Contemplation Series: Step away from the computer...
My hub gets on to me time and time again for glueing my eyeballs to the laptop screen too much -- I just can't seem to get enough. From researching & preparing blog posts, reading the mound of blogs I'm subscribed to, catching up on the latest facebook gossip, or simply browsing my bookmarks, I admit, I spend a good part of my day on the computer. When I was at my last office job I would work all day on the computer then come home and jump right back on to pick back up with the blog -- that's a lot of screen time!
I'm completely fascinated with the internet because of the endless sources of inspiration -- from tumblr and flickr to magazines and blogs, I could sit down at my desk and 5 million clicks later, still not have seen a fraction of it. There is so much to draw from creatively and having the access to see what people are up to from all over the world is an amazing experience. It's easy to get lost in a sea of eye candy.
I also hate the internet because of the endless sources of inspiration. I often become desensitized to the world around me and seem to only focus on the screen in front of me. Blog after blog, etsy seller after etsy seller -- it's so easy to become lost.
So what's the compromise? How do I stay connected to the online community while maintaining a somewhat unplugged lifestyle? Thankfully I have hobbies I can escape to like sewing and photography -- but what about the dull moments where there is nothing to do but just be? It would probably be best to create some type of schedule where I force myself away from checking the latest updates but loose enough that I can still maintain some type of spontaneity which is such a huge part of my blogging style.
How do you deal? Are you a blogger who can't seem to break away from researching new posts or a faithful reader who constantly checks for the latest updates? And how does that type of computer use relate to your more business/formal time at the screen? How much time do you allow yourself on the computer each day?
Images are from a recent trip to the flea market -- an attempt to get outside and away from the computer :)
thoughts 
Reader Comments (24)
I’ve recently discovered your blog and LOVE it!! I find the endless inspiration of the internet as intriguing yet vexing as you do and have recently been asking myself the same questions. Continuing to carve out time for other passions and hobbies helps me a lot and is often times the best inspiration of all!!
"When I was at my last office job I would work all day on the computer then come home and jump right back on to pick back up with the blog -- that's a lot of screen time!"
Wow that sounds wayyy too familiar. As you might have guessed since I'm commenting milliseconds after your post. But seriously, there is sooo much great info online and I'm constantly finding new sources of inspiration! I am always finding myself picking up the computer to look up one little thing and hours later...
Thanks for keeping up with the blog! I always enjoy reading and I know it takes lots of love and effort!
Yes this sounds way too familar. I've recently put in place two methods of limiting my internet use-firstly I put all the blogs I read onto Google Reader (which I should've done a long time ago!) and have restricted myself to looking at it only twice a day (but taking the time to read all the posts), once in the morning and once when I get home. This means that when I'm working on the computer I'm not 'allowed' to stop working to see what's new on my Google Reader-it means I get more work done. Secondly, I'm only 'allowed' to do college work on the computer after my evening meal, no blog reading/writing! This often leads to me doing non-computer stuff instead-anything to get out of college work!
After reading this blog post, i just felt compelled to comment. I too am addicted to my laptop. I could spend all day looking for inspiration on flickr, reading through all the blog posts on my google reader and sourcing etsy sellers to feature on my blog. Before i know it, hours have past. Its nice to know im not alone in my obsession of the internet.
Oh, the balancing act... not sure I've mastered it. I blog mostly about life, living it and finding the beauty in everyday things so in some way I have nothing to blog about if I don't get out and live. That helps but I do spend a good amount of time getting sucked into the computer. For the most part I try not to log in every evening (I can easily get sucked into television so a few nights of no computer isn't too hard). I also have two free for all nights - Friday and Saturday when my son is asleep. Those are the nights when I allow myself to search until I can't take it any more. The rest of the week I have a 1-2 hour limit when I get home (assuming it's a computer night). What has worked most is simply reminding myself that I don't want life to pass me by. It's hard to tell others about getting out and living when you aren't doing the same.
Sigh, I know exactly what you mean! Just last night I was wandering around my apartment trying to convince myself to do something OTHER than grab my laptop and plop on the couch. I love sewing, crocheting, crafting, reading, running, cooking, baking... yet my default mode is to check my blog subscriptions, flickr, etc. Why is that?! So much inspiration right at our fingertips, great ideas, interesting people... but we can't forget "real life"! Up here in NY it is still a little chilly, so maybe once the warm sunny weather hits I'll stop being such a couch potato and get out there.
It's a tough balance.
But I should say that your blog is lovely & I'm glad you do spend a little time on your computer because it gives me another site to check for inspiration!
my hubs was all over me all weekend about this very thing... even saying to me "you would rather look at blogs than spend time with me...". ouch. it's not true, although i do have a hard time pulling myself away once i start.
i use the internet and reading blogs as an escape because i am not altogether happy with my current city for it's lack of inspiration to me. but lately i am trying to find more inspiration in my daily life... often through the lens of my camera. i think you have an amazing opportunity to be in a new city so rich with visual inspiration... perhaps you will find yourself wanting to step away more to explore your new city.
in the end, though, i think the internet and all these blogs we all ready daily simply fuel our desire to better ourselves and our work. perhaps that is a rationalization, but it's my story and i'm sticking to it.
I am the same way! I finally decided to "fast" from Facebook until mid-April... And even though I'm not really the Facebook addict I used to be, I can tell a difference. Now when I'm done checking blogs and emails, I can't rush over to Facebook and waste 30 minutes. Plus, I decided a while ago to take a blogging break during the weekend; otherwise, I think you're right: I might lose sight of the creativity all around me and in my own life. The blogging world is wonderful, but I don't want to miss out on all the great stuff happening right in front of me!
