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Edit cell-phone-experiment blog post

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After a full night's rest, I re-read my blog post and made some changes:
- Fix grammatical errors
- Clarify unclear passages
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William Carroll 2020-04-03 11:26:20 +01:00
parent f23e1be416
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@ -80,7 +80,8 @@ morning alarms probably disrupt the quality of my sleep. If I'm tired, shouldn't
I keep sleeping? I keep sleeping?
As the month progressed and my 24 hour day morphed into a 25 hour day, I learned As the month progressed and my 24 hour day morphed into a 25 hour day, I learned
that I would prefer waking up at the set time every day. that I would prefer waking up at a set time every day and synchronize my
schedule with the rest of my timezone.
I am still unsure if alarm clocks are helpful in the long-term. I would have I am still unsure if alarm clocks are helpful in the long-term. I would have
slept with the curtains drawn to allow the morning sun to wake me slept with the curtains drawn to allow the morning sun to wake me
@ -97,34 +98,34 @@ Time restores my sanity.
Using timers motivates me to do a bunch of short tasks like cleaning my flat for Using timers motivates me to do a bunch of short tasks like cleaning my flat for
fifteen minutes, stretching, or reading before bed. Thankfully, I already owned fifteen minutes, stretching, or reading before bed. Thankfully, I already owned
a physical timer that I keep in my kitchen. This replaced my phone's timer a physical timer that I keep in my kitchen. This replaced the timer on my phone
application with minimal disruption. without disrupting my routine.
#### Maps #### Maps
Speaking of lacking orientation, what about living without maps software? On Speaking of being disoriented, what about living without maps software? On the
the few occasions where I traveled somewhere that was unfamiliar to me, I had to few occasions where I traveled somewhere that was unfamiliar to me, I had to
memorize the directions from my computer before I departed. memorize the directions from my computer before I departed.
At least I didn't need to visit gas stations or museums to buy trifold tourist At least I didn't need to visit gas stations or museums to buy trifold tourist
maps... maps...
I once left my office -- mistakenly assuming that I would download the I once left my office mistakenly assuming that I would download the directions
directions to my destination while commuting. As I awaited the office elevator, to my destination while commuting. As I awaited the office elevator, I realized
I realized that I had no clue where I was heading. that I had no clue where I was heading.
Thankfully I wasn't far from the safety, comfort, and familiarity of my desktop Thankfully I wasn't far from the safety, comfort, and familiarity of my desktop
computer -- with its fatty WiFi connection. In no time I was studying Google computer -- with its fatty WiFi connection. In no time I was studying Google
Maps in my web browser and memorizing the directions. Maps in my web browser and memorizing the directions.
Overall this was also hardly an inconvenience, and I think I even enjoyed Overall this was hardly an inconvenience, and I think I even enjoyed
stress-testing my memory: a job that I so often outsource to hardware. stress-testing my memory: a job that I so often outsource to hardware.
#### Rendezvouses #### Rendezvouses
A couple of times I met friends in various parts of the city. Organizing these A couple of times I met friends in various parts of the city. Organizing these
particular rendezvouses was a novel (read: anachronistic) experience. For all particular rendezvouses was a novel (read: anachronistic) experience. For all
you young whippersnappers reading, take out your stone tables and chisels. I'm you young whippersnappers reading, take out your stone tablets and chisels. I'm
going to explain how this works: going to explain how this works:
First I would tell my friends where are when to meet me. I emphasized that I First I would tell my friends where are when to meet me. I emphasized that I
@ -134,35 +135,37 @@ commuting, which made the commitments unusually more binding.
On one occasion my friend -- who is characteristically prompt, and even chides On one occasion my friend -- who is characteristically prompt, and even chides
me for when I'm late -- was twenty minutes late for our engagement. My friend is me for when I'm late -- was twenty minutes late for our engagement. My friend is
German, so I figured I should do my civic duty of alerting the German embassy German, so I figured I should do my civic duty of alerting the German embassy
that my friend has broken German code, is obscenely late, and should therefore that my friend had broken German code, is obscenely late, and should therefore
hand-in his passport and renounce his citizenship. After awhile my conscience hand-in his passport and renounce his citizenship. After awhile my conscience
advised me to reconsider. advised me to reconsider.
It was fortunate for both of us that I did not fully understand how late he was; It was fortunate for both of us that I did not fully understand how late he was.
I didn't know what time it was. Remember: I didn't know what time it was.
I decided this would be a useful opportunity to test my patience, so I loitered I decided this would be a useful opportunity to test my patience, so I loitered
for twenty minutes outside of our meeting point. He couldn't text me to tell me for twenty minutes outside of our meeting point. He couldn't text me to tell me
that he was late. I couldn't listen to music, call family or friends to pass the that he was late. I couldn't listen to music, call family or friends, or partake
in any of the other rituals that modern-day loiterers observe to pass the
time. In the end he showed up, and it was scarcely a big deal. time. In the end he showed up, and it was scarcely a big deal.
This experience made me wonder what the policy for abandoning plans is when This experience made me wonder what the policy for abandoning plans is when
someone is running late. Before smart phones, how long did people wait? Long someone is running late. Before smart phones, how long did people wait? Maybe
enough to absolve themselves of flaking on their friend in the unlikely event the proper etiquette is to wait long enough for you to absolve yourself of the
that their friend showed shortly after they left. guilt of flaking in the unlikely event that your friend arrives shortly after
you leave.
So... thirty minutes? I'll call my grandma tomorrow and ask her. So... thirty minutes? I'll call my grandma tomorrow and ask her.
