Lent Status Update

Thus far my facebook fast is going pretty well, though there were a few days this week where I felt like Cathy, the girl in the comic strip, freaking out with little drops of sweat flying around while wishing I could log on. I have stuff to say, and it's tough when you don't get to throw it into a status update when that's been the norm. Ugh.

But for the most part, it's been a nice break. It's peaceful to not have a stream of photos scrolling by multiple times a day. Also, I never know what all I will find on there Sunday (the feast day when I can check it.) I feel like I am getting away with eating lots of candy on Sundays. I also confess I had to sneak peeks sometimes--I needed a mailing address for a friend, etc. It's hard to cut it off completely, so I am not totally legalistic about it.

Thankfully, life goes on...I do stuff. I see people. The weather has turned sunny. And of course I have event invites emailed so I'm not really missing out. I hope no one thinks I am shunning them but remembers I am not on there much right now. I am probably a bit more productive. I still have a lot on my to-do list and not enough time (or I feel that way), but there isn't this constant option of checking in. If only I wanted to compulsively clean my kitchen with the free time!

Digital Life—Decluttering Time

Gentle reader, I'm giving up facebook for Lent, except feast days (Sundays). I am not sure this is totally needed—I don't think God is asking me to be less social, nor do I think online isolation is somehow a great idea or even virtuous. But I have noticed that I have a lot of not-so-exciting tasks to get done, and facebook is an easy go-to when I'm already seated in from of my laptop. Instead of dealing with a long put-off project or filing bills (blech), it's easier to jump on fb, and whoosh, there goes the time. Even when it comes to decluttering—whether it's a routine mail sort or finally posting those old slide-rules on eBay, I have opted to get on fb or cruise online articles. When I have decided to stay off fb for the rest of the day (which is a rare commitment), I've noticed that I have a better sense of what to do next, e.g. fold the laundry that's sitting on the chair. For me, getting on fb can stop the flow of my day if I check it too much. It's an interruption and sidetracker.

I remember a few years ago a friend told me her office receptionist was on facebook so often, she completely gave it up because it sucked up so much time, even at work. I have seriously considered leaving facebook two or three times, deleting most of my photos and messages, getting ready for a grand exit. A few years ago I even announced it was imminent. But I couldn't quite pull the trigger because I would miss out on hearing little comments from two or three old friends from out of state. Without fb, I felt they would practically disappear from my life. Would we really bother to email or call each other? After all, a lot folks now see catch up phone calls as a once-a-year event, if that. Fear of disconnection, which is a valid fear, kept me from deleting my account.

I must confess I gave fb up for Lent maybe four years ago, before using it was so entrenched in my daily life. Before my friends and acquaintances seemed as plugged in as well. It was a bit tough, but I found the decision to fast from it much less uncomfortable.

So what's to be done? Some folks can use fb sparingly and responsibly. Maybe it's like knowing how to avoid overeating. All I know is, once I announced I was going to stay off during Lent, I felt a sense of isolation! Again, not that God was asking me to do that, but I am asking myself to deal with chores and maintain a better focus as I go about my day. I also had to jump on to make sure event invites would be emailed to me—that's a major fear of not being on fb: missing a party or event. So now I am all set up. And if I want to feel social, I guess I'll have to actually reach out and be social. We'll see if this fb fast is a good idea—if it's really in the vein of a spiritual practice, I should also add a positive practice that brings me closer to God. Perhaps that way I'll feel I am gaining more than just checking items off my to-do list.  

My French professor said...

Not much decluttering to report over here...January is not a bang-up time for clearing stuff out. I was thinking about books today and something my French professor said: "The more books you have, the fewer you read." Well, that might sound like simple math, but I think of that often now. I own a LOT of books, still haven't read several, and I check out numerous books at the library. Right now I have more library books than I will read in three weeks--especially given that I am more likely to watch TV than spend hours reading each night. But there's something nice about having those titles onhand. Will I read the Jennifer Weiner novel with bleh reviews? Probably not. But I like that it's ready on my coffee table should I decide to try. I will definitely crack open Mindy Kaling's Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? I read a page in the bookstore and laughed out loud. I even got ambitious and checked out Lolita because a professor referenced it so much and I feel like I should have read it by now. The odds? Not great that I'll squeeze it in this month. The library won't like to know I'm overbooking books--ha ha. But I have good intentions. And mad props to our library for having such a great selection. I wonder if they really think I'm reading all these.

