Happy holidays, Julie. I am also online for many of my waking hours and am working hard to change things so that I can "dream of books again." I need the internet sometimes, but like you point out, it pulls me in. I have to mentally tell myself, "get off, go write the thing, go daydream." It feels like a constant battle of endurance.
So, an interesting thing happened, which was that I did no writing work the last week of December. Not on purpose, necessarily, it's just how it worked out with the holidays. And while I definitely missed getting writing done, it was interesting to see how it felt to not be on my computer at all. The wildest thing was how vivid my dreams were. Maybe it was a coincidence, but I bet not. I had the weirdest, most detailed dreams, in a way that I haven't in years. And I'm really thinking about that, now that I'm back to my computer this week.
Hi Julie! I’ve been thinking a lot about this as well; like you, I’m having a hard time doing the internet in a balanced way so I’m trying to set some clearer boundaries. I deleted my X and Facebook accounts. And I took the Instagram app off my phone. It’s been really nice so far. Except I’m still going to my phone out of habit which kind of freaks me out — how trained I am. I’m considering deleting all the apps off my phone (including email which I constantly open) and using it just to call and text people and look up directions. I miss flip phone days. Sending you all the best holiday vibes ❤️ Looking forward to your class!
Oooooo, deleting all the apps is such a radical thought! I had to read that sentence a few times ("does she mean deleting social media? no wait, she said ALL the apps!"). Yesterday I went to JoAnn Fabrics to help my daughter get some stuff for the curtains we're making for her room, and I forgot my phone at home. And it was like, oh, that's cool, I'm at the point where I forget my phone. But then I couldn't pull up the JoAnn app to get the discount, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it, then. Like, it is useful. Is it worth paying more, since I left my phone at home? Is leaving my phone at home worth the $4 more I spent? I don't know.
Oh my gosh, yes. I love a good discount! And forgetting the phone at home does feel nice. Yeah, I’m debating about what “all the apps” actually means — I think I’ll keep my note taking apps for those random ideas. And coupon stuff since I’m not tempted to open those all the time. But anything like Pinterest or substack or email that I can easily access on my computer/browser, I’m thinking I’ll delete. It’s kinda embarrassing that I’m nervous about it 😂
Oh, "easily access on the computer" is a good marker for whether or not to delete it. Hmm. I've never thought about this before, but I'm super into it. DELETE IT ALL! (well, ok, most of it)
I swear, if come March you and I are addicted to clipping coupons in the grocery app, I'm throwing my phone in the garbage.
oh my word RACHEL ~ deleting the apps from our phones is an amazing idea!!!! Keeping them, for our business postings, etc. will still be possible but it brings them back, at least for me, to my original intention...getting my work out into the world. Now I will have to go to my studio/office to do whatever I need to do on fb/instagram...which will be more intentional, and I will be there only for a reason rather than scrolling!! BRILLIANT. I am going to do this today! MANY THANKS! Doreen
I’m so glad the idea helped! Hope it goes super well for you ❤️
An Instagram tip I discovered: if you ever want to post on your stories from desktop, you can actually use the developer tool function to navigate instagram like you are using a phone! It isn’t the same as the phone but it works 😂
Good to hear from you, Julie. I always appreciate your honest thoughts, and your pillowed attic? space intrigued me. Happy Return of the Light Day. The sky often saves me. Colors. Clouds. Constant change. Light to follow. When the busyness of people is too much, I try to remember to look up.
I came here to comment on your video and then noticed your lovely shout out to The Bees of Notre Dame! Thank you! I’m so glad you like it! 💛
In regards to the Internet- specifically it’s tendency to homogenize- I noticed this acutely a few days ago when my son had a “whacky day” at school (don’t get me started on these theme days in general), and the school sent out photos of all the whacky things kids wore and did with their hair. A suspicious number of kids showed up to school with the hair made into buns that looked like cupcakes and the the first thing I thought was- oh that must be an Internet thing. It bums me out. Because although a cupcake bun is adorable and creative, it becomes mundane when it was just an idea found on the Internet. It robs people of the truly unique ideas that come out of having to stretch your own mind. I say this with absolutely no shade to the parents who needed a quick idea and looked something up- it’s not their fault. The Internet has made our lives easier in that way, but it giveth and it taketh away.
Ugh, yes, the cupcake bun is such a good example. Because that is super funny and cool, but when EVERYONE does it, it might as well be regular braids, or nothing at all.
