How can I stop being a slave to technology?

Nope. I do, too. I’ve been thinking about how my attention span has dwindled since I stopped reading books and watching TV.

I have no idea how to change it. I enjoy the company too much, and it is hurting my marriage, in fact. I think the only solution is to get rid of the computer, move out past the grid, and live off the land.

No you’re not. I’m suppose to be working on my newest novel right now, but instead I’m messing around with flash drive software freebies…

Set goals and write them down. Scribble deadlines for these goals down on your calender. Get a real life friend to keep you accountable. Or get website blocking software and block out Facebook for a week. You’ll be surprised at how nice and quiet it gets…

If none of these work, then guilt or the “I’m neglected” call from your mother will terror you away from the tech for awhile. :)

Move to an Amish community.

@SeventhSense beat me to it. Ha! You throw off the shackles of technology by embracing slavery to hard, back-breaking labor. :-)

@ETpro
and you get some fresh vege’s at harvest time :o)

I can’t move to an Amish community, I’m an undergrad student. =\

@lostinyoureyes
How about a van down by the river? :P

Ritual!

I have a coffee ritual that helps me focus to write. I make myself good coffee in a french press (or a manual drip or whatever) and then I lock myself away for two hours and force myself to work. The caffeine probably helps but it’s also the ritual of it; I feel like I’m “wasting” my coffee if I’m not working.

You might also try working in a coffee shop. Sometimes I write even better there. It’s public—so there’s this pervasive sense of eyes watching you and judging you if you’re slacking off. But nobody will actually talk to you and distract you.

Don’t blame technology! You’ll never escape it; it’s what defines us as humans.

You’re blaming the technology for a lack of self discipline. Instead of thinking of ways to break free from technology, just set yourself reasonable, doable goals. Half an hour on facebook can be a reward for a good solid half hour of writing. In the end, anything at all can be a distraction and keep you from what you want to do.
Just try to give yourself some visual reminders, and keep trying. If you mess up, you just have to try again.
However, maybe some accountability might help you. I joined a group to help me quit smoking. Having to answer to someone is a great incentive, so you might want to try that. If you can have someone willing to be a “buddy” to help you focus on task orientation… It may be the spur in your flanks that you need.
Good luck.

Also, do you listen to music when you write? Some music is better to write to than others. Do you have good headphones that shield you from distractions?

@Trillian
Half an hour on facebook can be a reward
sounds like a punishment

Hehehe. i opened an account for my son, but I haven’t figured anything out yet. I am “friends” with a couple people, but I feel like a fish out of water and have no clue what to do next. I suggested FB because it’s in the initial question. I personally prefer Fluther, but that’s my reward for doing my schoolwork..

@Qingu – What type of music would that be for you? For me, it’s songs that I dislike so I tune out easier.

@Trillian
I created an account in one day to get in contact with someone and was suddenly flooded with contacts. I deleted the account the same day. I don’t need another thing I have to check into..Ughh..I’m just not that much of a people person.

I know what you mean.

I would disconnect yourself from the internet at given writing periods. If suddenly you have the urge to find out some obscure fact related to your writing, then have a notepad handy next to you, and write it down. Then, you can look them up all at once.

You can also get one of those “micropause” timers: software that reminds you to take a break / freezes your screen every so often. This will remind you of the time you are spending on your computer.
I’ve been using Anti RSI on my mac. For a PC, you might try Workrave

There is such a thing as “process addiction” (as opposed to substance addiction). Process addictions including things like gambling, shopping and many would say internet/information-based activity. In general, addicts substitute meaningful activity that is both challenging and rewarding with “meaningless” activity that simply provides feelings similar to a reward. So, rather than sweating to climb a mountain one step at a time, they will opt for a summit-like feeling. Oftentimes, this is because the stress created by the thought of climbing the mountain is beyond their immediate ability to cope. Addiction frequently happens in a cycle so in addition addicts will also “use” or “act out” to cope further with the disappointment of each lost opportunity.

Possibly, when you fall into the routine you describe you are creating feelings of accomplishment or some kind of high or trance state. Other people are better at managing and balancing their play time online with all of the other things they must do or want to do because they find those other activities meaningful. From what you describe, it sounds like you might have trouble maintaining that balance.

One approach is to practice mindfulness—that is, try as much as possible to maintain an awareness of your focus. Be observant of your intention, the point when your mind wanders, and when you’ve strayed from your intended activity. Straying is part of the process, so expect it to happen and refrain from being critical of yourself. If you catch yourself wandering, acknowledge that you’ve wandered and then return to your intended activity.

The hard part about writing and many other meaningful activities is the inertia required to get in to the activity. If you are like me, sitting down to write or to do something else that is challenging quickly leads to a panicky feeling and that opens the floodgates for mass distraction. You have to learn to be patient and calm, sit out that panicky feeling and trust a) that something will come if you sit quietly for long enough and b) that the panicky feeling will diminish with time and effort. For starters, though, just do your best to be observant of the panicky feeling (or whatever your feeling happens to be). Don’t try like crazy to assuage it like a crying baby (or girlfriend). Just watch it, and let it cry itself out.

You should expect to repeat this process many times and frequently—maybe as frequently as every ten minutes. Over time, though, it should subside.

@Qingu has a good point about ritual… I would venture to guess that you have a ritual already in place that encompasses your distractions. That’s another area to observe and change.

@kevbo
process addiction= fluther

@SeventhSense, don’t you know it. If only I could bill for (some of) my responses.

right?

There are software that will block/greyout everything but the program that you are working on. So you won’t get distracted. Look them up.

You can always make another account and place restrictions on it.

@lostinyoureyes, I remember being very productive listening to Led Zeppelin before I got sick of them. I got into melodic heavy metal for a while, like Iron Maiden, but now I think I prefer trippy stuff like Flaming Lips, Pink Floyd, and Shoegaze.

I also imagine the mileage you get out a certain band will depend on what kind of scene you’re writing.

Here’s another take on the topic: http://lifehacker.com/5464482/did-you-have-better-focus-before-the-ubiquitous-net

@kevbo Thanks very much for your thorough answer. I knew I had some kind of addiction and what you described definitely puts a name to it. I constantly move towards that “summit” feeling…but then end up feeling completely empty because I didn’t work to get anything. I can’t help beating myself up about it though. I can’t believe I’ve let it affect my life so much. Often I feel like a total failure.

But I’ve overcome things before, so this is just another challenge for me. Wish me luck =S

Good luck! Stay mindful!