I remember deliberately reading one book at a time growing up--it seemed chaotic and disorienting to jump around unless school required it. And I read a lot more fiction for pleasure back then. Today I might jump in and out of different books, and it does take longer to get through them. I'm sure there's some wisdom to be had in focusing on one title at a time...but I don't want to get legalistic and judgey either. Just like jumping in and out of text online, I'm probably typical in wanting to get some book info here, some there, and then check my email. I do miss the days of reading for an hour or more on my bed in high school and having a sense of order to my reading. Today I'll focus on one title if I'm addicted to it or really love it--that's what it takes to grab my undivided attention. 

Times change, screens dominate our world, and I have more books around than ever. For now, I'll enjoy the excess. Until a stack falls on me as seen in Hoarders or the space taken up makes me angry, I'm not too anxious to spring clean the shelves.

Podcasts, Tears, and Laundry

I often complain that the internet is ruining our ability to read and concentrate for long periods of time. However, the internet brings many educational gifts. One of my faves is the podcast. And I especially love a podcast that relates to me somehow.

I did a post on grief movies a while back and agreed that a good cry makes you feel better. If you have time to hear a scientific discussion about tears, listen to this episode of WHYY's Voices in the Family. While some of the researchers' comments sound a bit flat and unemotional, it's pretty clear that talking about tears is a huge topic--and it's especially interesting when it's mostly men covering it. The show concludes that we usually feel a release once we allow ourselves tears. Unfortunately shame and the pressure to not cry, especially for men, stops some people from sharing their feelings. (You can check out the following show about men and emotions.)

And if you're looking for a declutter tip, find a good podcast to listen to while you putter around and clean up. Folding laundry is always more bearable while listening to something new and noteworthy.

Media overload = increased Thanskgiving productivity

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The long holiday weekend. If you're traveling and spending it with family, then yes, you can use up the days quickly. This year I didn't go out of town and spent a minimal amount of time at Thanksgiving dinner, so man, this has been a long weekend! Usually I can easily fill up extra time with movies, audiobooks, and podcasts, but people, I am media-ed out! Okay, only after listening to NPR's Splendid Table Turkey Confidential, and then after watching Nova Science Now's Can I Eat That? (I know about food molecules and stuff now.) And then I finished a Horatio Hornblower movie I had started the night before. But then I was really done for real. I went for a lovely walk before dinner, but after that, I had to be home. I didn't know what to do, but I have a lot of to do's, as most home-owners can imagine.

By Friday I was almost glad to busy myself with tasks I had procrastinated on for weeks or even months. I finally vacuumed my car after thinking about it for much of this autumn. I even carefully wiped down the interior. Dang, my car hasn't been this clean in...six months? A year? Later at home, I looked at my kitchen and realized I'd rather clean out my fridge than watch yet another hour of Netflix. Only media saturation could compel me to choose this task, but the fridge needed a serious cleaning, not the routine one. I even washed three shelves. I spent some time looking for my fridge's mysterious drip pan. I've read you're supposed to clean it, but I can't find it anywhere. Funnily enough, my mother has never heard of drip pans, so I couldn't get help by phone. Maybe yet another year will go by with a dirty drip pan—if it exists. I did get down on the floor and dust off some of the refrigerator's coils—supposedly you can save a lot of power by cleaning them off. See? This is stuff I would never do during regular life. 

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I then shined my sink a la Fly Lady and did the dish drainer mat. Is this super interesting to read? Probably not. But I do find it noteworthy that I can reach my quota of distraction by media. At some point I will choose to do such tasks. Today? I already mailed two low-priority items I had been meaning to send out for at least two months—an Amazon return and some old family photos. Apparently a bit of boredom or ennui can get your home cleaner. And it feels good to cross those items off my list! Who knows when I would have gotten to them without a surplus of free time. Maybe turning off the TV and backing away from the Internet can create this free time, but the lazy holiday of Thanksgiving seems to be just what I needed to get things done. All of this should be balanced by some fun, so I hope to get more of that done this weekend too.