Weekday Unplugging: A 30 Day Experiment in Reclaiming My Time

Javaun Moradi
Javaun MoradiProduct Manager, APIs at NPR
Weekday unplugging

An experiment in reclaiming my time
            @javaun
Weekday Unplugging: A 30 Day Experiment in Reclaiming My Time
(REDACTED: adorable photo of my kid)
Weekday Unplugging: A 30 Day Experiment in Reclaiming My Time
The Plan
• 30 days: no mobile use around family
• Inbox zero & limited email checking at work
• Find little ways to have fun at work
Where to start?
Weekday Unplugging: A 30 Day Experiment in Reclaiming My Time
Weekday Unplugging: A 30 Day Experiment in Reclaiming My Time
Away Message

“Happy New Year! As part of a productivity
experiment, I will only be checking email late
morning and early afternoon. If you have an
urgent matter, call me (gasp!) or walk over. ”
Weekday Unplugging: A 30 Day Experiment in Reclaiming My Time
WINS
•   5th floor smelled delicious
•   Two desktop email checks
•   Listened to music
•   Didn’t use/miss iPhone @home
•   More attentive with kid
•   Overall: felt fabulous
FAILS
•   Twitter, etc. are a risk
•   Bothered my cubemates more
•   Relapsed after bedtime
•   Game didn’t work out
Other Ways to Kill Email
•   Unsubscribe of the Day
•   If an email is too long, ask for a summary
•   Remove work email from my phone
•   Templates to common answers
Stuff you should read
How to do what you love
http://www.paulgraham.com/love.html

Harper Reed Goes a Week w/o Internet
http://huff.to/U2GzD2

GTD For Hackers
http://gtdfh.branchable.com/

10 Resolutions Successful People Make & Keep
http://onforb.es/VquF85

Inbox Zero
http://inboxzero.com/articles/
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Weekday Unplugging: A 30 Day Experiment in Reclaiming My Time

  • 1. Weekday unplugging An experiment in reclaiming my time @javaun
  • 5. The Plan • 30 days: no mobile use around family • Inbox zero & limited email checking at work • Find little ways to have fun at work
  • 9. Away Message “Happy New Year! As part of a productivity experiment, I will only be checking email late morning and early afternoon. If you have an urgent matter, call me (gasp!) or walk over. ”
  • 11. WINS • 5th floor smelled delicious • Two desktop email checks • Listened to music • Didn’t use/miss iPhone @home • More attentive with kid • Overall: felt fabulous
  • 12. FAILS • Twitter, etc. are a risk • Bothered my cubemates more • Relapsed after bedtime • Game didn’t work out
  • 13. Other Ways to Kill Email • Unsubscribe of the Day • If an email is too long, ask for a summary • Remove work email from my phone • Templates to common answers
  • 14. Stuff you should read How to do what you love http://www.paulgraham.com/love.html Harper Reed Goes a Week w/o Internet http://huff.to/U2GzD2 GTD For Hackers http://gtdfh.branchable.com/ 10 Resolutions Successful People Make & Keep http://onforb.es/VquF85 Inbox Zero http://inboxzero.com/articles/

Editor's Notes

  1. I needed to unplug during the holiday, I ended up working the whole time.
  2. This is the heart of the problem. I need to put my phone down and work on being there when I’m there. This is at a villa in the Italian Piedmont! I barely even had internet connectivity – you had to sit in that chair to get it from next door.
  3. My daughter notices. I was working on Xmas eve and she showed me her computer.
  4. Before making a clean break, you should always get a haircut. So I did.
  5. Next, let’s nuke all my email but the stuff from December 1 onward.
  6. First thing I did yesterday was bake some cubicle bread, because bread is delicious, and I didn’t give up carbs.
  7. FAILS – there will always be boondoggle time. I could’ve done better.
  8. Join me! I can’t do this alone. Also: anyone want to play a game after the restrospective? We’ll do it in the hall.