It feels like I haven't read one of your posts or seen one of your videos in ages! Things are a lot, aren't they? Lots of demands on everyone and, like you, sometimes I feel like it's all too much, especially online. In my case I clearly make choices to go online and interact and I really don't have to but I do anyway.
I have no answers for you but I enjoyed hearing what you had to say! Take care!
Hi Mark! I'm so interested in this balance between choosing to be online versus wishing I wasn't but being there anyway. And I'm realizing that I do have to make the decision. It can feel exhausting to have to choose! But if I don't choose, that's when I end up online for too long, when I don't necessarily want to be.
I don't have anything smart to say (and I'm even fresh out of my old standby, "dumb and/or bizarre but hopefully amusing!") because it IS all so tough and personal, but I am sending lots of hugs your way! I wish balance were an actually-achievable "thing," but the older I get, the more I cling to Betty Friedan's "you can have it all, just not at the same time" observation; maybe balance is more about an average you are building through your lifetime, simply trying to avoid the very biggest regrets, rather than judgments based specific time units? (What am I even saying?? "Ah, baloney," Jamie would say to me for this if I were in The Mixed-Up Files.) Anyhow, ginger lime mocktails sound amazing, and I thought of you the other day when I was plotting my next local deli outing for a Cel-Ray and other goodies. :) Hugs, hugs, hugs.
Oh my word..,.... THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL. We feel so called to be ON all the time.....it takes away from doing what we love, which is creating, writing, baking...etc... SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE...
I’ve been experimenting with applying the ideas from the book Atomic Habits in order to adjust my writing habits, and I’ve discovered such interesting things about how and when and why I use the Internet, and what happens when I don’t allow it for the first half of the day. 😬 If you want to try it with me, I’m running a series about it in January on my substack. So interesting to hear your thoughts on the topic of anxiety scrolling, which often happens to me as well!
Happy holidays, Julie. I am also online for many of my waking hours and am working hard to change things so that I can "dream of books again." I need the internet sometimes, but like you point out, it pulls me in. I have to mentally tell myself, "get off, go write the thing, go daydream." It feels like a constant battle of endurance.
So, an interesting thing happened, which was that I did no writing work the last week of December. Not on purpose, necessarily, it's just how it worked out with the holidays. And while I definitely missed getting writing done, it was interesting to see how it felt to not be on my computer at all. The wildest thing was how vivid my dreams were. Maybe it was a coincidence, but I bet not. I had the weirdest, most detailed dreams, in a way that I haven't in years. And I'm really thinking about that, now that I'm back to my computer this week.
Hi Julie! I’ve been thinking a lot about this as well; like you, I’m having a hard time doing the internet in a balanced way so I’m trying to set some clearer boundaries. I deleted my X and Facebook accounts. And I took the Instagram app off my phone. It’s been really nice so far. Except I’m still going to my phone out of habit which kind of freaks me out — how trained I am. I’m considering deleting all the apps off my phone (including email which I constantly open) and using it just to call and text people and look up directions. I miss flip phone days. Sending you all the best holiday vibes ❤️ Looking forward to your class!
Oooooo, deleting all the apps is such a radical thought! I had to read that sentence a few times ("does she mean deleting social media? no wait, she said ALL the apps!"). Yesterday I went to JoAnn Fabrics to help my daughter get some stuff for the curtains we're making for her room, and I forgot my phone at home. And it was like, oh, that's cool, I'm at the point where I forget my phone. But then I couldn't pull up the JoAnn app to get the discount, and I wasn't sure how I felt about it, then. Like, it is useful. Is it worth paying more, since I left my phone at home? Is leaving my phone at home worth the $4 more I spent? I don't know.
Oh my gosh, yes. I love a good discount! And forgetting the phone at home does feel nice. Yeah, I’m debating about what “all the apps” actually means — I think I’ll keep my note taking apps for those random ideas. And coupon stuff since I’m not tempted to open those all the time. But anything like Pinterest or substack or email that I can easily access on my computer/browser, I’m thinking I’ll delete. It’s kinda embarrassing that I’m nervous about it 😂
Oh, "easily access on the computer" is a good marker for whether or not to delete it. Hmm. I've never thought about this before, but I'm super into it. DELETE IT ALL! (well, ok, most of it)
I swear, if come March you and I are addicted to clipping coupons in the grocery app, I'm throwing my phone in the garbage.
Yeah! I’m going to do it this weekend! Muahaha!
