I've forgotten what the alternative is like. Most of my hobbies, notwithstanding the minimal social media use, rely on the computer. I use it to write, to manage and search recipes to cook with, to use music notation or tabs, to game. I've had to deliberately schedule some low-tech/low-fi activities for myself but they are few in number: there is a barrier of inconvenience in the form of travel, cost, and timing for social activities. Therefore they are relegated to the weekends if anything. I wonder if historically after working hours and time with family, were people primarily engaged in social activity owing to the dearth of ways to amuse ourselves alone? I say this not really wanting or missing more of a social life than I have, I have my needs met with just family and occasional friends. On the other hand I recognize a kind of saturation point with electronic use, that if I rely on them too long it is to the detriment of my well-being.
All of which to say I have no idea how I ought to organize life around computers differently.
>> All of which to say I have no idea how I ought to organize life around computers differently.
I'll give you an example of something I've done recently which has made a big difference. Although, I don't have ideas on how to apply this to other aspects of my computer use (but open to ideas).
I listen to a lot of music. My teenage years/20's revolved completely around music. But I've gotten to a point where Apple Music/Spotify have become like Netflix to me - I have so much choice I don't know what to choose. I like to buy vinyl but it's expensive and not practical for most of my daily listening. I thought about it and realised that, for me, the time when music and technology merged for the best overall experience was the iPod (pre-Touch). I would mostly listen to albums I bought via iTunes (i.e. I cared enough about them to spend money and would listen to them a lot) and I checked out new music via Spotify (which was available in the UK in maybe 06/07) and then bought the stuff I liked on iTunes so I could take it with me on my iPod.
So I bought an iPod Classic on eBay. I deleted all the music I'd 'added' to Apple Music over the years leaving only my pre-streaming purchases (I also signed up for iTunes Match to backup and sync all my Bandcamp purchases + vinyl download card tracks). I've went back to my system of Spotify for new stuff, purchasing new stuff on iTunes, and syncing it to my iPod. It weirdly feels like a burden has been lifted having so much unnecessary choice removed. It's giving me a chance to get obsessed with the stuff I like again instead of quickly moving on to the next thing the algorithm throws at me. I highly recommend it. Currently thinking of ways I can apply this elsewhere in my life (e.g. purchasing TV/movies on iTunes instead of using streaming services but this could get very expensive very quickly).
Personally I don't rely on Spotify for recs, or even regular listening. I like finding things through online communities (including old ones), college radio, and in lesser cases the youtube algorithm.
My only purchases now are through bandcamp or at concerts.
Likewise. The Spotify listening I do is to check out albums I've discovered elsewhere before putting down some money for them. So typically new releases from artists I already know, recommendations from friends, or support acts at concerts I'm planning to attend. I should try to purchase through Bandcamp more as a first option before iTunes.
All of which to say I have no idea how I ought to organize life around computers differently.