DonationCoder.com Software > The Getting Organized Experiment of 2006

frugal life, pc fasting: do not install any new applications in 30 days

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urlwolf:
I think I spend a good 30 min a day trying out new applications.
I'm going to cut back on that, trying not to install any new program (unless it's an automatic update) for a month, starting today Sept 22nd.

I won't click in dc reviews, nor will follow lifehacker links that lead to new soft.

I will make a list of things I may find during that month to install once it's over IF they are super-crucial.

Hopefully, that'll gain me about 15 hours in a month, which is not bad.

mouser:
it's fun installing new programs, but i do think one could benefit from as you say not installing them on spur of the moment impulse.

in fact i would suggest you adopt a version of this habit always.

install new software ONLY on the 1st or so of each month.  if you find something before then that looks fun, put it on a list to install at your next date.  another benefit of this is you can back up your system first once a month., so you can more easily roll back if something goes wrong.

nudone:
batch working as you might call it.

urlwolf:
yep, that would agree with the 'impulse fighting' described in GED and DIT (the reactive brain vs. rational brain). It also agrees with doing things in batches (which is recommended by all systems).

With the extra 15hrs, I plan to write a short story a month. A lot more interesting and fun, no matter how much fun installing software may be.

brownstudy:
Mike Shea has a nice posting on what used to be called "the fiddle factor." It's not about PC fasting, per se, more about how to tame these beasts.

The Philosophy of Google Desktop
http://www.mikeshea.net/The_Philosophy_of_Google_.html

Here's a quote from his essay:
I spent a good few nights over the past month dorking around with Ubuntu and a broken installation of Windows XP. It shouldn't take two nights to get iTunes to run - of course the problem was my own. I should never tinker, optimize, or customize - the result is never worth the effort.
--- End quote ---

Of course, I continue to tinker and customize, I'm always on the search for new goodies. But I like mouser's suggestion of only installing new stuff on the 1st. I already have designated the 1st and 15th of the month to do my financial housekeeping, so designating the 2nd of the month as install night would be a good reward.

mike

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