The Slow Media Diet

by Kirby, January 1st, 2010

Photo by Pierre Pouliquin

For the month of January I’m embarking on something I call The Slow Media Diet. In a nutshell, what I’m looking to do is to both reduce my media consumption and shift my tastes to longer forms. I’ll be doing this for all of January and then on February 1st (my birthday, coincidentally) I’ll probably have a little binge, and after that integrate whatever works into my life.

Here’s the rules.

DON’TS

  • No web browsing (blogs, news, feeds, etc.)
  • No video entertainment (TV, DVDs, YouTube, streaming, etc.)
  • No online shopping
  • No Twitter except to crosspost blog updates
  • No outgoing texts (text replies are okay)

DO’S

  • Anything on paper is okay.
  • Movies at the theater are ok (in moderation); movies at home are not.
  • Radio, music, audiobooks and audio podcasts are all okay.
  • I can post daily to my blog, Facebook, and Twitter.
  • The phone and online communications (voice or video chat) are okay.

REDUCE

  • Minimize computer use
  • Minimize multitasking
  • Personal email will be handled once per day in 30 minutes or less.
  • Internet use for work purposes is okay but will be kept to a minimum.

The distinction I’m making above isn’t so much about technology as perceived speed. RSS feeds are fast. Audio podcasts, although technically also feeds, are slow. I want to minimize technologies that cause my mind to race, daydream, or fly off on hyperlink-y tangents.

My intention here isn’t to be a zealot and follow these rules even when they make no sense, nor is to treat this like some kind of endurance stunt. When absolutely necessary I will break the rules and then return to them afterwards. This is an exercise, not a code.

I’ll be posting to this blog about my progress. (Yes, I see there’s some hypocrisy there, but again, I’m not trying to be a monk.) Feel free to join in and adjust the rules or duration as you see fit.

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  • I don't think I can stop tweeting. Very hard to do so. got to tweet this. :)
  • Katie
    I'm wondering how this movement is spreading later in the year.
  • this is a great idea, thank for sharing
  • I'm a big fan of your stuff and I'm always sending links to friends. Not only is it amusing, but it's also an enlightening sociological analysis of what technology does to us as opposed to what most everyone else discusses (what we can do with technology). It's thought-provoking, intelligent, and refreshing... and I hope I get to continue seeing more of it.

    Online media. news
  • Thank you so much! That's very kind and I appreciate you taking the time to tell me. I've been very busy lately and unable to make new vids, but I hope to get back to it as I can!
  • I think this is a great idea, and I can't wait to hear how it goes for you. I recently took a few steps in a similar direction when I stopped using a data plan with my phone; so far, sooo good. Good luck!
  • I'm in! I had to set rules that fit my work better - I mod a forum, run an online retail business, and use online shopping to avoid taking 3 children (aged 5, 4 and 2) to the mall. But I can still see big benefits to spending less time on the computer.
  • Sure, I think that's within the general guidelines. We do what we have to online and slash the rest down to the bare minimum.
  • good idea :D
    i'll join you and go for feb 2nd which is my birthday. coincidentally.
  • Welcome!
  • samgorrie
    should be easy to join you on this one, seeing as i broke my computer and all. :P
  • You're in whether you like it or not. :)
  • Oli
    sounds perfect for me, especially the mind racing hyperlink bit.

    thanks, should help me!
  • ..
    I'm glad your trying this out and putting this idea to some .folks. There can't be much self reflecting if ....... your busy with any kind of distraction and it's so easy to feel like you have to "keep up" . We are freaks at our house because we do not have a tv that works right now. It's was the best thing for us because it gave us more time for other things like cooking and talking with each other,listening to music etc. We use our computer for facebook and music stations and some info but amazingly we have a better social life because we are doing things with people that are important to us. We love to have dinner or a beer with friends and catch up on things. I don't want to know when you go to the grocery store or how pissed you are becuse of the traffic. I want the good stuff, sex, drugs and rock and roll. Whatever that means to you. We are meant to have intimate relationships. Good for you!!!! And anything you do to allow some quiet time will make you a happier person.
  • Bleucheese
    Kirby, do you use a Mac or a PC?
  • I use a Mac. Why?
  • Bleucheese
    Oh, it's not entirely important. I wrote some timing tracking software that could break down how you've been spending your time on your computer... but right now it's only for Windows. Gotta get on the ball and learn Objective-C so I can make a Mac version.

    I'm a big fan of your stuff and I'm always sending links to friends. Not only is it amusing, but it's also an enlightening sociological analysis of what technology does to us as opposed to what most everyone else discusses (what we can do with technology). It's thought-provoking, intelligent, and refreshing... and I hope I get to continue seeing more of it. =)
  • Thank you so much! Much appreciated! I'm hoping to have another new vid out this month.
  • I got rid of cable in June. I pretty much ignore my Facebook account. I cut out online news in December. I also started listening to more podcasts in December. Now the challenge is figuring out how to manage Twitter in 30 minutes a day or less. That one's going to kill me.
  • Martin
    It seems like a good plan, except for the 'I can still update my Facebook / Twitter' part. I would find it very difficult to just post, without first spending half an hour reading what others have posted - maybe you can try using a badly configured desktop client or something?
  • Yeah, that is tricky, but it's easier for me because I run a fan page, so all I see is Goodie Bag stuff, not everyone's activity. With Twitter I just plan to crosspost to via WordPress.
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