30 day forums & blogs fast

[Jason_Batten]

Yes for 30 days I will be cutting them off, starting on the 10th of February. My challenge to you all is, to do the same. Although I suspect most of you are too weak to accept my challenge* (prove me wrong) :evilgrin:. You’ll kick your bad habits, be more productive and once the time is over you can evaluate exactly what was wasting your time and what was helpful.

Personally I have 3 books I want to read. 3 projects to complete and a lot of money to make. My 30 days are planned out, be sure to do the same.

One tip I can offer you is to cancel subscriptions to stop things popping up and reminding you of the addiction 🙂

BTW, feel free to add to your challenge, like cutting out ebay / chat / other websites etc. I rarely go on MSN any more. Maybe 5 - 8 times a month.

I'll hang around for the next 2 days but then won't be back until 30 days later (I hear the cheers already). I'll report on my productivity at the end of the 30 days.

Good luck 😉

*those with moderator obligations are exempt from the forum challenge

[Elizabeth]

But you're missing that for some of us, visiting forums is an excellent way to increase productivity with the exchange of ideas and what's going on in the world. Granted, I spend a lot of time in the BS area here, but many times the BS sparks creative conversation, or gives me a new thought on tackling an old problem.

If I quit visiting forums and reading blogs for 30 days I fear I would no longer be connected to what's going on, and not only in the PHP world. But maybe that's just me. 🙂

[vaaaska]

Personally, I like it when things are light and fun around here. Sometimes a discussion can get really technical or heavy and that's just something that happens. And so, I have no problems posting random things from time to time - as EL points out it's a creative outlet.

If I told you that for a recent project I rearranged furuniture on my terrace for a few hours in the freezing cold because I thought the experience might give me some ideas you'd probably find that crazy. Well, it was fun, I got a work out and I did have plenty of ideas. I was working on a bitmap inspired font (actually, I posted it around here someplace I think).

To each his own. If you feel you are obsessive about a particular forum then you should take some time off.

I like the people here so I hang around. Actually, I really did think I would drift away after 1000 posts to study Processing but I got so busy doing webdev (unexpectedly) I naturally drifted back. I think I'm probably here for good now depending upon whatever I feel like contributing...

For some folks around here there are 'professional' connections being made behind the scenes...I know I've directly benefited on a few occasions because of this place.

[Merve]

I used to post like crazy but now I've mellowed out so there's no need for me to take a break...hopefully... 😕

[bpat1434]

Is it a fast, or a moratorium?

Fast/b
1. The act or practice of abstaining from or eating very little food.
2. A period of such abstention or self-denial.

Moratorium
1. A period of time in which there is a suspension of a specific activity until future events warrant a removal of the suspension or issues regarding the activity have been resolved.

Anyway... sounds interesting... I know I personally don't need to follow this since I'm now back in classes and they take 99% of my time (with just going) and the other 1% is split between 2 jobs, shopping for food, a girlfriend, and studying.... but I make time for this board....

[Jason_Batten]

Web-junkies making excuses :evilgrin:

I'm reading a lot of "oh I don't need to do that", "I'm fine", "I'm not addicted - click - post" 😃

Elizabeth, you definitely have a valid point about "connection" though. Since in this industry we're always behind and catching up. New turns, back tracks and all that. As for missing out on conversations & blogs, well there are always the archives so no I'm not letting you have that one 😉

The exercise is to step back. Take a look and assess. Can't do that while you're in the middle of it all.

If you think you manage it well, just look at your post per day count for each forum. Then assess how many comments you make on blogs. How many blogs & post you read. How much of what you read do you use? How many posts do you walk away from and go "wow I learnt something".

What is there to loose? Seriously is it going to kill you? Take 14 days off... 10... 7 at least! I'm NOT saying to leave forever.

I'm just asking you to try it. If you don't want to that's okay. I'm not a teacher or a parent so don't throw excuses at me like it's an over due assignment 🙂

Challenge yourself, prove to yourself that you're not addicted and you're a time management master.

[bpat1434]

Jason Batten wrote:

I'm saying to leave forever.

You're leaving for good? What? I thought you were coming back in 30 days....

And I wasn't making an excuse, just saying that currently my life prohibits me from posting an exorbant amount (like I did over the summer/winter) because I have to study and have more items on my plate (again).

[EDIT]
4.99 posts per day (2,456 since 10-2004)... not too many... or is that a lot? I dunno....

[Jason_Batten]

bpat1434 wrote:

You're leaving for good? What? I thought you were coming back in 30 days....

And I wasn't making an excuse, just saying that currently my life prohibits me from posting an exorbant amount (like I did over the summer/winter) because I have to study and have more items on my plate (again).

[EDIT]
4.99 posts per day (2,456 since 10-2004)... not too many... or is that a lot? I dunno....

Sorry for the typeO

Join Date: 03-21-2005
PostsTotal Posts: 605 (1.86 posts per day)

I've sort of come & gone a couple times. My post per day is more than that. I'd say more like 3 - 5, it depends. I also take a while to post like 10 mintues to hours :o I don't like to post by pure reaction / emotions.

[goldbug]

Jason Batten wrote:

...
The exercise is to step back. Take a look and assess.
...

Aaaaaaand I should go catch some Zs, as my tired eyes read that as "..step back, take a look at ...", nevermind 😃.

[Jason_Batten]

Personally I have 3 books I want to read. 3 projects to complete and a lot of money to make. My 30 days are planned out, be sure to do the same.

Mmmm, three cheers for high expectations!

[bpat1434]

HEY!!!
That wasn't 30 days!!! It was 32 days! I want my money back!!!!

lol, just kiddin'. Good to see you're back....

[Elizabeth]

OK, Jason, so how far did you get with your goals?

[Jason_Batten]

Um, difficult to say really :bemused: Three books, three projects. I'd say that I complete around about, none? yeah none of them. Why? I didn't do any disaster planning. My partner of 2.5 years decided on the night before valentines day that we should no longer operate as a couple. I did however successfully "complete" numerous bottles of Smirnoff Ice. Not to mention a few games of UT2004 and Battlefield 1942 with the Desert Combat mod. All is good though, I have new things planned out in my life. New direction. It's time to whip it into action! 🆒

[bpat1434]

My partner of 2.5 years decided on the night before valentines day that we should no longer operate as a couple.

Wow, sorry to hear that....

Nothing relieves stress better than killing shit in a game... Halo 2 is my release, then Quake 4, then UT......

[Jason_Batten]

Where there's an end, there's a new beginning.