This time Table Note will discuss the book Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport Summary. Everyone should be able to choose to stop focusing on the virtual world and live in the real world.
This book discusses how we can live a more lively life without letting technology dominate our lives. Minimalism is the art of knowing enough. Meanwhile, digital minimalism applies this idea to our personal technological lives. This is the key to living a focused life in an increasingly noisy world. It should be understood, technology is basically neither good nor bad. The key is to use technology to support your goals, rather than letting it dominate you.
Table Note summarizes/summary it into three important points from this book:
First, what is digital minimalism?
There is an irony in the digital age. We create accounts on social media so we can connect with friends who may be located far from where we live now. However, this technology actually makes us unable to focus on chatting with friends who are in front of us. Without us knowing it, we are addicted to the technology that is in our cellphones or computers. For information, addiction is a condition in which a person engages in the use of a substance or behavior that provides a strong urge to repeatedly perform the behavior even though there are adverse consequences. These social changes were not expected or planned in advance. Nobody could have predicted that the average user would spend 2 hours per day on social media and would check their smartphone 85 times per day.
Two compelling reasons for this technology addiction are positive reinforcement and a drive for social approval. The use of social media gives you a very strong boost through the number of engagements, such as views, likes, comments, and so on. Interestingly, the algorithm makes the number of engagements we receive unpredictable, so this is what provides a strong impetus to continue using social media. If we talk about uncertainty, then this will make our brains release more of the hormone dopamine, known as a compound related to happiness. One morning, we wake up to discover that this new technology has unwittingly made us addicted. Basically, the drive to be accepted into social circles is rooted in our identity as human beings. We are social creatures and can never completely ignore what other people think of us. New technology has taken advantage of this basic drive to create addiction.
So what should we do? We have to change our behavior. Cal defines digital minimalism as a philosophy of using technology during which you focus some time online on a little number of carefully selected activities.
The activity you choose must support the value of the life you embrace. The man who runs digital minimalism is all around us. They are the ones who can have long conversations without frequently glancing at their cell phones. They can get caught up in reading a book, working on a project they enjoy, or taking a leisurely morning jog. They can celebrate with friends and family without the obsessive urge to document the experience. They are always up to date regarding information but do not feel overwhelmed by the amount of news they read. They also do not experience the fear of being left behind because they already know what activities are capable of providing meaning and satisfaction.
Second, getting started with digital declutter.
The activity of tidying up your digital life, also known as digital declutter, focuses primarily on technologies such as applications, websites, and other things on your computer or cellphone screen. You may also have to include video games and streaming videos in this category. After that, take a break for thirty days from one of the technologies you consider 'optional' meaning you can stay away from that technology without causing any major harm or trouble in both your professional and personal life. In some cases, you won't use optional technology at all, while in other cases you may establish a set of procedures that determine when and how you use the technology during the decluttering process.
Being clear about what to do and what not to do during the decluttering process will determine its success. In the first week or two, you may have a hard time resisting the urge to always check on the technology you've categorized as optional. This is normal and this feeling will definitely pass. However, keep in mind, the purpose of this digital declutter isn't just to enjoy some time away from distracting technology. During this month-long process, you will have to aggressively seek out quality activities to fill in the remaining time while you are avoiding optional technology. This period should be one of interesting activities and experiments. The goal is that when you complete the digital declutter, you have found activities that produce real satisfaction so that you are more confident about creating a better life.
At the end of the pause, reintroduce the technology from earlier into your life, starting with a blank whiteboard. For each technology you reintroduce, determine what added value it can bring back your life and therefore the way you'll use it to its full potential. You also finally realize that technology only serves as a support for a more meaningful life goal.
Third, spending time alone.
Everyone can benefit from solitude activities. This is a positive experience where you decide to be alone because of your own desires. It is not loneliness but a desire to pause in life. Before we can discuss solitude, we need to first understand what it means. Solitude is often mistakenly associated with the physical separation of distances. Solitude is actually about what happens in your mind, not the environment around you.
Thank you for reading Grit Angela Duckworth Book Summary Review: a combination of passion and persistence, the author hopes that you have a happy day.
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