Digital Distraction Ben Klocek

The Challenges

• Information Overload

• Constant Distraction

• Social Media Anxiety

• Alone Together

• Inner Life

flickr.com/photos/lukew/6171377827/

Information Overload “Informed bewilderment”

Information Fatigue My brain couldn’t keep up

Information Overload: Strategy

• Acknowledge that it's not possible to keep up. There's more info created each day than you can read in a year.

• Choose your sources wisely, budget the time you spend online, and when you feel your mind getting tired, move on.

• Take up an artistic practice. The time spent on aesthetic creation gives your mind a break.

Constant Distraction Tuned in and tuned out.

Distraction: Strategy

• Come back to your body.

• Do one thing at a time and know why you are doing it.

• Plan times to be plugged in, and times to be unplugged. Stick to the plan.

• Spend time in nature without devices.

• Create a “Distraction” folder on you phone for FB, Instagram, Twitter, etc.

“Yes, master” Who’s in charge?

Social Media Anxiety Maintaining your “second” self.

Social Media Anxiety: Strategy

• Remember that you are managing two identities, online and off.

• Remember that people are likely to only post things that make them look good.

• Be aware of how much benefit you are actually receiving from participating.

• Choose to respond when it’s convenient to you.

• FOMOs: Fear Of Missing Out. Acknowledge that you can’t ready every post.

Alone Together “It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity” - Albert Einstein

Alone Together: Strategy

• Agree with your friends on when it’s ok for each of you to be on your devices and when it’s not.

• Make certain areas of your house (like the kitchen and dining room) device-free.

• For friends or couples, plan times to be unplugged together.

• Restaurant phone stacking. First to pick up, pays.

Inner Life Spend time with yourself.

Inner Life: Strategy

• Take a walk alone without your phone.

• One day a week tech-free (I do Sunday).

• Do art.

It’s up to you.“How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.”- Annie Dillard