I'm glad I'm not the only one like this. I'm constantly thinking and pre-publishing thoughts in my head as I do things. I work in web, so its...about 14 solid hours of screen time a day, which I have no regrets about, just sometimes wish I were good at tons of other things or had the studio space to take up my own pursuits. For now though, it's online publishing, the blog community and the chase to chronicle great ideas and inspiration.
Thanks for your thoughts. It reminded me of a quote I read on SwissMiss the other day: "If limitation spawns creativity, is the limitless resource of the internet a good thing? Does it do more harm than good to read all of these blogs?" That really put me to thinking. I enjoy the blogging community a lot, and I do feel inspired. But at times I feel numb from being visually overloaded. I have to remind myself to step away, and to actually 'do' not just 'watch' others do. At least that is how I think of it.
For me I spend a lot of time on the computer at work, so I don't check the computer after work. I usually spend a couple of hours on the computer over the weekend but I try to unplug and really live .
Your photos are so beautiful.
I forgot to source the quote - Alec Soth.
Well said. I think my eyes are going to be shot in a year and I'll have a permanent hunch-back due to my never-ending hours of the day researching + reading + blogging + devouring all the eye candy. I loved this post of yours — reminded me of the cool Dialogue series on Design for Mankind that's talking about balance.
I have recently faced the same issue. as the weather warms up in philadelphia, I am planning more outdoor activities, such as walks through the city and visits to parks. as much as I enjoy immersing myself in my favorite blogs, researching for my blogs or work, etc I do find that a nice day outdoors is truly refreshing (not just for my eyes but for my creativity as well). Best of luck in finding some time to break away from the computer. instead of browsing flickr, I might just get outside a bit more and see what my eyes find.
This post really hit the spot for me. I too am constantly on the computer. Both my husband and I work from home, I have an etsy shop & I am addicted to about 30 blogs I check frequently. Everyday I wake up, walk across the hall and check my etsy account then read all the blogs. I find myself constantly checking throughout the day for new updates, or new shops and while I LOVE it and it IS inspiring, I think I have formed an unhealthy habit that is sometime detrimental to my well being. Constantly comparing houses, looks, and people's life style can make me forgot all the great things I have in my own life. I've started to delete blogs that make me feel this way the most and keep the ones that inspire and uplift. I still need to find a balance of computer time, and maybe your post & peoples comments will motivate me to start one!
I love that quote by Alec Soth by the way. He's an amazing photographer too!
ps. I quit Facebook and never looked back....It saved me so much time and since I wasnt seeing what everyone is doing all the time it made me more interested in what was going on with my friends lives.
Are you reading my mind? I feel the same way these days. It's good and frustrating at the same time. The more I lean towards my own work I seem to feel more disconnected with the blogworld and vis versa. I'm not sure how to balance all this...still trying to figure it out. I've been limiting my blog posts to once (maybe twice) a day and unfortunaly I've been slack on replying to comments. I love comments but they take up a big chunk of time to reply - I keep wondering what to do? Ok - I'm seriously venting. Thanks for the post - I think we can all relate. Let us know how you find your balance! Oh yes Google reader helps very much!
I was recently forced off the 'net by a computer mishap. Aka motherboard meltdown. I've been more or less offline for a couple of weeks, now, and I have to say... it's refreshing. The first week, I felt a little rabid. Now, I don't see what all the fuss was about. The internet will always be there, and I can always browse archives if I feel like I've missed something.
I read all my other blogs in my google reader. I don't understand how bloggers do it without. It makes it so easy to skim through and then you have more time for your own research. I try to limit my time on da net because sometimes I feel like my brain is rotting. But I love it so. I try to fit it in on the weekends so it feels relaxing and not stressful.
It seems you have hit a nerve with a lot of us and there doesn't just seem to be on solution. I find my time on the computer has gotten longer and longer the more I find myself connecting with other bloggers and friends online. It's inspirational but also very distracting. It's one of the reasons I'm trying to resist the urge to get an iphone, for fear that it would make it even harder to extract myself. I'm looking forward to one of your readers providing us with that magical silver bullet that can give us all the balance we need.
I know I spend a lot of time on the internet, but I find that having a blog actually helps me be more productive and thoughtful about my every day life. I am more motivated to actually get projects started (and finished!) when I know I'll be able to share them. And I spend a lot of time noticing how beautiful every day objects are because I'm excited to take photos and post them. It's a weird relationship, but it works.
Oh, and it helps that my job has just enough down time that I can sneak in my blogging fix during my work day, and I almost never have to turn the computer on at home, except when I'm working with my photos.
I read two blogs, two comics, and write on my blog daily. I have a lot more than that that I'm subscribed to, but I limit myself. I find that I'm more creative when I go do things instead of when I read about people doing things. That's just me.
Ahh yes, I think this story is all too common these days. I do the same...work on the computer, go home to blog on the computer, wake up in the middle of the night and rush over to the computer...etc.
I sometimes wonder when I'll put away the computer and live in the real world again...but its not today, I've got a load of reading to do...oh, how I miss being addicted to trees and friends.
www.papermichelle.com
I just remind myself that all of that inspiration is useless if I'm not putting any of it to use. What's the point in looking at inspiring beautiful photos if I'm looking at them more than creating the life inspired by them? That tends to get my butt of the computer pretty quickly.
I'm so glad to see there are so many to relate with! Being on the computer so much at home makes me feel guilty for not spending more time with my boyfriend. I know that there is so much more for me out there and I could probably have great experiences and stop envying those online if I were to spend more time offline.
I've recently decided that I won't check Facebook during the week unless I receive an e-mail that someone wrote on my wall, etc. Also, I'm trying to limit the number of times I check Google Reader. It's not huge, but it is a big baby step!