And oh boy — same 🤣 Wouldn’t put it past my very well trained brain
oh my word RACHEL ~ deleting the apps from our phones is an amazing idea!!!! Keeping them, for our business postings, etc. will still be possible but it brings them back, at least for me, to my original intention...getting my work out into the world. Now I will have to go to my studio/office to do whatever I need to do on fb/instagram...which will be more intentional, and I will be there only for a reason rather than scrolling!! BRILLIANT. I am going to do this today! MANY THANKS! Doreen
I’m so glad the idea helped! Hope it goes super well for you ❤️
An Instagram tip I discovered: if you ever want to post on your stories from desktop, you can actually use the developer tool function to navigate instagram like you are using a phone! It isn’t the same as the phone but it works 😂
:) Thank you!! Thank you as well for the stories tip!!!
Good to hear from you, Julie. I always appreciate your honest thoughts, and your pillowed attic? space intrigued me. Happy Return of the Light Day. The sky often saves me. Colors. Clouds. Constant change. Light to follow. When the busyness of people is too much, I try to remember to look up.
That's my writing shed!
Lucky you!
I came here to comment on your video and then noticed your lovely shout out to The Bees of Notre Dame! Thank you! I’m so glad you like it! 💛
In regards to the Internet- specifically it’s tendency to homogenize- I noticed this acutely a few days ago when my son had a “whacky day” at school (don’t get me started on these theme days in general), and the school sent out photos of all the whacky things kids wore and did with their hair. A suspicious number of kids showed up to school with the hair made into buns that looked like cupcakes and the the first thing I thought was- oh that must be an Internet thing. It bums me out. Because although a cupcake bun is adorable and creative, it becomes mundane when it was just an idea found on the Internet. It robs people of the truly unique ideas that come out of having to stretch your own mind. I say this with absolutely no shade to the parents who needed a quick idea and looked something up- it’s not their fault. The Internet has made our lives easier in that way, but it giveth and it taketh away.
Ugh, yes, the cupcake bun is such a good example. Because that is super funny and cool, but when EVERYONE does it, it might as well be regular braids, or nothing at all.
It feels like I haven't read one of your posts or seen one of your videos in ages! Things are a lot, aren't they? Lots of demands on everyone and, like you, sometimes I feel like it's all too much, especially online. In my case I clearly make choices to go online and interact and I really don't have to but I do anyway.
I have no answers for you but I enjoyed hearing what you had to say! Take care!
Hi Mark! I'm so interested in this balance between choosing to be online versus wishing I wasn't but being there anyway. And I'm realizing that I do have to make the decision. It can feel exhausting to have to choose! But if I don't choose, that's when I end up online for too long, when I don't necessarily want to be.
I don't have anything smart to say (and I'm even fresh out of my old standby, "dumb and/or bizarre but hopefully amusing!") because it IS all so tough and personal, but I am sending lots of hugs your way! I wish balance were an actually-achievable "thing," but the older I get, the more I cling to Betty Friedan's "you can have it all, just not at the same time" observation; maybe balance is more about an average you are building through your lifetime, simply trying to avoid the very biggest regrets, rather than judgments based specific time units? (What am I even saying?? "Ah, baloney," Jamie would say to me for this if I were in The Mixed-Up Files.) Anyhow, ginger lime mocktails sound amazing, and I thought of you the other day when I was plotting my next local deli outing for a Cel-Ray and other goodies. :) Hugs, hugs, hugs.
Ooooo, it's been a long while since I've had a Cel-Ray.
They are hard to find! I can only buy them at one deli here, from what I've found so far! :)
Oh my word..,.... THIS IS EXACTLY HOW I FEEL. We feel so called to be ON all the time.....it takes away from doing what we love, which is creating, writing, baking...etc... SOMETHING'S GOT TO GIVE...
I'm glad it resonated, Doreen!
“Everyone thought the milkman was a thing of the past…
Until the future arrived” (cue robot uprising scene)
I would love to see that novel when its ready, thank you for the inspiration.
I’ve been experimenting with applying the ideas from the book Atomic Habits in order to adjust my writing habits, and I’ve discovered such interesting things about how and when and why I use the Internet, and what happens when I don’t allow it for the first half of the day. 😬 If you want to try it with me, I’m running a series about it in January on my substack. So interesting to hear your thoughts on the topic of anxiety scrolling, which often happens to me as well!
I'm so glad you told me about this! Subscribed!