#### Boredom #### Boredom
My phone couldn't entertain me while I waited in line at the grocery store. Same My phone couldn't entertain me while I queued at the grocery store. Same too
too when commuted. when I commuted.
I also found myself listening to less music than I usually do. I decided to read I also found myself listening to less music than I usually do. I decided to read
to occupy the void when I could; this helped me progress towards completing my to occupy the void when I could; this helped me progress towards completing this
[GoodReads annual reading challenge][gr-annual]. year's [GoodReads challenge][gr-annual].
#### Cheating ### Cheating
I used my phone twice during March. I used my phone twice during March.
@ -179,9 +182,9 @@ are useful reminders that habits don't distinguish between helpful and hurtful;
they just exist. they just exist.
In total I would estimate that I spent somewhere around fifteen minutes using In total I would estimate that I spent somewhere around fifteen minutes using
my phone in March. my phone in March. While not perfect:
I consider this a success. > Better a diamond with a flaw than a pebble without (Confucius)
### Substitution = Dilution ### Substitution = Dilution
@ -189,9 +192,9 @@ While the explicit goal of this challenge was to avoid using my cell phone for a
month, the implicit goal was to disengage from many of the month, the implicit goal was to disengage from many of the
[nonessential][essentialism] activities that compete for my attention. [nonessential][essentialism] activities that compete for my attention.
There were some things that I didn't miss about not having a cell phone. This There were some activities that I didn't miss while living without a cell
wasn't because I don't value these things, but rather because I can adequately phone. This wasn't because I don't value these activities, but rather because I
replace them with alternatives. can adequately replace them with alternatives.
For texting and making phone calls, I used [Telegram][wtf-telegram]. Telegram For texting and making phone calls, I used [Telegram][wtf-telegram]. Telegram
helped me sustain a healthy relationship with my girlfriend while still honoring helped me sustain a healthy relationship with my girlfriend while still honoring
@ -209,15 +212,18 @@ habitually avoid boredom and seek entertainment. On its face this may not sound
like a harmful practice. My generation drills the aphorism "you only live once", like a harmful practice. My generation drills the aphorism "you only live once",
suggesting that we may want to embrace a Hedonistic lifestyle. suggesting that we may want to embrace a Hedonistic lifestyle.
A life spent indulging may or may not be a wise way to play the game of Life, Hedonism may or may not be a wise way to play the game of Life. All I know is
but living a life where I am often stimulated but equally distracted appeals that living a life in which I am often stimulated but proportionately distracted
increasingly less to me as time progresses. appeals increasingly less to me as time progresses.
During March I noticed that once I freed my attention from sending/receiving During March I noticed that once I freed my attention from sending/receiving
texts, my brain quickly reassigned my attention to maintaining a vigil over texts, my brain quickly reassigned my attention to maintaining a vigil over the
other social media outposts that I maintain. other social media outposts that I maintain.
For example, once I discovered that I could use Instagram in a web browser I should also admit that I habitually checked Telegram now that it served as my
new cell phone. Didn't see that coming...
In another case, once I discovered that I could use Instagram in a web browser
instead of on my phone, I filled my newfound time and attention on instead of on my phone, I filled my newfound time and attention on
[Instagram.com][ig] (don't click!): displacing the time that I spent on an app [Instagram.com][ig] (don't click!): displacing the time that I spent on an app
on my phone to time that I spent on a website in a web browser. on my phone to time that I spent on a website in a web browser.
@ -236,9 +242,11 @@ friendships that you easily form can just as easily be destroyed.
Habits invert this creation/destruction relationship. In my experience "easy Habits invert this creation/destruction relationship. In my experience "easy
come" implies "difficult to go". come" implies "difficult to go".
For example, you might be able to easily form the habit of eating chocolate For example, I could to easily form the habit of eating chocolate around 15:00
around 15:00 at work. Compare this to the difficulty people experience at work; curbing this habit would require more effort. When I compare this to
habituating a meditation practice. the difficulty I experienced habituating a meditation practice, and how easily
I can dislodge my meditation practice, it seems to me that the laws of habits
dictate "easy come, difficult go; difficult come, easy go".
I suspect that while my cravings for using a cell phone have temporarily ceased, I suspect that while my cravings for using a cell phone have temporarily ceased,
they will return shortly after I start using my cell phone. And as if nothing they will return shortly after I start using my cell phone. And as if nothing
@ -251,9 +259,10 @@ to live a mostly normal life: one where I am not unnecessarily straining the
relationships of my friends and my family. After all these are the people who relationships of my friends and my family. After all these are the people who
matter most to me and those who drive me to explore new ways to improve. matter most to me and those who drive me to explore new ways to improve.
I recognize that the "self" in self-experimentation is a misnomer. My decisions I recognize that the "self" in self-experimentation is a misnomer. Can you truly
impact the people in my life, and I want to thank everyone who tolerates my conduct an [N of 1 trial][nof1]? My decisions impact the people in my life, and
eccentric and oftentimes annoying experimentation. I want to thank everyone who tolerates my eccentric and oftentimes annoying
experimentation.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for reading.
@ -268,3 +277,4 @@ Thank you for reading.
[wtf-availability]: https://landing.google.com/sre/sre-book/chapters/availability-table [wtf-availability]: https://landing.google.com/sre/sre-book/chapters/availability-table
[essentialism]: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18077875-essentialism [essentialism]: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18077875-essentialism
[ig]: https://instagram.com [ig]: https://instagram.com
[nof1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N_of_1_trial