The damage of distraction and the effect on your brain.

I didn't have a smart phone until 2012 or 2013. Didn't have text messaging until 2011. I used to be able to read for hours without getting up or being distracted. I'm lucky if I can read for 20 or 30 minutes at a time now without wanting to get on my phone. I miss when you used to call your girlfriend once a day and weren't expected to text and such all the time. I definitely think having a smart phone has been a net negative for me.

The internet is both the greatest and worst invention man has ever made

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When I shut my phone off for just a day, my stress and anxiety almost completely disappear.

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I usually shut mine down completely when I go hunting for a few days. It helps that their is zero service where I am at.

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Work and wife would both not cooperate if I decided to mute the cell phone.

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Lawdy I went one week without talking to my girlfriend when I was hunting last year. I thought I was a goner for sure. She was understanding and probably grateful that I didn't interrupt her time with Jody.

I F ing hate this this thing, besides going on td or reading the news & I like to do alone , I hate trying to text thru a conversation with the wife or family, work always being able to contact me. I keep it on silent all the time ( wife hates that ) plus I turn it upside down when I’m watching tv. I miss just having a news paper, you knew not to bother my dad when that was in his hand , my family will interrupt me anytime I’m on this thing.

Several times today I went to look up something work related, ended up on the OT and forgot all about what I was looking for.

I'm more worried about what I do with your gf

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I'm more worried about what I do with your gf

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Let’s just say it turns out there’s an existential similarity between Manti Te’o’s former gf & my present-day one.

It seems fair. I am always distracted from task now.

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Work and wife would both not cooperate if I decided to mute the cell phone.


Lawdy I went one week without talking to my girlfriend when I was hunting last year. I thought I was a goner for sure.

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I'm good at minimizing my phone use to mostly utilizing actual useful apps...weather, banking, maps, etc.

If I'm in the middle of something and my phone rings, I usually just check it when I get my next free moment. All other notifications are silent. If I'm at home I usually don't even have my phone on me, except for the shutter. The wife gets mad when her phone is near me and it rings...she says can you answer my phone??? This is when she's occupied or only within hearing distance. She thinks every phone call could be an emergency....yet we're old enough that we've lived in the time before cell phones were around...I always remind her of that...and if it were an emergency they would call again quickly.

I was interrupted 6 times while reading that article, and I was on hold with Wells Fargo the entire time.