Weapons of mass distraction

I wouldn’t say that I'm addicted to social media, but I am frequently on my phone and I spend more time than I would like to scrolling through my feeds. And this is a problem because time is what life is.

The Model Health Show Podcast recently had Professor Cal Newport in to talk about deep work and the threat that modern connectedness poses to producing high quality, insightful, creative work, a.k.a. deep work.

Some key takeaways from the conversation:

1. If you want to produce deep work you need to be effective. Busy does not mean effective.

2. "Just checking" your phone actually damages your performance and your ability to concentrate even if you are only distracted for a short moment. It is the switching of context that impairs your attention and focus.

3. If every time you feel bored, you reach for your phone, then you are training your brain that it cannot tolerate being uncomfortable. This will be problematic when you try and produce deep work as there is plenty of uncomfortableness and boredom in the creative process.

4. Don't forget that social media companies don't just exist to help you keep connected with friends. They make BILLIONS by selling your precious attention to advertisers.

So, for the first time in the history of me, yesterday I uninstalled Facebook from my phone, and I am using an app to severely restrict my IG use (I would have uninstalled IG too if it let you post pics via a laptop). I can still access my accounts, except now I am forced to be more mindful and intentional about how and when I will use social media.

Let me tell you I actually feel free and it feels GREAT! Like dancing with your mum in the sunshine great. 💃🌞

After I did it, the next day I lay in bed reading and actually learning something, rather than just entertaining myself through my news feeds. I mean don't get me wrong, I've been living with Facebook in my pocket for years and I imagine it is going to take some getting used to not having an instant dopamine hit only a click away…. But I feel like I am actually taking back control of my own time and, without being too OTT... my life!

Watch this space!