Trick Or Treat
Chapter 2
Introduction
What will you accomplish today? With smartphones and multipurpose devices, it is impossible to tell. It can be the treat of work assignments finished, family connection, and picture taking or the trick of YouTube watching, web browser searches, and TikTok rabbit holes. Multipurpose devices like laptops and smartphones are a double edge sword. They appear to help you with their fancy tools, programs, and infinite streams of knowledge. They promise a smooth gateway to productivity. Yet, if we were to quantify the hours spent in productive outcomes in contrast to unnecessary Google searches, I know where I’d stand.
“Multitasking”
The myth of multitasking has enamored our world. It sold us on the idea that we could manage to switch contexts, adapt swiftly, and excel in any situation we put ourselves into. The truth, however, is far from it.1 We are wired for monotasking. We thrive when we focus on one thing and one thing only. Writing, thinking, devising, showering, or eating, are all best accomplished when we focus on them without any distractions. Sadly, our smartphones and other smart devices were engineered against this principle. They contain notifications, reminders, and unpredictable algorithms to call your attention anytime.
Even the “well-meaning” new social platform, BeReal, uses random times to notify its users to engage and post their content. The current stage of the internet is not interested in making us more productive. Instead, they want to mine our attention and data to monetize us. The players of web 2.0 and 3.0 sold us a new reality where everyone would thrive. None of that has happened. Therefore, it is our duty to understand the system and make concerted efforts to change our future. Otherwise, we stand to be another number within the system.
Single-Purpose Devices/Software
To create an environment where monotasking reigns, single-purpose devices or software must be prioritized. Yes, it is going to be inconvenient. Yes, it is going to take some retraining to use these “archaic” devices again. Yes, your life will be better. Notice that I am not advocating going back to a typewriter or a polaroid camera (although why not if your workflow allows it?!). The word I used in my beginning statement was prioritized. The advancements in keyboards, screens, lenses, and other gadgets have certainly made work more convenient and available anywhere we choose. They have allowed us to work and become productive in any environment we find ourselves in. The negative effects, however, must be contained. That’s where single-purpose devices or software come in.
A few newsletters ago, I shared with you the great web browser Colibri. For those of us that love to have multiple tabs opened, this is a complete restoration to the old style of the web. It is frustrating at times since you can only have one tab opened. Nonetheless, it cements the idea of monotasking and it helps you achieve it.
Writing this newsletter while using Colibri was a challenge as I wanted to link certain articles or podcasts that can help your journey, but I made it through. My brain wanted to jump around and find the information while still in “writing” mode. Staying focused on looking for the article, finding the podcast to share, and returning to writing, however, allowed me to not waste time or switch between ideas. Moreover, I did not open a distracting website but remained on task. I felt the discomfort of having to focus. It literally felt like I could be doing so much more, but I know that it will be well worth it in the end. Monotasking will be hard when we have adapted to distraction. Nevertheless, it is a worthy endeavor if you are looking to achieve productivity and deep work.
Other Single-Purpose Devices
While Colibri can be a helpful aid when focusing on digital tasks, there are other devices that can help you regain a sense of control and predictability in your life. Instead of opting for the endless stream of notifications that your smartphone provides, choose a basic phone for productive and undistracted days. Changing the SIM card to a flip phone or candy bar device may not seem like a groundbreaking approach, but many people report a sense of relief and peace once they leave their ever-glowing screens at home.
Another helpful companion can be an mp3 player. A Sony Walkman (they still exist!) can house your jams while on a walk to the park or on a bus ride. The single nature of listening to music or podcasts can provide a sense of relief and peace that overloading won’t. When appreciating one thing at a time, life will seem more valuable.
Conclusion: Regain Confidence
This has been another short-form newsletter to help you understand how smartphones have become our enemies. In chapter 1, we explored how our smartphones have taken a lot of agency and sold us the lie of dependency on tech. I finalized that chapter with a call to order. Organizing your life in the 4 buckets (Constitution, Contemplation, Craft, Community), make time for each of them according to your priorities, and lead a deep life.
My call for you in this chapter is to regain confidence. Find strategies and single-purpose devices or software that enhance your life and lead you to a deeper encounter with it. Focus on the task or person in front of you and leave the other distractions aside. There will be enough time to deal with them one at a time.
If you have time, here are some studies/articles that can help you understand the detriments of multitasking. Laptops hinder learning study, Media multitasking, Can you focus on more than one thing?, and Social media and gambling methods.
Loved it! This is what I mean when I say we should de-degitilize and go back to analog. Single purpose devices are the best!
Fabulous article Jose! This is where it's at. I pulled out a film camera this week and I am having so much fun just anticipating what the pictures may look like later. There's zero instant gratification. (Although my main edc camera is a digital one -Canon g7x mk2) anyway I think you're totally right about individual tools. I have been floored with how many people resist the "inconvenience". It's so worth it!! Looking forward to the next article.