Today I'm back online, for the first time in a week. As I detailed last week in my previous post, I took a couple of days forgoing instant communication, just to see what it was like. The overall verdict? Life is much better without it.
I found aside from having more time to do other things, I found life was in part more enjoyable. This I would attribute to not looking to see if anyone contacted me or seeing what other people have been up to. It was nice to just have my own little world, and have some distance between me and my friends. Now, I'm not trying to say I didn't want to see my friends, but most people I'm sure would be familiar with the phrase "absence makes the heart grow fonder", and I definitely found this to be true this week. When I did see my friends, it was more fun and enjoyable, and the conversations more interesting, I could ask them what they'd been up to during the week, and not already know, thanks to Twitter or Facebook. It was definitely a more enjoyable week.
This week, I found plenty of things to fill my time, rather than checking my e-mails every five minutes. I went for a five hour bike ride on Tuesday, (note; I was out for five hours, not riding for five hours straight), played cards and had dinner with friends. Spent a day wandering around the wonderful city of Melbourne with a friend, and I played a LOT of guitar, which earned me some callouses on my fingertips. I also spent some time watching movies, playing some video games, and even had a night at Dark Zone (Laser Tag).
My plan wasn't an entire success though, I gave up in part on SMS-ing, as I kept receiving messages from people which required a response, though I did not send any unnecessary messages to anyone.
Now having completed my little experiment, I've come to a few decisions. Having enjoyed my time "offline" so much in comparison with being "online" all the time, I've decided to keep reading blogs but once a day, and I'll check my e-mails twice a day, once in the morning, and once in the evening. Facebook will be receiving the same treatment as e-mail, and for Twitter, because I use Twitterific, I'm thinking I'll use it while I'm on the computer, and I'll use it on my iPhone if I think I've found something worth Twittering about, but otherwise, it's going to be stuck to the computer only.
Other small little things I discovered this week, are how nice it is to receive a handwritten letter, or a phone call from someone, rather than an e-mail or SMS. Call me old fashioned, but I think they're nicer.
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2 Comments:
the biggest flaw of any attempts like this is that it only 100% works if your friends are doing it too, as you found with the SMS!
My question is why instant communication stops you doing things like head out with friends. I suppose you are bored with no communication so seek activities, which are probably more fulfilling than sitting with a computer.
Also, why is a hand written letter nicer than a thoughtfully composed email? Not as an attack or argument, I genuinely want to know why.
What about IM? It does have it's advantages for keeping up with people a long way away, in a different time zone, very cheaply.
As you said, it does only work 100% if friends are in on it too, but even keeping it to the "essential" stuff was much better.
I don't think instant communication necessarily stops you from doing things with friends, but I think not having it enriches your experiences when you are spending time with them, there's more to talk about, and by not checking e-mails/phone every 5 minutes, there's more time to do things, and you don't feel sad that no-one wants to contact you, because you're out doing something constructive and fulfilling. Plus there's the age old "absence makes the heart grow fonder".
In regard to a handwritten letter, it's nicer than even a thoughtfully composed e-mail, as I still think more thought goes into a letter, there's no backspace on your paper, and it's more personal, you can see each person's unique handwriting, and it's something that they sat down, thought about, wrote, and sent to you. I feel so much more excited or satisfied with receiving a letter in the mail than an e-mail. Don't you?
IM does indeed have its advantages for keeping up with people a long distance away, but I don't think it's the same as picking up the phone (yes, I know, bills, costs, etc.), or writing a letter. It does have its advantages, but there's going on at a set time to talk to someone, and then there's sitting online all day to see if there's anyone who comes on you'd like to talk to. Set times and dates are fine I think, but just being on all day is like checking your e-mail every 5 minutes. There are better things you could be doing with your time.
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