Cal Newport, but a discussion about your tips, tricks and journey to reclaim 'this thing called life' (-Prince).

I started working on cutting back on my phone use in 2021 and it's been a long time since, but I have managed to get it under 1 hour a day for a week or so. But I discovered stress makes it worse, which is a good thing. The more attempt to be more mindful of my digital time, the more I learn about myself. What about you? What's your journey? Why are you pursuing a more balanced life and how are you doing? What are your goals?

 

[Louanne Learning]

I recently read a quote of Leonardo da Vinci: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

I think it means not only having freedom from unnecessary distractions, but knowing what is important, and what matters.

An uncluttered life leaves lots of time for artistic pursuits!

 

[Luxuria]

I recently read a quote of Leonardo da Vinci: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

I think it means not only having freedom from unnecessary distractions, but knowing what is important, and what matters.

An uncluttered life leaves lots of time for artistic pursuits!

That is a wonderful quote. I love it. I think that explains what I really want. I just want to be able to live a chill life, enjoying every moment.

 

[Louanne Learning]

I just want to be able to live a chill life, enjoying every moment.

It get betters as you get older. Everything rolls off my back, now.

 

[Luxuria]

It get betters as you get older. Everything rolls off my back, now.

I hope I can get there, too. I think I have been less angry/sad/worried about things I can't control since beginning this journey. I honestly fell off the wagon the last two weeks, but am going to climb back on tomorrow. (It's always good to tell myself that.) I have a list of things I want to do to improve my offline life:
1. Put more music on the MP3 player I bought.
2. Finish/catch up my journal writing. It's a week or two behind at this point.
3. Do singing practice. (It's hard when my cat is curled up on my bed asleep. He runs when I hit F5. Don't blame him though, but I feel bad disturbing his sleep for my practice.)
4. Figure out a plan to re-learn german? Maybe let myself play Stardew Valley in German and write down words I don't know?
5. Deal with college stuff- there is a lot of set up that needs to be done.

And that's the short, short version. Don't worry though, I am still going to be on here and mod-ing and updating the RP forum.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

I recently read a quote of Leonardo da Vinci: Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.

I think it means not only having freedom from unnecessary distractions, but knowing what is important, and what matters.

An uncluttered life leaves lots of time for artistic pursuits!

I read a similar anecdote some years ago that always stuck with me.

Socrates never made much money from his teachings and didn't spend much, so a friend was surprised see the philosopher studying with rapt attention some flashy wares on display in the agora. He inquired why Socrates came to the market, since he never bought anything.

Socrates replied: "I am always amazed to see how many things there are that I don't need."

 

[Louanne Learning]

Socrates replied: "I am always amazed to see how many things there are that I don't need."

Some times I get that feeling, too. I remember a few years ago walking in a department store with my mother, and looking around at all the displays, and I said, "Stuff, stuff, stuff. So much stuff. I never cared about stuff."

My mother replied, "Oh Louanne, I feel the same way."

A guiding principle of mine has always been "Do I need it?"

I come from a big family with a lot of women, and one way we fall into two camps is this - the shoppers and the non-shoppers.

The shoppers love to shop. They definitely buy more than they need.

My mother and I are both non-shoppers. Browsing stuff and acquisition have never been favoured activities of ours.

 

[big soft moose]

there is a slight irony in discussing this on an internet forum...(especially one where i was on line for so long over the weekend that i gave myself eye strain and cramp in my typing hand)

However, i generally limit my web usesage to about 5 sites (excepting the administation of my books which is a whole other ball of wax), i don't do social media other than using it to catch up with old friends, i try and read a newspaper instead of news sites, and pretty much i only use my phone to communicate (aside from logging on here)

i don't buy stuff unless i need it and wheni do i try to shop local and support small independents rather than big corporate

 

[Luxuria]

there is a slight irony in discussing this on an internet forum...(especially one where i was on line for so long over the weekend that i gave myself eye strain and cramp in my typing hand)

