The document discusses the negative impact of digital distractions, including information overload, social media anxiety, and the disconnect in interpersonal relationships. It provides various strategies to manage these challenges, such as mindful consumption of online content, scheduled unplugged times, and fostering artistic practices. The emphasis is on reconnecting with oneself and others in a meaningful, tech-free manner.

1. Digital Distraction Ben Klocek

2. The Challenges
• Information Overload
• Constant Distraction
• Social Media Anxiety
• Alone Together
• Inner Life
flickr.com/photos/lukew/6171377827/

3. Information Overload “Informed bewilderment”

4. Information Fatigue My brain couldn’t keep up

6. Information Overload:
Strategy
• Acknowledge that it's not
possible to keep up. There's
more info created each day
than you can read in a year.
• Choose your sources wisely,
budget the time you spend
online, and when you feel your
mind getting tired, move on.
• Take up an artistic practice. The
time spent on aesthetic creation
gives your mind a break.

7. Constant Distraction Tuned in and tuned out.

8. Distraction: Strategy
• Come back to your body.
• Do one thing at a time and
know why you are doing it.
• Plan times to be plugged in, and
times to be unplugged. Stick to
the plan.
• Spend time in nature without
devices.
• Create a “Distraction” folder on
you phone for FB, Instagram,
Twitter, etc.

9. “Yes, master” Who’s in charge?

10. Social Media Anxiety Maintaining your “second” self.

11. Social Media Anxiety:
Strategy
• Remember that you are managing
two identities, online and off.
• Remember that people are likely to
only post things that make them
look good.
• Be aware of how much benefit you
are actually receiving from
participating.
• Choose to respond when it’s
convenient to you.
• FOMOs: Fear Of Missing Out.
Acknowledge that you can’t ready
every post.

13. Alone Together “It has become appallingly obvious that our
technology has exceeded our humanity”
- Albert Einstein

14. Alone Together:
Strategy
• Agree with your friends on
when it’s ok for each of you to
be on your devices and when
it’s not.
• Make certain areas of your
house (like the kitchen and
dining room) device-free.
• For friends or couples, plan
times to be unplugged together.
• Restaurant phone stacking.
First to pick up, pays.

15. Inner Life Spend time with yourself.

16. Inner Life: Strategy
• Take a walk alone without your
phone.
• One day a week tech-free
(I do Sunday).
• Do art.

17. It’s up to you. “How we spend our days is, of course, how
we spend our lives.”
- Annie Dillard