Monday, January 6, 2020

Slice of Life: I'm Taking a Challenge!

Tuesdays are for slicing about life. Join us at Two Writing Teachers!



"You won't be able to do it, Mom," Cecily said when I announced my plan at the dinner table. "You've tried in the past, and that phone is right back there with you next to your bed."

I laughed. She wasn't wrong.

"I'm using my knowledge of goal setting, though," I said. "I am saying out loud that I am leaving my phone downstairs when I go to bed. Even before I go to bed."

We all know that I've been having screen time issues since the girls introduced me to a silly game. (If you want to be hooked, load 2048 on to your phone if you haven't already. It really is addictive. Problematic, actually.) I'm giving myself another few days, and then I'm taking it off my phone unless I can get myself in check!

"What about email?" Clare asked. "Are you allowed to use your computer?"

"Yes," I said. "I do useful things on my computer, so that's allowed."

My family is betting that this won't work, and they might be right. But maybe they're wrong. And maybe they'll even join me in this break-from-my-phone challenge.

And now, I'm going to go read a book!

Happy Slicing!

10 comments:

  1. Love the notion of public goal setting as part of the accountability. Explored 2048. Nope. Not on my devices. Good Luck with your break-from-your-phone challenge.

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  2. Good luck- that is a hard habit to change!

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  3. That's so funny - my topic is about playing a game on my phone too!

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  4. Oooo...scary. I might have to do this with my students in Media Studies next semester. Thanks for sharing and good luck, Melanie!

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  5. Melanie, I laughed when I read your post. I used to play words games and Bejeweled. The addictive quality of gaming on the phone is real but I do not play anymore. A new addiction has taken over and it is a positive one: writing. Best of luck with your new quest to break the addiction and balance screen time.

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  6. Public accountability totally works. I say things aloud to my class so I am sure to follow through.

    I leave mine in the kitchen at night. You'll be surprised at how easily this new routine becomes habit. Good luck.

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  7. I’m totally not Googling 2048. I barely have time to answer emails these days! I tried playing a word game over break and saw it becoming a time suck so I had to delete it off of my phone!

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  8. Your voice and humor here are great and this really is a perfect slice. I love it and I love your intention.

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  9. You can do it, Melanie! (And now I am resisting the urge to load 2048 onto my phone! Thanks a lot).

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  10. Ha, it's a good plan. You have to try! As far as 2048, I'm forgetting you mentioned it. AND telling no one. :) I wish you luck so you can say, "See, told you," to those dinner table nay-sayers.

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