Most of all, I miss reading my favourite blogs, and feeling part of the blogging community.
Other than that, I don’t miss the tv, or the news. The news is rather depressing most of the time, so I have no great hurry to read up on it.
I accidentally scanned an article on ISO settings before remembering that I wasn’t allowed to read. It struck me how automatic and instinctive it was. It happened without any conscious thought, and it makes me wonder how much information we consume without knowing it. Heaps, I suspect.
I think I have been less stressed since I started the challenge. I’ve also made good progress on my craft projects, and have generally enjoyed being without passive entertainment (TV).
- I’ve crocheted almost a whole rug. I will show you that soon.
- I’ve played Scrabble, listened to music, and written in my journal.
I’ve noticed a sense of quiet from doing the challenge. I have more space for my thoughts now, and capacity to think outside the box. I’m even considering abandoning my desk and building a cosy corner instead.
I’ve not missed Facebook and Twitter as much as I thought I would. I think it’s just habit. Now I have to write something for the blog before I log in.
Overall, the fear of missing out isn’t that strong anymore. If anything, I’m gaining clarity, peace and relaxation through curbing my consumption of words.
I feel slightly nervous that I’m not going to be reading any of your blogs in the next few days, but I hope you don’t take offence. When I finish the challenge, hopefully I will have some interesting insights to share!
Reading deprivation has forced me to come up with something to do if I’m bored, rather than waste away hours at the laptop. It’s an encouragement to produce, rather than consume.
Have you found a balance between producing and consuming? What’s your favourite thing to produce? I'd love to hear from you in the comments.
Hello! I heard this on the radio the other day, knowing that your not reading i thought you might want to listen instead, here's the link to the i player if you have a fancy phone then you can listen on that or you can go to the webpage and download the podcast. Its a good series of programs actually, i love the radio!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01rrc11/Mind_Changers_James_Pennebaker_and_Expressive_Writing/
Hi! Good to hear from you.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link, and for thinking of me when you heard it! Will have a listen soon. :)
You're doing well, Linda.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you, that the news we read and hear is mostly depressing or aggravating in some way. That's why I gave up reading newspapers several years ago. It still bothers me to be around others (at work) who are reading and moaning about the contents on a daily basis but, I have to kind of 'notice' that and choose not to follow it. ;-) We have Radio 2 blasting throughout the workplace all day as well which really doesn't help at all.
I enjoy listening to other stations that play mostly music (and the occasional adverts) but I do worry about what I might subconsciously be 'consuming' when there's so much talking and discussion on certain frequencies.
Local news is the only kind that I ever watch but freeing myself from the 'routine' of watching that every evening after work offers me so much more time. I've tried to substitute my news intake with shows like Russel Howard's Good News and Mock the Week but those results remain inconclusive! :-P
Hobbies and past-times are the way forward. I'm glad you're still progressing. :-)