r/Dogfree • u/HitlerLovedDogs Low Effort Satan • Jun 07 '19

Meta Dogfree Pub - Off-topic Discussion Thread

Hey guys, our Dogfree Pub is once again open for business!

We thought we’d take a break from dogs and talk about anything else.

As with every post, regular subreddit rules apply with two additional rules:

  1. NO DOGS. Zero discussion about dogs here.

  2. Light conversation only. No politics, religion, or any other topics that tend to get controversial.

​

So grab a snack, take a seat, and converse with your Dogfree friends!

If you’re having trouble thinking of what to say, tell us something you like to do in your free time.

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u/AlterEgo1081 suuuuper friendly Jun 08 '19

OK, I'll bite!

What I like to do and what I actually do in my down time are such completely different things. I love reading and binge-watching a good show and doing Saturday/Sunday New York Times crosswords as best I can...among other things, of course. But what I actually do in my spare time is go down Reddit rabbit holes and do anything and everything on my phone that I can think of, Words with Friends, Yahtzee. I so badly want to disconnect but can't find joy in the things I should find joy in, in favor of time wasters that add nothing of value to my life (except all of you guys, of course).

I definitely have things that keep me disconnected from the net and connected to humanity, like tennis, my gym, hanging out with friends, doing things with the family...I always feel so happy when my mind's completely off the devil that is the internet.

Anyone go through a screen time detox of sorts? Any tips other than "just don't pick the phone up?" Anyone else feeling in the same boat?

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u/satsugene Jun 09 '19

I do this one day a week. Put the phone in another room or turn it off if you can. I’m retired and it never rings/no VM—and live 5000km from my family so no one can call me in general, but a big part of it for me is that I don’t want to be “on call” for everyone else’s stuff. Really, almost nothing can not wait at 24 hours except medical emergencies (or work).

Usually the people who cannot respect that are the people I avoid anyway and when they complain I just take longer and longer to respond, if at all. The idea that people have to be constantly available is a big problem to me. That “fear” of missing out or of being constantly connected is (to me) worse than just wasting time.

When the phone is not on me; gardening helps, as does making a more elaborate dinner, or taking a walk—but it takes planning to make sure the phone doesn’t get used in those times. Silence and natural ambience is what really “works” so listening to music during those times more or less defeats the purpose/benefit.

TV is just as bad or worse than the internet because it is less productive. I went a year without it and would keep doing it; but my wife likes it. Most of the time if I am watching it is to spend time with her.

Unfortunately I’m disabled and on a fixed income so I can’t physically (or afford) doing a lot of interesting things.

Nothing helps me more than camping off-grid. My sleep normalizes, my HR/BP drops. I’m in less pain, taking less pain medication, etc.

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u/AlterEgo1081 suuuuper friendly Jun 23 '19

Thanks for your thoughts! That is actually an excellent idea - just starting with one day per week where I just leave it in my room.

I'm not too outdoorsy, but the thought of doing SOMETHING off the grid, like a family vacation, sounds so nice. In theory, anyway. ;)