So says Rod, and I have to agree. I’ve pretty well broken the habit of aimless, passive TV viewing–in addition to my shameful sports radio gluttony–but I’ve replaced it with other media. Like many addicts, I have good days and bad days. The good days are good because I’m faithful to rules I’ve set up so that I can both be productive (which, for my line of work, requires being online for vast stretches at a time) and remain at peace.
My rules:
1. Wake up before anyone else in the house. (Not always easy when I’m competing with a 2 year-old who thinks roosters are lazy.)
2. Spend at least the first 10 minutes in complete silence: no book or other media, not even reflective/spiritual reading, and definitely no computer. (This is, I admit, very difficult for me.)
3. When my kids wake up, give them my full attention for the first part of the day.
4. When I first go online, don’t check email. (I break this rule a lot, even though on days when I follow it I thank heaven for Julie Morgenstern).
5. To read online, use my RSS reader rather than surfing. And do it in small, scheduled increments.
6. Same with social media like Twitter and Facebook–do it small, scheduled increments that serve a purpose other than the pleasure of distraction.
Here’s what I find: When I behave well in regard to media, I generally feel like I’m living within my vocation, my faith, my best sense of self. On those days, I appreciate and respect my roles as husband/father/son/brother/friend/editor/writer. On days when I follow my worst impulses in regard to media consumption, my mind becomes a scattered mess. I still get stuff done, but I neglect the activities I feel most called and drawn to and that are the hardest for me to make time for, such as writing. I also suffer physically–I slouch over all day, hurting my back and forgoing my lunchtime trail run in favor of some pressing online essay that I won’t remember 3 hours later. And because I’ve missed that lunchtime trail run, I’ve missed a chance to be outside, amid the trees, enjoying my favorite, most life-giving and soulful activity this side of backcountry snowboarding.
More on this anon. I’d love to know if you have any online or other media habits for yourself, and if you struggle in this area. I’d also like to talk specifically about what sorts of spiritual practices (Rod mentions the Jesus Prayer, about which I have my own story to share) people have found useful in resisting the frenetic spirit of our age.
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