My name is AnnMarie MacKinnon, and I have an attention span of approximately 2.24 seconds. Like most people, I often feel pressed for time, rushing from one thing to the next. I’m in constant contact for all of my waking hours (and for some of my sleeping hours). I tweet, read aggregated RSS feeds, text message, IM, and never go anywhere without Google Mapping it first. But when I found myself online at work looking for “lifehacks” to help me become more productive and ended up, an hour and a half later, at a Wikipedia entry about the naming customs of Taiwanese aborigines, I knew I was in real trouble.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not interested in becoming a complete Luddite. Nor do I want, metaphorically speaking, to henceforth shun Velcro in favor of the good old fashioned button. What I am interested in is regaining some of my ability to focus on one thing at a time, and with any luck, stop experiencing the intellectual equivalent of a bull-ride in my daily life.
But, baby steps. It takes time to wean oneself off these sorts of serious compulsions. So I’m beginning with Facebook. Not full-on FB seppuku. My account will still be there. I just won’t log in. For two whole weeks. I’ll chronicle each day, and any insights or blinding rages I may have at not knowing what the hell is going on in everyone’s life and what incredibly mundane photos they’re posting.
I’ll keep you posted…
Tags: annmarie mackinnon, facebook seppuku, internet addiction, naming customs of taiwanese aborigines, time out