A different type of decluttering

[asmom]

I just deactivated my Facebook account and I've quit going to allnurses.com, both free but toxic in different ways. I feel relieved! Last night I went to see a play, my brain feels better already. At least I don't have to leave this forum, it's educational.

Now I need to explore finding some active (low-cost) hobbies for me alone and for me and my son.

[bjl584]

Good for you. I don't have Facebook either. I used to have a Myspace page years ago, but it's been long since deleted. Those social networking sites can become addictive. I'm much better off without them. I enjoy this forum, as like you said it's educational.

[Cassius King]

I've never had a facebook account. Figure anybody that is important enough to me in my life I already talk to regularly.
But I agree with you. I've recently built a home office in my basement. Complete with my library of finance/investment books, all my Warren Buffett/Berkshire readings, etc. I have a desk with my laptop on it to peruse forums like these. I also added my Lazy Boy recliner and my stereo. Now I can be more productive and relaxed, because I'm not watching the tv and am getting some reading/education done. I can turn on the stereo and get some putting and chipping practice in as well. It gets me to be more active than just sitting on the couch. I feel much better and am accomplishing something with what would otherwise have been dead time.

Keep up the good work.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by Cassius King

Figure anybody that is important enough to me in my life I already talk to regularly.

I have to disagree. Although there are many people on my Friends list who I haven't seen or spoken to in years and probably won't anytime soon if ever, there are also those who I now have a much closer relationship with solely because of facebook. It has been a great way to keep in touch with family scattered across the country, see pictures and videos of the kids as they grow, etc. I even reunited this past June with a very dear friend since I was 17 (30 years ago) who recently divorced her abusive husband and is rebuilding her life. Being able to be there to help support her has been incredible for both of us and it never would have happened without facebook. I'm seeing her tonight in fact.

Honestly, I waste far, far, far more time on this board than I do on facebook.

[photo]

Local public library. Regardless if your son is a toddler or a teenager, there is a world at his level. I love to browse through current magazines that usually don't occur to me to read. There are flyers for local activites. Just walk down a non-fiction aisle and I dare you to find something interesting that you may never have thought of before.

Except for transportation there, it's all 100% free.

[Mr Nice Guy]

If you have Google Chrome, there are extensions you can download for free that will limit your time ob websites you choose.

If you set Facebook as one of those websites, it will limit you to 15 mins/day and after that time is up, it will lock you out. (You can override it, but you have to type out a paragraph I think.)

Pretty cool if you have to have facebook, but are easily distracted.

[GrimJack]

I have to constantly trim my blog list - I spent a lot of time in/on various forums (fori?) and blogs that I keep in a folder (oddly named 'blogs') and go through it almost daily. If I end up on one 2 or 3 days running and do not find it compelling any more, I delete it from the list. I found myself spending all my free time just getting through the list so I had to be pretty harsh.