Sisyphus and the Firehose
By Chris Miller on Aug 24, 2007 in Essays, Productivity
Introduction
I have a love/hate relationship with my computer. I truly enjoy working on it…my Macbook is a wonderful piece of technology, and doing anything from writing code to developing fiction on it is a dream. In this way, it’s a fantastic, comfortable tool.
On the other hand, it’s also my ball and chain, or my accurately , my boulder and firehose. From the moment I log in, I’m rolling the huge boulder of my commitments uphill while being blasted with information from the firehose that is the Interweb. My computer lurks there, waiting to vomit up the next round of emails that need my attention, the to-do list that never seems to get any shorter, the endless list of RSS feeds and podcasts that I need to listen to. I feel perpetually behind and pummeled, and because of that, I’m reluctant to sit down in front of the damnable machine.
I’m not the only one, judging by the sheer number of lifehack/productivity blogs out there. Well…I’m trying to get control of things, so I thought I’d write about it in case something I’m doing might help someone out there.
The goal: To streamline my infolife to a point where it is not only manageable, but progress can be made. I want to be able to sit down at my computer and work on things without feeling pulled in so many different directions. It’s not the computer’s fault, after all. It’s my state of mind. At the end of the day, what I’m really managing is myself…not the computer.
Oh Chris. You feel my pain. I love my computer(s). We’re up to 6 Macs now (hell on the iTunes authorization), and I’m commenting on this on the Powerbook that lives beside my bed so I can be with it while laying down. Worst habit I have by far, worse than chocolate or sleeping through my alarm.
And yet, days at a time, I avoid the office and I leave the Powerbook shut. There is SO much information to read/grok/comment on/learn from/covet that no matter how much time I spent, it’s bewilderingly insufficient.
I long for the days without email, but now by ignoring my inbox I potentially miss a message as banal as my next door neighbor asking to borrow a ladder or as important as a special friend having passed away.
One solution I read about a writer who was so distracted when on his computer trying to work was to use a word processor only machine. No surfing, no chat, no email. No distractions. I’m in the market for a typewriter.
My digital life is certainly not as complicated as yours, so if you can find a way to manage endless sources of communication and information, surely I can. I look forward to your insight.
Swoopy | Aug 24, 2007 | Reply
Like Swoopy, I often long for a word processor that does nothing but process words. Sam Chupp writes on an AlphaSmart during his daily commute and I know a couple of local WriMos who use the gizmos, too.
Of course, I tell myself that unlocking my creativity, becoming organized, taking control of “the grind” is simply a matter of finding the right tool or process for the task. The truth of the matter is an AlphaSmart would likely gather dust because I’d never use the thing (and why would I? I’m surrounded by computers!), and the methods for reorganizing life offered by Merlin Mann and his ilk don’t help at all if you’re not willing to get off your ass and actually put something into motion. That’s where I tend to slip; motivation and drive aren’t exactly my strong points.
Good luck in your quest. I’d join you, but my couch is way too comfy and there’s a backlog of Doctor Who episodes to catch up on.
KJToo | Aug 25, 2007 | Reply
I have a Mac SE 30 you are welcome to use. It boots (most of the time). It has a word processor. I guarantee, you won’t be distracted by the internet on it as it doesn’t know what TCP/IP means.
miniTotoro | Aug 27, 2007 | Reply