Absolutely amazing! And you’re certainly not alone. The timing of seeing your post come through is ironic for me because I was just listening to a podcast interview with Cal Newport this morning, and I’m definitely wanting to read Digital Minimalism now. I think your post was just the extra nudge I needed!
So glad to hear it, Miranda! Would love to hear your thoughts on Digital Minimalism when you finish it. I learned some fascinating things when reading it and have recommended it to a ton of people since!
Great article! I appreciate how thoughtful and detailed you present your reasoning. I have followed a similar vein, although I was never on facebook and do not own a cell phone. But even so, I set myself a 'tech fast' during lent from any social media sites, news, etc. While many books offer great advice and reasons for tech decluttering, I felt that it was being a role model for my children that gave me the needed conviction to actually make the move. See my post 'Reclaiming your stolen focus - A Lenten fast with a tech twist' https://schooloftheunconformed.substack.com/p/reclaiming-your-stolen-focus
Yes! The role model is such a big motivator. I recently finished The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch, which gave a lot of really good food for thought in that arena!
Mar 30, 2023·edited Mar 30, 2023Liked by Sarah Anne Hayes
Good for you! I really respected Tsh's perspective when she shared it a while back. And Andy Crouch is wise as always on this topic (and many others)! Earlier last year, I listened to the two books you listed. At the moment, I use social media for sharing my weekly substack. There is so much good, long-form stuff out there and I rather give my eyeballs to reading and interacting with those more than tiny captions or graphics. Thanks for sharing this. (I followed you on Instagram a long while back --maybe you were in Lore Wilbert's writing cohort or something??-- and am just now finding you here!)
Yes to reading and interacting with long-form content more than the tiny captions that show up on social media! And yes, I was part of Lore’s writing mentorship back in spring 2019. One of the best experiences of my writing life!
It’s so encouraging to see others with a similar perspective towards social media. I have more and more been moving towards deactivating or getting off Facebook for Exhale and Marketplace. Just so much time wasted and heavy things to carry online that aren’t mine to carry, not in that degree and capacity anyway. I’d rather find other ways to be informed. I’m thinking of subscribing to a few newspapers and magazines to stay informed! Kinda excited about that 👵🏽🤣
Exactly! On the one hand, it’s wonderful that technology allows us to connect and be informed in far greater ways than in the past, but it can lead to wasting time and carrying heavy loads that aren’t ours to carry. I listen to a daily news roundup podcast (The Newsworthy) to keep relatively informed, and my husband and I have discussed subscribing to our local newspaper as well!
Absolutely amazing! And you’re certainly not alone. The timing of seeing your post come through is ironic for me because I was just listening to a podcast interview with Cal Newport this morning, and I’m definitely wanting to read Digital Minimalism now. I think your post was just the extra nudge I needed!
So glad to hear it, Miranda! Would love to hear your thoughts on Digital Minimalism when you finish it. I learned some fascinating things when reading it and have recommended it to a ton of people since!
Great article! I appreciate how thoughtful and detailed you present your reasoning. I have followed a similar vein, although I was never on facebook and do not own a cell phone. But even so, I set myself a 'tech fast' during lent from any social media sites, news, etc. While many books offer great advice and reasons for tech decluttering, I felt that it was being a role model for my children that gave me the needed conviction to actually make the move. See my post 'Reclaiming your stolen focus - A Lenten fast with a tech twist' https://schooloftheunconformed.substack.com/p/reclaiming-your-stolen-focus
Yes! The role model is such a big motivator. I recently finished The Tech-Wise Family by Andy Crouch, which gave a lot of really good food for thought in that arena!
Good for you! I really respected Tsh's perspective when she shared it a while back. And Andy Crouch is wise as always on this topic (and many others)! Earlier last year, I listened to the two books you listed. At the moment, I use social media for sharing my weekly substack. There is so much good, long-form stuff out there and I rather give my eyeballs to reading and interacting with those more than tiny captions or graphics. Thanks for sharing this. (I followed you on Instagram a long while back --maybe you were in Lore Wilbert's writing cohort or something??-- and am just now finding you here!)
Yes to reading and interacting with long-form content more than the tiny captions that show up on social media! And yes, I was part of Lore’s writing mentorship back in spring 2019. One of the best experiences of my writing life!
It’s so encouraging to see others with a similar perspective towards social media. I have more and more been moving towards deactivating or getting off Facebook for Exhale and Marketplace. Just so much time wasted and heavy things to carry online that aren’t mine to carry, not in that degree and capacity anyway. I’d rather find other ways to be informed. I’m thinking of subscribing to a few newspapers and magazines to stay informed! Kinda excited about that 👵🏽🤣
Exactly! On the one hand, it’s wonderful that technology allows us to connect and be informed in far greater ways than in the past, but it can lead to wasting time and carrying heavy loads that aren’t ours to carry. I listen to a daily news roundup podcast (The Newsworthy) to keep relatively informed, and my husband and I have discussed subscribing to our local newspaper as well!