I’m finding that I miss socializing on the web. I miss the hubbub. I miss the activity. I miss knowing what other people are creating, what they are doing. I wish I could look at what people are talking about on Twitter and what people are working on at Dribbble. Worse yet, I think its hurting my company.
How is it Hurting?
I feel like not being involved with the social web hurts Komodo. Twitter actually helps my visibility quite a bit and I didn’t realize it. I am always wanting to post something on Twitter to give people more real time access to what I am doing or looking at. I really like sharing good finds with friends on the internet and at this time, I feel like I have no voice. I have no way to blurt out in an instant (not a post) what I’m checking out or what is important to me at the moment.
Following is a Big Deal
My following is a big deal. People who like what I do help propel me forward in my business. As a self employed individual, it is even more important. With only a blog to voice articles I write and things that I do, I feel impaired.
Is Social Detox Bad?
It’s actually not all that bad. Productivity is up big time. Creativity is up too. However, we have such a large world right now that it is so important to stay visible. I guess that I could write it all off as this though: if I create and contribute excellent enough content to the web, I need not use Twitter, Dribbble, etc. to promote it. Excellent products and content should promote themselves. So, I am left with a dilemma.
Do I continue social detox?
I think you should come back to Twitter, but maybe write only, not read, or read too, but moderately…
Dude, come back to us! You have to remember that others are inspired by you (Myself included =D) and that you have the right to be inspired by others. Moderation is a good thing too!
Dude.. work isn’t everything. Friends and your peeps are where it’s at. If you sacrifice your (online) social life altogether for the sake of work… i think that qualifies as being scrooge. Or just an introvert :)
The answer is actually really simple and biblical.
“Everything in moderation”
It’s as simple as that, too much can be unhealthy and too little can be unhealthy. Find a good balance for your lifestyle that enables you to get work done, but also enjoy your life.
@Mac Tyler is spot on. Totally agree with that statement. I find twitter and social media helps me out huge, but I don’t get overboard with it.
Hey Rogie, here are my thoughts:
1) Yes, you need to come back
2) No, you shouldn’t come back until you finished your fast. You don’t want to second guess yourself that you quit early.
3) Its far less than a month left, and if you come back at the end… you should be able to pick right back up.
Best of luck in whatever you decide!
@all Don’t misunderstand, I fully intend to detox for one full month. My intentions are to understand what to do after the full month.
You should cut the excess fat and enjoy the steak. If you’ve got too much chatter on Twitter/Facebook/etc, just stop following the stuff that clogs the pores.
I think we as humanoids get exactly what we put into something. I enjoy all your positive, progressive posts. I’d like more see more questions posted on Twitter; you know, stuff that cycles our brains and gets everyone interacting with one-another.
My fiancee and I read this tonight and I think it applies to this dilemma.
1 Corinthians 7:30-31
30: Those who weep or who rejoice or who buy things should not be absorbed by their weeping or their joy or their possessions. 31: Those who use the things of the world should not become attached to them. For this world as we know it will soon pass away. -New Living Translation
Taking a full month off social media is a great idea, but should be approached as any other spiritual fast: supplicated w/ prayer. (I know you are :)
That’s my spiritual take on it… My other nature says to come back soon. I miss your tweets and shots on Dribbble!
I think you should come back man, and let us all witness your awesomeness more often! We miss you.
First of all: you never should’ve mentioned Dribbble here… I came to work today and all I did was viewing these awesome images! ;-)
I really know the situation when you decided to detox. It’s the same thing here: there is Twitter, ICQ, Jabber, Skype, Mail, Phone and real talk… And not to forget: RSS feeds! Everything tries to keep me off of work. What I did instead of a detox: I turned off every sound and beep of these Apps. I take some minutes every fews hours to look at new mails and tweets, RSS feeds are read every evening. The only thing I didn’t turned of was ICQ/Jabber and Phone, because this is the way my customers talk to me while I’m on a project. Everything else won’t disturb me.
I wouldn’t leave Twitter, nor close my mail app or Skype, ICQ, whatever. I have to control them, not letting them control me or my work life. If I do, it’s ok.
And mind: a detox always hurts! But it’s getting better afterwards :-).
Oh, there’s a bug in your blog system: each entry gets his create date GMT-6 but displays wrong: it says I wrote my comment 7 hours ago, but I’ve written it some minutes ago (~12:55 AM, GMT+1) ;-).
I’ve come to treat things the way that people say you should treat email. During my work/focus times, it’s off. This usually means that I get up in the morning and catch up on things. When I get to work, I quit my Twitter app and email app and strictly make stuff until lunch (for me, around 12:30ish).
I grab a bite to eat, browse Twitter & Dribbble and what not, check and respond to any email I must, then quit’em again.
Work work work, focus focus focus focus until my afternoon coffee break (around 3:30ish). Here I’ll generally just check email unless my workload is light.
I wrap up my day at 6:15ish, and then catch up on the rest of the world afterwords.
With social networking there seems to be a huge push for immediate response and instant feedback, but that doesn’t have to be how it is. Tweets aren’t going anywhere, and shocking or exciting news will be just as shocking or exciting when you find out a couple hours after everyone else.
(Well, as long as you’re not sitting next to someone that spends their entire day on it. However if they are, they’re probably not getting any work done themselves.)
@ryan AWESOME, it’s not too often I see biblical references in web-dev world, but they’re most certainly welcome =D
For what it’s worth, I think Mac has the right idea. Social media is important but you need to keep it in its place. Perhaps by allowing yourself certain times for it you can get the benefits without harming your productivity.
I congratulate you on your fast, Rogie. I started something similar at the beginning of March – a media fast. No TV, no unnecessary web browsing, using my phone as a phone only, etc. It’s been a challenge, but well worth it. Productivity is definitely up, and time with my wife and daughter is more valuable, as I’m not distracted by thoughts of my Twitter feed.
I’m definitely there with @mac and @ryan, moderation has got to be the answer for guys like us. The distractions of the social web have their place in promoting our business, but the chatter can tune us out from what’s important. When my fast is done at the end of May (oh gosh, that’s a long time away), I’ve got to get back in the social game, but figure out a way to make it fit in with my life and the rest of my priorities.
Romans 12:1,2
I miss you Rogie! :(
Try finding a balance between Twitter and other social networks and your actual work. A harmony between the 2 is great nad very achievable.
Just stumbled across this. I like you. Glad you exist, and that we are friends. That is all.