However, i generally limit my web usesage to about 5 sites (excepting the administation of my books which is a whole other ball of wax), i don't do social media other than using it to catch up with old friends, i try and read a newspaper instead of news sites, and pretty much i only use my phone to communicate (aside from logging on here)

i don't buy stuff unless i need it and wheni do i try to shop local and support small independents rather than big corporate

I love this. This is what I am trying to do myself. I have this site, the .com, email and a few others. But yeah, I really love the idea of curating a smaller internet (with less news). Like the kind I had back in the 2000s. I was basically on Runescape and Gaia Online. That was it. And it felt great. Because it took less of my brain power. I am also trying to do less social media. (Biggest issues are Youtube and Reddit lurking.)

So, I assume you pay for a daily subscription to your newspaper? Or weekly? It's hard when the newspapers of note are far away from you.

That's a really nice way to shop.

 

[Luxuria]

I come from a big family with a lot of women, and one way we fall into two camps is this - the shoppers and the non-shoppers.

The shoppers love to shop. They definitely buy more than they need.

My mother and I are both non-shoppers. Browsing stuff and acquisition have never been favoured activities of ours.

I get this! I am a Non-shopper for clothes and sometimes shoes. But shopper for books, media, and fine foods. I bought a delicious triple-cream brie the other day (Saint Angel's) and it was amazing! I will need to buy more of it when I have the chance. Triple-cream is better than double. But this time, I should get crackers to go with it.

 

[big soft moose]

i just buy my paper from the newsagent on my way to work... pick up a bar of chocolate and chat to Rasheed behind the counter

 

[Louanne Learning]

I bought a delicious triple-cream brie the other day (Saint Angel's) and it was amazing!

We always get a pass for good food!

 

[Luxuria]

i just buy my paper from the newsagent on my way to work... pick up a bar of chocolate and chat to Rasheed behind the counter

Wow, that's cool. I would have to order mine and have it shipped across the country.

 

[Luxuria]

We always get a pass for good food!

Oh, yeah. Good food is the best! If you happen across this brie, you should try it.

 

[Louanne Learning]

If you happen across this brie, you should try it.

Thanks, I will! I'm a big cheese eater.

 

[Rath Darkblade]

When you find yourself in supermarkets,
Do not dare pass by dairy;
Pick up lots of cheeses,
Let it brie ...

(Sorry, I couldn't resist).

 

[Luxuria]

New Thoughts and Ideas:

I have seen others use this and decided to try it myself. It's called: Computer Bedtime and Wake Up Time.

Your computer is awake all day and night and needs rest, too. Think of it like a house plant that needs to be watered- in this case, turned off at a certain time each night. I am trying to do this as it's very cute and 9:00 PM seems like a decent bed time. Since I have started doing this (not completely successfully, mind you) I have felt a lot better. There is an END time for me to get all my stuff done. So I better do it or it waits until tomorrow. Not to mention that when my computer is sleeping, I realized I can still write by hand. I have wanted to do this again for awhile, but always said: "I should just write it on my computer."

But last night, I had such a wonderful time. I curled up in bed with my MP3 Player and my notebook. It was like I was 13 again. Listening to Evanescence while writing stories in a notebook at midnight. It was awesome. I would hightly recommend computer bedtime to everyone wanting to find a digital balance.

Anyway, I am proud because yesterday, instead of surfing for hours and hours because I was sad about something, I decided to play video games instead. Sure, it's still digital use, but I'm not planning on cutting out everything. But gaming isn't surfing or looking at stupid news/political crap. So yay!

The one thing I am struggling with though, is Computer Morning Time. I still have the bad habit of checking my computer or my phone in the morning to see what's happening at Ernest Wiener's Hot Dog Stand. (I love this place, though.) I have discovered computer is the lesser of the 2 evils as my phone is so much easier to surf- or I think it is. I am not sure why, but the computer at least has my writing. So, any thoughts or helpful ideas would be nice.

Because my computer is sleep-deprived, but I also need to work on it occasionally before 12 PM which was my goal. Maybe moving it to 10? Thoughts or ideas?