blogging

Too Much Screen Time?

Forestwood
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I stumbled upon the Page info on my dashboard this morning. Under Privacy and History, it tells you amongst other things – how many times you hvae visited the dashboard page of WordPress.

Note – this computer was re-installed/upgraded about six months ago, so this is just a spit in the ocean of how many times I have loaded my WordPress dashboard page, on my desktop. NB. This doesn’t include mobile phone viewing and reading of other blogs.

Is this too much? [me: attempting to divide 7,513 by seven and then by 30 days, in my head].

So I ask you, brains trust of the blogging world, the question:

What is the reasonable limit of time of screen time, we should spend blogging? Is this one for the average amatuer blogger? * NB. this is in a Pre and post Corona environment.

How much time do you spend checking your blog and writing posts each day/week?

Are stats/page views important to you?

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Published by Forestwood

A philosophic Aussie writes here at StPA, one who will readily admit to loving Scandinavia. I'm interested in global politics and what drives us to be who we are. Scratch the surface and you'll find a practical Environmentalist with an egalitarian bent, trying to unleash a little creativity via the written word. Scandinavian culture, literature and traditions are close to my heart, even though I'm Australian. Travel and courteous discussions greatly broaden the mind, so I travel if I can and am always up for a vigorous, respectful discussion. I'm an avid reader, a writer and I enjoy photography and crafts, particularly traditional art forms. I hope you'll find 'Something to Ponder About,' in my WordPress Community.

41 thoughts on “Too Much Screen Time?”

    1. True enough, M.R. It was a surprise to me, though. It is probably different for everyone, but it is beneficial to have a balance and something to compare, whilst that can sometimes be negative, can also be reassuring.

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  2. I check comments and read blogs many times during the day. I would probably be appalled at the total amount of time I spend doing it. It is so easy to keep up by looking at the phone frequently. People in the room take precedence, though. That’s a rule I made so my family would keep talking to me.

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    1. Good for you, Anne. And that is a great way to treat screen time. People are the most important thing in our life. (As this social distancing era, rapidly teaches us). We may enjoy our solitude and our own company, but as introverts, we do interact with various others, during the course of a regular day. Even for reclusive types, self- isolation can be hard if forced indoors, day after day. If I meet someone for coffee,my mobile phone remains in my bag, unless I am waiting for an emergency call, which very rarely, if ever, happens. The world can wait. I am sure you remember a world before mobile phones? We didn’t get instant answers. We were more patient with others.

      Have you seen that meme that shows people having coffee with the caption, “Let’s meet for coffee and sit with me, while I stare at my phone for half-an-hour?”

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      1. I haven’t seen that meme about the coffee drinkers staring at their phones. It’s amusing and sad.

        Yes, I remember days without cell phones. My brother and I had tin can phones! Empty cans were linked with string. We had the string taut, and Bob shouted into his can as I held mine to my ear. Did it work? Absolutely! In fact, the whole neighborhood heard every word. Life was simple back then.

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      2. I made tin can phones when I was a kid and I did it with my own kids too as a school holiday activity. In many ways, life was much easier, but no modern communications though. I could not have discussed this with you back then. We get nostalgic about the past, but the world keeps moving.

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  3. haha, I haven’t really thought about time spent on the computer. I get bored very very easily. Country living is if your not outside by 9 – 10am (or earlier really) half the day is over. so I only spend a short time on the computer as my head is busy building & planting things in the back yard & feeding animals & then housework, my body wants to catch up with what my head is doing. Everyone is used to the fact that I leave my phone in the house all the time so I don’t hear notifications at all. I’m outside nearly all day. So I guess in short haha being on social media isn’t a issue for me.

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    1. That sounds quite idyllic. Sometimes the pressure to check or answer notifications means I am careful to leave my phone deliberately in another room. It is quite liberating to have one day a week off the phone/internet. Kind of like your day. I believe it also helps improve our concentration. Have you heard that? ie. Your concentration must be terrific!

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      1. Yes I have heard of it effecting concentration. I have a friend who is a teacher retired now & her & her colleagues have watched over the last 20yrs, Children don’t sit still like they used too, they were no longer relaxed & teaching became all about how to entertain as opposed to educating through play.
        My concentration is great when I’m working on something but I am no good at great long conversations in groups. I’m great at convos with myself. haha… Have a great weekend.

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      2. I blame Sesame Street! (only joking) But perhaps Television and the visual distraction and subject changing element of commercials and entertainment has contributed to this, and it has been exacerbated by devices. I see babies in stroller watching cartoons on mum’s iphone which horrifies me. They miss out on so much of the surrounding world that I fear anxiety levels will continue to increase as this the iphone generations grow up. Interesting to read your comment about education: “how to entertain as opposed to educating through play.” In our time of relative plenty, entertainment has become a primary focus and we have in a way become slaves to it. Our concentration and resilience are the losers.

