Deep Thoughts: Digital Minimalism & Solitude

Hey all! I am linking up with Fairytales and Fitness. 

I have some DEEP THOUGHTS today!

Remember Jack Handy's deep thoughts!? Omg they were so funny...

Today I'm going to tell you about a great podcast I listen to, and a very specific episode of it.

Ezra Klein, editor-at-large and founder of Vox, puts out a podcast several times a week. Some of them are political, but he interviews people on a host of other topics as well. In fact, I would argue those interviews are the most fascinating episodes. Everything Ezra puts out is topical and current, and there are so many episodes I listen to where I think of someone in my life and think, "Oh my gosh, so and so needs to listen to this!"

~ Digital Minimalism ~

I recently listened to his interview with Cal Newport, who wants us all to become "digital minimalists". Newport defines digital minimalism as "a philosophy of technology use in which you focus your online time on a small number of carefully selected activities that strongly support things you value, and then happily miss out on everything else".

So that got me thinking... am I digital minimalist? I use technology A LOT (podcasts, Duolingo, my blog, reddit, Facebook...) but I value everything I use it for. I think I do need to reevaluate my whole need to blog every day, because I don't think it's working for me anymore!

~ Solitude ~

In the same interview, Newport talks about how since technology is such a huge part of our lives, it is harder for us to experience solitude. Here are two of Newport's lessons solitude:

“Lesson #1: The right way to define “solitude” is as a subjective state in which you’re isolated from input from other minds.

“When we think of solitude, we typically imagine physical isolation (a remote cabin or mountain top), making it a concept that we can easily push aside as romantic and impractical. But as this book makes clear, the real key to solitude is to step away from reacting to the output of other minds: be it listening to a podcast, scanning social media, reading a book, watching TV or holding an actual conversation. It’s time for your mind to be alone with your mind — regardless of what’s going on around you.

“Lesson #2: Regular doses of solitude are crucial for the effective and resilient functioning of your brain.

“Spending time isolated from other minds is what allows you to process and regulate complex emotions. It’s the only time you can refine the principles on which you can build a life of character. It’s what allows you to crack hard problems, and is often necessary for creative insight. If you avoid time alone with your brain your mental life will be much more fragile and much less productive.”

So Newport's definition of solitude shook me. I always equated solitude to "alone time", so I thought I got plenty of solitude and alone time. But whenever I'm alone and doing something that could technically count as solitude (driving, cleaning, shaving my legs, running, etc) I am always listening to  a podcast! So it's very rare to just be alone with my thoughts. Of course, sometimes my thoughts drift during a podcast and I think about other things. But it's definitely not true solitude...

And those are my deep thoughts for today!

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you a digital minimalist?
How often do you experience solitude?