Daily Archives: October 8, 2013

My Media Fast

Last Thursday, October 3, at exactly 12:30 PM, I began my media fast. Now believe me, I love technology as much as the next self-important, over exposed teenager, but in all honesty, I didn’t think the media fast would be very difficult. When Professor Mittell initially introduced the assignment I even rolled my eyes and silently scoffed and at my classmates that were obviously emotionally disturbed at the thought of not having access to twitter for more than 60 minutes. That having been said, as the deadline approached, I started to have a really hard time finalizing a date to start the assignment.

For me, easily the hardest thing about the media fast was finding a day where I could not look at a screen. Although I don’t claim to have a tough life by any means, the work at Middlebury is very challenging. Finding a day where I couldn’t have the ability to check my email, work on a paper, or search for information was extremely difficult. As a result, I decided to it while traveling to NYC to compete in a Model UN. Although I really missed the ability to listen to my iPod, I enjoyed the radio (despite the amount of bad country music that was played) and managed to catch up on some sleep.

One point that really hit me was how much easier it was to do the media fast when I didn’t have my phone or my computer close to me compared to when they were in reach. All though the expression “Out of sight, out of mind” might be slightly cliché, I found it very accurate. When my phone was in my pocket, I was extremely tempted to reach for it but I left it at the hotel that night, I didn’t really miss it. I think this all boils down to conscious choices. Making the choice to leave technology behind for a day really made me aware of how much of my technology use is subconscious. Whether that’s just quickly checking Facebook or reading my email in the car, a lot of my media use completely fades into the background. Although I hope to never live another busy day without access to technology, I also hope that I can start using media more purposely.

“To change a habit, make a concious decision, then act out the new behavior” – Maxwell Maltz

Self Control

After spending about three hours with David Levy in the last 24 hours, I’ve been thinking a lot about my technology use and how it runs my life. Part of that thought process was thinking about how much time I waste on the internet and my phone. While in class today, we discussed some computer programs that help monitor your browsing to help you stay on task and not get distracted. One of these is called SelfControl. Its a Mac only app and its pretty easy to use. Basically, you add websites you don’t want to be able to access (cough cough Facebook) to SelfControl’s “blacklist.” Then, you tell SelfControl how long you want the sites to be blocked for and then start your session.

I recently just finished my two hour SelfControl session and it was amazing. I sat here for two hours and cranked out work left and right (except for a short break in the middle where I went to the cafe downstairs…but it was closed). I think the app is brilliant and can help anyone that has distraction or procrastination issues.

The best part about SelfControl is that no matter how badly you want to access a website during your time period, you can’t. Just to try it, I clicked on the Facebook button on my favorites bar and I was greeted with this:

This is what you will see if you try to visit a "blacklisted" site.

This is what you will see if you try to visit a “blacklisted” site.

Thinking I was tricky, I quit SelfControl. I clicked the X in the top left corner of the Self Control window and watched the icon disappear from my dock. I tried Facebook again, but to no avail. I waiting ten more minutes, nothing. I then reopened the app and was immediately greeted with a clock informing me that I still had an hour and ten minutes left before I could access my “blacklist” websites. He knows me to well…

Check it out:

http://selfcontrolapp.com

Procrastination, Efficient Distraction, and “Study Breaks”

Procrastination is a lot like eating a super greasy cheeseburger. It feels so good as you ingest everything. However, when it is over and the gravity of the situation sets in, the result is generally pretty negative. In the words of Kanye West: “What’s worse: The pain or the hangover?” Does the satisfaction created by looking at Facebook justify the time lost from doing homework. It’s too bad that the medium that is required for us to complete work in classes also can be a tool for massive procrastination. Netflix is only a couple clicks away while you’re working on your paper for International Politics. It is important to weigh the consequences of one’s actions before following through with them.

 

When I was in high school, I often struggled with my media use. I believed that I had attention deficit disorder for a long time because I seemingly couldn’t control my non-academic media use. I would send hours looking at random videos on youtube and was unable to concentrate on my work until the last minute. Relatively minor projects would take twice as much time as I initially intended to spend on them because I couldn’t control my internet use. I pleaded to my parents several times to have me checked for ADD because I worried about myself. My parents refused to listen to me and eventually I got over it. To be honest, the notion of college terrified me. As the school year approached, I got more and more nervous anticipating that I would treat homework in college the same way as I did during high school.

 

So far, things are going well. The catalyst for this has been the library. The library has instituted a unsaid culture where procrastination is frowned upon. Every time I go on Facebook or some other social network, I feel ashamed of myself as I look around and see everyone around me hard at work. Of course I take study breaks at the library. I would go insane if I didn’t. But, my study breaks don’t become “study vacations” like they did at home where I would find myself watching an entire episode of “Breaking Bad” instead of doing my work.

 

The technology of today is a double edged sword. On one side, I need my laptop to do almost all of my homework including electronic reserve readings, scholarly articles, and typing essays. On the other hand, a computer is the central tool in my procrastinating ways. It’s like having an office and a playground in the same building. It just isn’t a good idea. When I don’t feel engaged, it is too easy for me to be sucked into something distracting. It is literally only a few clicks away.

 

Technology will never go away. Technology will continue to be more and more prevalent in our daily lives. It is my responsibility to have the fortitude to determine and follow through on my priorities before I allow myself to become undone by my own distraction.

 

Thanks for Reading

– Murph