My issue isn't that I can't read once I choose to. Once I start reading, I can read for a while without being distracted by other things. My main issue is CHOOSING gbcn/FB/Instagram/Netflix/etc over reading. When I was on maternity leave, I didn't read one book. I watched a ton of shows and was here all day. A friend's mom was talking about how she would read books while BFing and I did feel a slight twinge of guilt that I just fart around on my phone instead.
Thanks for sharing this. I am saving it and using it with my seniors this year (in English class). I think this is a perfect article to discuss with them, not only because they are teenagers and most of them are addicted to their phones and all technology, but also because our school is going 1:1 this year, and they will constantly be on devices for "school work" as well (legitimate schoolwork, but you know they will be popping all over the Internet instead of just doing the school work). I think this can lead to lots of good discussions with them.
And as for me personally, I agree with what this article is saying. It has been rainy and crappy here the past few days, and I have sat down with some coffee, the windows open, listening to the rain and read for a couple hours straight each day. It was wonderful. On vacation a few weeks ago, we refused to turn the TV on in our room, and at night, either read or just talked to each other (which I know is a whole other topic, but you KWIM). I do find myself more refreshed and less exhausted on the days I am not constantly inundated with social media, technology, TV, etc.
I love reading, but like a lot of other people mentioned, the amount that I read now is definitely less than what it had been. when we get home everything is so hectic until DS goes to bed and then at that point I want to just sit, which would be a good time to reach for my book, but sometimes I feel like my brain is too numb/dumb and reading wouldn't really sink in.
oh, and I prefer reading a book book. I tired some of the e-reading and it just didn't work for me.
See, my problem is, I do have a Kindle Paperwhite, so no Internet on it, but then I just put my phone on my lap or right beside me as I read on it so I can still hop on and check FB or GBCN lol. #fail
I love my Kindle and I read on it a lot, but this is true. With a paper book I go back and reread sections sometimes to clarify something but that's harder to do on the Kindle.
We lost power the other day for several hours, and my kids had SO MUCH FUN. I mean, they play a lot in general, but they dragged out games that hadn't been touched in months, went crazy with Magformers and laughed so much with each other.
H limits screen time for them way more than I do, and I'm starting to lean his way more.
it's a bad habit in our house too that we really need to work on. when we're up at the cabin we don't use a lot of electronics and it's so fun to watch DS just play - he has a very wild imagination.
As I skimmed, I actively bitched at myself for doing it. Then kept doing it, got to the end, and was all, "oh well."
i hate myself. Lol i really do judge my own screen addiction. My h is worse. I want to implement restrictions in our house!
YES. It's like I can't stop myself.
And every day on the drive home I'm like "I'm going to put my phone in my purse and not look at it at all tonight." Five minutes after walking in the door I'm checking Instagram, texting someone, browsing Pinterest.
Ugh. I suck.
I really want to get a kitchensafe and make myself put my phone it in it when I get home from work. but I can't even bring myself to buy one yet. I should just bite the bullet since I clearly have no self control to just not look at my phone on my own
I remember something a while back that would block sites on a timed basis. Like you could set it so you could only check fb once per 2h or whatever you select. This was before the popularity of smartphones and definitely before there was an app for everything, though. I would love something like this. The kitchensafe idea is interesting, but we don't have a landline, and I would be paranoid that I'd be SOL in an emergency.
Thanks for sharing. I've never been much of a reader, so I can't blame the internet entirely. I can certainly blame it for lots of other things, though!
I wrote my HS research paper on Internet Addiction back in 1999. I doubt I kept it, but it would be really interesting to read now! At that time, people who spent "that much" time online were antisocial weirdos who were up to no good, depriving themselves & their families of life experiences, etc. I bet "that much" was like 2-3 hours a day!