Cyber Strikeout
Consider why you are on the internet.
I'm on because it is an effective way for me to share my writing, communicate quickly and learn. I need to remember these reasons because the internet, like certain people, can be an emotional drain.
In cyberspace, I operate a one-strike-you're-out policy. When I come across a source of discord, I block it. Following a decade of pruning, this only happens once a quarter and keeps my mind free of clutter.
I've noticed that many of my pals take Facebook quite seriously, with posts and comments impacting their mood. I've heard...
Did you see that...
I can't believe that...
Why did they...
I wish I had less friends...
Most people struggle to break free from tabloid journalism - we're all hardwired for voyeurism. The way I started was to eliminate one site for a month - I started with a chat forum that I used to check hourly. It was tough but I told myself that I only needed to last 28 days.
Because our brains are wired to notice negatives, more than positives, it only takes a small trigger to adversely impact our mood. Within your online life, it might be worth considering your strike rate.
How often does a site, a person or a situation trigger negative thoughts?
In my life, Facebook and chat forums had a strike rate of once per login. It was easy to see an immediate benefit from breaking their hold on me.
Similarly, because they have a low value-to-noise ratio, there aren't comments sections on any of my websites. My sites exist to share useful information and free my mind via publishing.
Leaving a habit behind forever can seem daunting. As humans, we're very attached to our habits, even those that hurt us (smoking, abusive relationships, toxic people, media sources that generate fear & anger).
Take a break for 28 days then ask yourself if you miss it.
This habit will change your life.