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  4. I popped over to look for your response to Jude’s challenge, Amanda, but couldn’t see it? I don’t know if you noticed but she asked if you had a link to it? Wishing you a happy week! đŸ™‚ đŸ™‚

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  7. A few years back I kept track of the hours I spent blogging and learned that I was spending close to 20 hours per week on it. At first I thought that was too much, but then I realized that writing blog posts keeps my brain clicking and that commenting on other blogs keeps my heart open.

    I also realized that I don’t hang on my cell phone all day, often misplacing the darned thing somewhere in the house. I rarely use any other social media other than blogging and I rarely watch TV so I decided that there was no harm in me using my screen time to blog.

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    1. That is a good way to look at it, Ally. Even though 20 hours sounds a bit much at first glance, it is less than three hours a day. Many people spend at least that and much more, every evening, in front of the Tele. Blogging is a way to actively engage our grey matter. Scrolling social media and TV, on the other hand, is passive. I know what I prefer!

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  8. Maybe a shock to know the number of times but it’s obviously not how it feels to you, otherwise it wouldn’t shock you really. In any case, doesn’t matter, does it?

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    1. A shock yes, and I did need to know whether or not it might be a wake up call to reduce my screen time. At the moment, blogging seems highly appropriate! A great indoor activity. It does matter if one isn’t getting enough movement and exercise though, doesn’t it? We have to have a balance. And for me, blogging is quite addictive. Do you find that, Sofia?

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      1. Not at the moment. I have created in my mind a routine of things to do to keep my son entertained, interested in things like maths, english and science (he was due to start school in August) and creative. After all that, I’ll get some time for me… and I have a problem of too many hobbies and things I like doing. Now I definitely can complain of not having enough time! đŸ™‚

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      2. We are alike in that we both have too many hobbies. I had to let some go as I didn’t have space to pursue for all of them. I like drawing, painting, weaving, silk dying, embroidery and sewing bags. I had to reduce it to a bit of sewing, drawing and painting although I still have some embroidery. đŸ˜†

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  9. I probably spend too much time. One thing I’ve done is to only get certain blog posts once a week. If someone posts more than 2 times a week, I get them grouped together on one day. Typically, I just read one of those posts and comment. This helps to cut down on my screen time and clogged email inbox.

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    1. That is such a great idea, Janis. I need to reveiw my settings. I have some in place as a daily digest but clearly it needs reviewing. I usually go off the notifications panel, which can get very full. How do you check comments? Via emails/comments/notifications?

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      2. Yes. I was wondering how to get advised and respond to comments. I get emails of new posts of blogs I follow but have not ticked email for comments. Thus I go to notifications for that, or the conversations tab – on my desktop. The daily digest option is a good option.

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  10. I totally get you and I’m still trying find the right balance.

    I’m not sure whether you remember me, I used to blog at WaywardScribbles. But recently I’ve launched my new website. It’ll mean a lot to me if you could pay a visit and share your thoughts on it.

    https://waywardscribbles.com/blog/

    Hoping to see you around.
    Take Care Amanda!

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  11. I better not have a look at my numbers. :p I rarely go to my blog stat page, but I do spend most of my days in front of the screen, doing ten things at once, on average. When the internet connection is gone, I feel half dead. It’s my lifeline to the world, and nowadays most people’s. Without it there would be must less civil obedience, I assume. Long live the internet! (Even though I fear it will go before we go.)

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  12. I guess what’s ‘too much’ varies for each person. For me it’s all about balance but during the week I do spend a fair bit of time in front of my laptop. It would have to be a few hours at least. Granted, not all of it’s on WP and being a freelance writer means a lot of time is spent writing stories and researching etc. But it’s always tempting to check comments and then reply to them, which is a big distraction. Then again, I do love it and all the connections so I don’t see it as a problem. I get outside a fair bit during the day too so I do try and aim for that balance. I guess in the end we all do what feels right for us.

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    1. Thanks for sharing your views on screen time, Miriam. Being a writer makes it hard to keep away from devices and phones. Notifications are terrible distractions so I mute them on my phone and have set times to look at them. During those set times when I check, I sometimes get carried away replying to comments and Moe time passes than I would like. I should be more disciplined! That is something I have to work on a bit more. It is also so important that you get fresh air, as you mentioned. I used to make sure my kids played outside before any screen time started.

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  13. Can’t worry about stats. Firstly, I’d rather take the time to post a personally satisfying poem, photo or piece of artwork (usually twice a week).. and also do a daily review of the responses of those who have visited my blog. Plus, I’m fortunate to have enough home hobbies/projects to keep myself occupied.
    Art

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