====================
Technology Is Not Your Friend
By Tracy Steen, Ph.D.
====================
Technology Is Not Your Friend
By Tracy Steen, Ph.D.
====================
Question: What do these activities have in common?
1. Checking e-mail
2. Doing "research" on the internet
3. Respnding to e-mails
4. Downloading motivational study music from itunes.com
5. Checking for sale items at jcrew.com
6. Reading the New York Times online
7. (Did I mention checking e-mail?)
Answer: They are massive time sucks masquerading as productive activity.
I have had the privilege of coaching many graduate students through this endurance event we call the dissertation process. And in this capacity, I have observed that dissertation students are particularly vulnerable to the technology time suck.
Graduate students who would never dream of spending two to three hours per day watching daytime soap operas will easily spend that amount of time or more piddling around on the internet or writing e-mails.
Have you ever actually totaled up how much time you spend online every day? I challenge you to do this! Keep a paper-and-pencil log for three days and you may reveal the technology time suck.
In the meantime, consider the following reasons why we should have a healthy mistrust for e-mail and internet piddling:
1) Time stops when you are online.
Have you ever been to a casino? One of the striking things about them is their absence of any time markers. You won't find natural light or clocks anywhere in a casino, and they are always open. Guess what else is always open and lacks time markers? The internet.
At least when you are watching television, you have commercials or the ending of one program and the beginning of the next to jolt you back into reality. No such luck while browsing the internet. Have you ever had the experience of taking a quick 10-minute study break to search for this or that on the internet? One hour and 20 clicks later, you've been the victim of the technology time suck.***
2) Internet and e-mail piddling masquerades as productive activity.
Internet and e-mail piddling is particularly dangerous because of its insidious nature. When we watch TV, there's no disputing the fact that we are taking a break. (And there's nothing wrong with taking breaks! See # 3 below for more on this.)
What's troubling about e-mail and internet piddling is that it masquerades as work. When you are clackety-clack-clacking at the keyboard while responding to e-mail or doing an unnecessary internet search, it's easy to delude ourselves into believing that you are doing work. And even more disturbing, all this pseudo work can be just as exhausting as real work! One can only stare at the computer screen for so many hours before eye strain takes its toll. And staring at the computer without blinking while browsing amazon.com is no vacation for your bloodshot, work-weary eyes. You aren't accomplishing real work, but you aren't giving yourself a real break either. Which brings me to my final point....***
3) Internet and e-mail piddling uses up "free time" that could be spent doing something that is truly rejuvenating.
As I mentioned in a previous newsletter on flow (http://www.abdsurvivalguide.com/News/030404.htm), checking e-mail and other frequent interruptions disrupt your concentration and the writing process.
Does the following scenario sound familiar? A section of your paper that should have taken 1 hour to write takes 2 hours because you stopped to check e-mail after each paragraph. You are now officially behind schedule, so you can't justify meeting a friend for coffee or going to a movie because you don't have time. The internet ate your time, and it's time to reclaim it!
===================================
Four Steps to Reclaim Your Much Deserved Breaks
===================================
Four Steps to Reclaim Your Much Deserved Breaks
===================================
1. Monitor how much time you are currently spending on the internet. Even if you do not decide to make any changes in your internet/e-mail piddling, I encourage you to act on this step. Keep a notepad on your desk and jot down what you were doing before deciding to take an e-mail or internet "break." Log your start and stop times. And then rate on a scale of 1-10 how restorative your "break" was.
It's important to keep track of how much time you are currently spending online because you will need to spend at least half of that time taking fun breaks away from the computer. See Step 2 below. (Please note that you are expressly forbidden to use Microsoft Excel to keep track of your e-mail/internet piddling as that would condone squinting at the computer screen for non- dissertation activities--and that is exactly what you want to avoid.)***
2. Make a list of things you can do that are truly relaxing or rejuvenating. Include activities that are short or long in duration and that you can do alone or with a friend.***
3. Determine whether the South Beach Diet approach to limiting your internet piddling is for you. Unless you have been living under a rock, you have most likely heard of the trendy South Beach Diet. (Oh wait, you are working on your dissertation which means that you very well might be living under a rock!) Phase 1 of the South Beach Diet seriously restricts simple carbohydrates (bread, cereal, dairy, even fruits) with the idea that you will lose your cravings for sugary, starchy foods during this period.
How do you feel about restricting your e-mail and internet use for one week to reduce your technology cravings? Does your anxiety level shoot up at the mere thought of being away from e-mail for one week? If so, then all the more reason to consider an e-mail/internet detox to break your habits. Figure out how to enable your e-mail vacation message auto-responder and repeat after me: "I will be away from e-mail from__ to ___. If this is an emergency, please contact my personal assistant at ___." (I just threw that personal assistant bit in at the end. Wouldn't that be nice?!)
During your hiatus, be sure to incorporate fun activities from your list every day. No cheating and doing more work! You will receive double bonus points for leisure pursuits that involve being outside and spending time with another person.***
4. When you decide it's time to phase in controlled e-mailing/internet time (or if you skipped Step 3), you will need a kitchen timer or stopwatch. Remember that being online is like being in a casino. You need to provide the time markers. Determine in advance how much time you are willing to spend online during the day and how you will reward yourself (with real breaks from your list) if you stick to the schedule.
If you think that 30 minutes is a reasonable amount of time to spend checking your e-mail in the morning, then set the timer for 30 minutes. If you want to take a break and read The New York Times or The Onion online, no problem. Just set the timer. Do you long to read a leisure book for an hour before bed? You will have time for this if you have faithfully used your timer!
I notice that you are still reading this newsletter. Isn't there some fresh air you might rather be breathing right now? You have the information you need to reclaim your breaks, so please back away from the computer and walk free from the technology time suck!
=================================================
About Dr. Tracy Steen
=================================================
About Dr. Tracy Steen
=================================================
Tracy Steen received her Ph.D. in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan. She is currently a writing coach in Philadelphia, PA, and her passion is helping students and professionals transform writing from drudgery to flow.
In addition to offering individual coaching via telephone, Dr. Steen leads workshops on the writing process. Read about Dr. Steen's philosophy of coaching and her research background in positive psychology: http://www.tracysteen.com
