Day 3 : Batch Texting
It’s is day 3 of my digital declutter and today I want to talk about texting.
Talking about practice
One thing I really like about the book Digital Minimalism is that each chapter includes one or more practices. Each practice is a suggestion for how to implement the ideas presented earlier in the chapter in your own life. With each practice you can take it, leave it, or tailor it to suit your needs (best).
Chapter 5 is all about the role of social media and text-based communication in modern life and difference between shallow connection and deep conversation in our relationships. One of the practices at the end of this chapter is titled “Consolidate Texting” and it reminds me of a conversation I had with a group of coworkers a few years ago.
In the course of a casual conversation in the office one coworker remarked “I keep my phone on do not disturb mode when I’m at work,” to which I replied “I keep my life on do not disturb mode.” To which a third coworker chimed in with — “seems about right.”
“I keep my phone on do not disturb mode” — overheard
“I keep my life on do not disturb mode “— me
Connection vs Conversation
My stance against the rapid back and forth interrupt me anytime or anywhere constant communication culture that has emerged via mobile (or desktop) text-based messaging services and social media is not simply a standoffish introverted protection mechanism (ok, maybe a little) but more importantly it’s a desire to focus on quality over quantity when it comes to the time and effort I invest into relationships — personal or professional.
Or in other words, I actively prioritize meaningful and deep conversations as opposed to shallow lightweight instantly gratifying connections as my preferred style of communication.
“Following group chat at work is like being in an all-day meeting with random participants and no agenda.”
― Jason Fried, It Doesn’t Have to Be Crazy at Work
Do Not Disturb
Which brings us back to how Do Not Disturb mode can be a way to enable the practice of consolidated texting and support more meaningful communication.
Throughout the day I often leave my phone in Do Not Disturb mode as a way to cultivate a more present and focused state of mind. Then when I am ready to engage with messages received over the past hour or two I will proactively disable Do Not Disturb mode and focus all my mental energy on replying to any messages I received as a batch task.
I try to keep replies brief as any lengthy or in-depth discussions I would rather have via a higher fidelity channel such as a face-to-face conversation, video chat, or long form written communication such as a document.
At first this can seem like a snub to coworkers and friends who are not used to this style of communication (especially if it deviates from established expectations you have helped them form about you in the past) and that’s where a little proactive communication can go a long way.
Casually mentioning this shift through a conversation or posting a status message in your chat tool of choice can be all it takes to effectively manage expectations for turn around when someone sends you a non-urgent message. You can also share instructions for how to best reach you if the matter is truly urgent.
Of course you can always tweak the settings on your device to allow certain apps (ex. phone) or contacts (ex. mom) to override Do Not Disturb mode when it’s enabled.
Over time when it is done right and for the right reasons personal and professional contacts alike will come to appreciate the thoughtfulness and higher fidelity conversations this style of communication can lead to.
Conclusion
Do Not Disturb mode and Batch Texting can be valuable tools to cultivate more focus in your day while at the same time raising the bar for the quality of communication with friends, family, and coworkers.
