I'm writing this piece for myself more than for anyone else in particular. I'm reflecting on how overwhelming the presence of technological gadgets in my life has become, so overwhelming that I can't do without. And that is something I really don't like. If you can't do without, you are addicted. Addiction is always bad, since it means lack of freedom and lack of control on your own actions.
Blogging has become my main hobby in the last few years and that's ok, because it has really enriched my life. But social networking, exchanging and checking e-mails and messages, keeping in contact with a certain number of people all over the world for many different reasons, posting to deadlines and a huge variety of other online activities I do on a daily basis have come out as quite stressful. That is the ugly truth, I must face it. I'm stressed and I must slow down.
My lap is on all the time I'm at home, my iPad is on any time I find a wi-fi connection while I'm away from home. My mobile, instead or at least, is always off and forgotten in one of my bag pockets. That's strange, isn't it? If you want to send me an urgent message, use my e-mail contact, I check my e-mail box so many times a day that you'll get an answer sooner than if you call me on my mobile. That means that, luckily, I don't own a smartphone, otherwise my checking habit would be the end of me!
If you like me feel like you are losing control over your love affair with the Net, if you fear your passion has turned into an addiction, here is some good advice from the so - called Slow Tech Movement.
1. Don't go to sleep with your mobile. That is, turn it off and leave it in another room.
2 . Don't check your work-related e-mails until you are at work: your business will survive even while you are off radar.
3. Turn your mobile off when you are having dinner with family, friends or colleagues
4. Don't take your mobile with you while jogging or going for a walk.
5. Log out/sign out each time you close your facebook or twitter pages. If you have to log in each time, you may decide it is not that necessary.
6. On facebook, set up your privacy tools and block or limit the notifications and the news feed as much as possible.
7. Turn off your iPhone, iPad, lap or notebook and do something else: call a friend, go for a walk, do some exercise, listen to music, read a book, draw, play with your children, walk the dog or watch a movie.
8. Stop believing multitasking is good. It is not. Your life will be ok even though you do one thing at a time.
Now, re-reading the list above, there is nothing I haven't done! So, does that mean I'm not addicted? How is it, then , that I feel so stressed? Oh, YES! I forgot to substitute the words iPad/laptop to the word ... mobile.
OK, then. I solemnly promise I'll do my best to reduce my time online without neglecting my blogs too much. Less twitter, less facebook, less e-mail checking for a start. Any other good suggestion?
