One of my ideas is to only use my computer for emails and to only use it once a day MAX.
Another idea is to get my board gaming collection tuned up and start playing more of them with my wife and friends. I’ll even carry some solo games to travel around with if i ever get bored.
I’ve also started hosting my own Plex server with all my own movies and tv shows so that I dont need to worry about being marketed to on Netflix, Hulu, HBO etc.
What are some of YOUR ideas?
Board games are excellent, I play monopoly with my kids all the time and they love it!
Nice Kirk seems like you got the same set up as me!
I bring a book, a notebook, and my knitting with me everywhere and especially if I know there is down time (besides just people watching or going on a walk while waiting).
When I have my kids with me, I bring a book to read to them, a pack of cards/UNO, and a notebook for games.
Trying to do email and WhatsApp 100% on my computer. Not there yet.
I closed my IG account a few months ago and that has been a boon.
I make lists of things I need to do on the internet to keep me focused while on my computer.
Nice! My kids love Uno, I will take them to the library with my light phone 2 (soon to be Kompakt 
) it sits in my bag, and we will play UNO, or a matching game and then read books. I literally see no one else doing that in the library, everyone else is on the computers or ipads there playing video games
Yes, it is so sad. And infuriating that the libraries would install iPads at the toddler/pre-K height level so another thing to fight.
I went almost cold turkey a couple of years ago: I removed my TV and internet from my home. I got rid of my Fold phone and got a basic Nokia.
I only therefor could look at and respond to emails at work. It took me about four months to wean myself from feeling the need to check emails in the evening and Saturdays. It took about the same length of time for people whom send me emails to realise this too. The result has been, that I get less random emails and more considered emails. I also get less emails that are not really needed, as the customer knows I can not respond outside of the working day (I am a teacher at an independent school).
At home, I have far more time to delve into my imagination! I am reading roughly one novel a week, although some novels due to size can take a month. I have more time to do things at home, such as cooking.
I don’t scroll on the train, at the bus stop, in the pub or restaurant.
I have however found that I do still get distracted with the basic web browser on my Nokia! Once my Kompakt arrives, that will be another distraction removed.
I have had many people say to me, that they wish they could do that, but they can’t because they need access to their emails on the go! When I asked them if that is really true, most have turned around and said, well no, I suppose not if I think about it!
I think I’m only going to address the “reject attention economy” portion because I did purchase tech to help me do so. However, I believe the tech I purchased will be used only when needed, but still allow me to be present. They also shouldn’t take longer than say alternatively reading a book, writing on paper, etc.
Because they are e-ink, even though they’re still technically tech, I feel it’s important to seperate them. These two new devices will let me do particular activities in a distraction-free environment without unnecessary apps. This will allow me to focus.
I’ve quit all my subscriptions. I cancelled Spotify, Amazon, iCloud.
I purchased a DAP and am working to transfer all my favorite songs over, so I can finally delete my Spotify account.
I also bought an HDD recently (since I currently don’t have a desktop, but when I do, I’ll use it too for double back-up) to move all my photos that are in the cloud or on any device or flash drive. That way it is all in one place where only I can access it. I will make sure to also purchase an SDD in the future, so I have a 3-tier system in case something goes wrong.
Cursted collection of streaming apps: hoopla, Kanopy & Fandango at home. Although they are streaming, they are free, no-subscription required platforms. Kanopy & Hoopla are library-based. As for Fandango at home, it offers a pay-per-view model for renting and buying movies. Reminds me of a virtual Blockbusters. That way I have subscription-free entertainment, but I decided I will only use it intentionally. I’m setting boundaries and will only watch a single movie or episode without distractions, so I can rediscover the joy of deeper, uninterrupted experiences.
I deleted my Facebook account, finally (R.I.P. FB Marketplace for convenience). I will be deleting Snapchat soon once I finish going through my memories and saving photos I want (only really kept it this long to talk to someone and for the memories, but we both hate the notifications & doomscrolling associated, so I can’t wait to be done with it). Will be deleting my WhatsApp account soon as well since I never use it, but need to move some media out.
The only social networking accounts I own and are active on are Discord, Reddit, Light Forum & Mudita’s Forum. Although, none of these demand my attention in the same way as the algorithm-based ones. I check it once in awhile, but don’t feel the need to continue to check it all the time. Nor do I feel like I’m missing out on anything if I don’t. Maybe one day I’ll move away from Discord & Reddit (especially because there’s a better alternative) but for now, I’m only doing a few things at once since this is a huge process to change.
Not necessarily helping with attention economy, but I’m also rejecting data-harvesting utility app/companies.
Although right now I am spending a little more time on my iPad than I want to, I think this preparation will help with cutting attention long-term. I’m planning on getting back to my hobbies. And I turned off all my notifications. Will only check email twice a day (one in morning, one in evening for only a given amount of time). I cant tell you how wonderful it feels to move in this direction & be let go of the grasps of these big corporations. Soon, I’ll be living a life away from a ton of screen time.
I have sold or given away most of my tech stuff. I do have a Nokia Lumia 1020 phone (mainly for the camera) and a Pocketbook Inkpad Color when reading. Thats what I use, 99% of the time.
Have thought about getting a wristwatch, but I’m not sure I really need one.
What I have done over the last 6-8 months to shift focus from digital connectivity and aquiring stuff, is to try to start and engage more in conversations with people. Strangers you meet, people you observe when you are out and about, that sort of thing. A good way to connect is to approach in a relaxed manner with a big smile and say something positive about whatever activity they are doing; gardening, washing the car, their dog, hairstyle etc. Obviously you need to be a bit sensible when choosing topic and situation. But in most cases, it works really well. I would dare to day that this is a “need” in our society today. Sherry Turkle’s books “Alone together” and “Reclaim conversation, the power of talk in a digital age” are good reads.
I just started doing that (at 8 AM and 5 PM), and I now appreciate how much I was checking email throughout the day!
Yes, I only receive and send email on a computer, but I was checking email much more often than twice per day.
Now: Freedom!