Turn On Learning By Turning Off Facebook

In support of my wife giving up Facebook for the 40 days of Lent I decided to do the same. I knew it would be tough since I was strongly conditioned (e.g. borderline addiction) to click on the Facebook app when it showed updates available (and even if there weren't updates). Pavlov would be smiling. To overcome the conditioning I went cold turkey removing the Facebook app off my phone (and hotlink on my browser) but also decided to take advantage of my well established conditioning by putting the Lynda.com app in it's place. I even put Safari Books Online and iBooks apps in the same vicinity so if my fingered had the twitch it would click on one of those apps. That simple exchange had such a surprising and significant impact that I though I would share it.

In those 40 days I completed over 30 online technical and non-technical classes (see Certificates in Accomplishments section in my LinkedIn profile), finished reading three books, wrote four LinkedIn articles, created several curricula for my team/broader organization, and made significant progress in learning a new technology. These results are probably not completely attributed to giving up Facebook. However introducing a positive reflex habit, freeing up time and reducing context switching are definitely positive factors. I am not planning to give up Facebook indefinitely but will relegate it a folder on a remote app screen leaving learning apps right where they are. Give it a try and leave a comment on how it works for you.

NOTE: Lynda.com and Safari Books Online are paid services however check with your local libraries or workplace since they or other similar services might be available for free.

About the Author - Darrin P Johnson has more than 25 years of experience in the computer industry largely in system software engineering with a passion for innovation. His latest quest is to understand Deep Learning and more importantly how it can be leverage to drive innovation. Check out his other articles on Deep Learning and other topics. Any comments, suggestions, etc. will be appreciated. Copyright 2017.