Well, today wasn’t perfect. I opened my browser this morning to find a number of tabs containing content that I meant to read last night but ran out of time. I spend so much time consuming that I can barely take it all in that I’ve devised ways to make sure that I don’t miss anything. Anyway, I read the open tabs which led to opening a few more tabs. I caught myself early but still, no way to start an Information Detox (ID). But even though today wasn’t perfect it was certainly different and certainly for the better. It was funny, starting the ID actually left me more time to think and do rather than just consume. I had to find things to do to fill the time that I idly spent on the internet rationalizing that I was “keeping up” and “staying informed.”
The first thing I did? I went to work and I worked my ass off. I’m trying to think of a nicer way to say it but “worked my butt off” or “worked my tail off” do not do justice to what I did today. The only way that statement could be more accurate would be if I said “I worked my f***ing ass off.” Seriously. That’s not to say I don’t do anything at work on a usual basis but there was something totally different about today. I hit it like a freakin bengal tiger and I tore it up and it felt great. I don’t know if it was due to the ID or just from making a change in general but I just found my ability to focus today was unbelievable.
Some other things I did today? I went for a walk instead of cleaning out my feed reader and noticed a lot of cool stuff that exists downtown that I’ve never even seen before. Old interesting factories that were totally deserted (the one pictured above for instance.) Houses nestled between huge slabs of concrete whose front sidewalks seemed to bank at a 45 degree angle. People reading books and walking dogs. I walked through parking lots that I usually only drive by and smiled at people who smiled back at me. We were living our separate lives but for some reason we were together today. I wasn’t just there – I actually was in the moment – I was there.
I did some thinking, I did some walking. I planned, I read, I came, I left. It seems almost silly that I would spend so much time fooling myself that I was really improving my life with all of this information. The problem was that in one single day I feel like I’ve realized that consuming the information is really the tiniest part of the equation. If I’m not living the stuff that I’m reading then why am I reading it? Rather, why am I reading it over and over and over again?
And what else is taking root in my life that I can “detox?” What else can I get rid of that’ll free up more time for these wonderful feelings?
Anyway, on to the next day, I’m looking forward to see what will happen next.