Smart Dr

A rare occurrence, this MMM blog post motivated me to post a comment, a futile endeavor. Here it is:

M.O.

  1. No “output oriented” apps on smartphone. This way you pick when you use it, and you’re not tempted to impulsively scan contextless information. Because you will give in, especially if life isn’t all roses all the time (like when your kids are going ape shit). Camera, texting, and phone calls only. Eschew texting for phone calls, and eschew phone calls for face-to-face conversation. Advertise this: if it’s important, they should call you. If you do less than this then you will wind up distracted at your own expense.

  2. If you do need internet access for work or while traveling, depend on tethering your laptop to your phone. This increases the marginal cost of doing something that is essentially bad for you.

  3. Focus on being here, now. Technology is awesome, but the more you use it, the more you focus on the future, which essentially is where insecurity, anxiety, and all things bad come from. Once you realize that true satisfaction comes from enjoying and working in your immediate, physical surroundings, the happier you’ll be, the more people will like you, and the better off you’ll be.

References:

  • “The Shallows” by Nicholas Carr (2010)
  • “The Wisdom of Insecurity” by Alan Watts (1951)