The Old Folks Home

@KDOGG331 - yes, you have to try some other forms of recreation! Read a book, get coffee with a friend (and put your phones away), plant some flowers, cook something new.

That many hours of smart phone use is bad for you in more ways than just numbness and tingling, which are bad enough!

I have had times where I spent way too much time online. It’s addictive, IMHO, and is both a symptom and a cause of other problems in life.

Take the chickies out if you can! Mine are exploring outside now and then and it’s hilarious!
 
Photo! Please.
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Exterior side
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Exterior side with flap open
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The side that will butt up against the coop. Where the chickens enter.
 
Nice work! I have to build one (DH is out of his mind at work fixing someone’s house and at home building our garage). I’ve never built anything before. I found some plans online that I think I can follow and modify. Just don’t want him breathing down my neck!

It has to be a little deeper and wider than necessary because I hope to add more square footage with a nest box at the back. The coop is too small (greater than 4 sq ft per bird, but clearly too small in my book) so I’m adding an extra anteroom before the nests!
 
@KDOGG331 - yes, you have to try some other forms of recreation! Read a book, get coffee with a friend (and put your phones away), plant some flowers, cook something new.

That many hours of smart phone use is bad for you in more ways than just numbness and tingling, which are bad enough!

I have had times where I spent way too much time online. It’s addictive, IMHO, and is both a symptom and a cause of other problems in life.

Take the chickies out if you can! Mine are exploring outside now and then and it’s hilarious!

Yeah, I definitely need to! I’ve actually had a vegetable garden the last few years and this year it’s even bigger than before with way more types of veggies than ever before so that’s exciting and keeping me occupied somewhat! But even that I’ve neglected a little bit like haven’t put a fence or cages up yet and I planted very late this year for no reason at all.

I used to love to read and have tons of books I want to read (have a bad habit of buying or otherwise acquiring them and then never reading them :hide ) but ever since the Internet, it kind of bores me now and I haven’t actually read or finished a book in forever. :hide I occasionally start them but I don’t think I’ve finished one in years, even school ones. :hide

I definitely need to start reading again as well as walking and hiking and stuff. I used to love to be outside and now I’m hardly outside. :hide

I actually really haven’t been doing much of anything lately and I think it’s because of the phone and/or maybe other reasons, idk, but I need to just put the dang phone away already! There’s so many things I want to do and don’t because of it because I just don’t get around to it cause the phone is like my entire life. :hide

I definitely spend way too much time on and it’s definitely extremely bad and also my posture is horrible and it’s ruining a lot of things but can’t seem to.

I think it is definitely addictive like you said and they’re even starting to do studies since phones have been around so long now and they say phone/internet addiction is a real thing which I believe. And I think I definitely have it. But I don’t think that means I can’t put the phone down. It just might be harder but I haven’t really tried it very much or very hard. Need to try harder at it. And a lot of other things. :hide

I’ve actually been thinking of finding a therapist. Not for the phone thing but just for some other issues and cause I’ve kind of been in like a funk all year and not really doing anything I like to, or really anything at all :hide , but I think the phone might be a big part of that and I think one can help with that too. I guess it’s kind of like which came first the chicken or the egg? Am I using the phone more/doing nothing daily because of the funk or is the funk because I don’t do anything? I suspect it is probably the latter but idk. Maybe a combination. Anyway, going to try to find one.

The weird thing is once I am out/actually get up and start something I have way more motivation and usually even overwork myself because everything has to be “perfect” and I can’t half ass anything haha

Just a matter of forcing myself to get started.

But also when I’m home alone or otherwise away from my parents, I also have way more motivation and overwork myself then too cause I’m not used to doing much. I think they are a negative influence on me ha

But of course it’s a matter of finding that motivation anyway since I can’t move out anytime soon.

Anyway, sorry for rambling on. :hide As usual. :hide

Oh and as for the chickens, yes I definitely need to start letting them free range more!! I never really do anymore. :hide

They love it and I love it though so I think that would be good for me haha

Although I just saw a fox run by today so maybe not for a bit. Idk.

I am thinking of letting my broody hatch some eggs though.
 
It's hard, KDOGG. Think about it though. When we (for the most part) were your age, no cell phones. Computers filled rooms and nobody had one unless they were government or professionals. Then they had to be kept in a room that was always chilly to keep them from overheating. Phones were push button and or still rotary. Books? You bought them at Waldens or checked them out at the library.

I spent a lot of my career talking to people face to face or on the phone. I hated talking on the phone but one place I worked used to give me charts and ask me to call these family members and tell them, blah blah blah about their loved one and when I asked why I was told because I was really good at it. I mean, come on people! Now I seldom talk on the phone and when I do it's usually a doctor's office or whatever. I think the last time I talked to a friend was about three months ago and that was the first social call I had made this year. Now that I'm retired, I tell people I'm allergic to my phone. We Mainly use it for emergencies or for pass time if I am shopping and DH is waiting in the car for me or if we are in awaiting room situation.

Trust me. You can get break yourself of this dependance without giving it up. Just like mentioned. Set it aside and do something else....like talk to all us old folk here on BYC. Speaking personally, I love talking to younger people and when I was your age I loved talking to older folks. Tell yourself that you are not going to use the phone unless it is an emergency after the hour of 8PM then stick to it. Baby steps. Then tell yourself, okay,, no phone between 4 and 6PM. Go for a walk. Garden, commune with your flock and leave the phone in the house. You get the picture.

You can do this!
 
It's hard, KDOGG. Think about it though. When we (for the most part) were your age, no cell phones. Computers filled rooms and nobody had one unless they were government or professionals. Then they had to be kept in a room that was always chilly to keep them from overheating. Phones were push button and or still rotary. Books? You bought them at Waldens or checked them out at the library.

I spent a lot of my career talking to people face to face or on the phone. I hated talking on the phone but one place I worked used to give me charts and ask me to call these family members and tell them, blah blah blah about their loved one and when I asked why I was told because I was really good at it. I mean, come on people! Now I seldom talk on the phone and when I do it's usually a doctor's office or whatever. I think the last time I talked to a friend was about three months ago and that was the first social call I had made this year. Now that I'm retired, I tell people I'm allergic to my phone. We Mainly use it for emergencies or for pass time if I am shopping and DH is waiting in the car for me or if we are in awaiting room situation.

Trust me. You can get break yourself of this dependance without giving it up. Just like mentioned. Set it aside and do something else....like talk to all us old folk here on BYC. Speaking personally, I love talking to younger people and when I was your age I loved talking to older folks. Tell yourself that you are not going to use the phone unless it is an emergency after the hour of 8PM then stick to it. Baby steps. Then tell yourself, okay,, no phone between 4 and 6PM. Go for a walk. Garden, commune with your flock and leave the phone in the house. You get the picture.

You can do this!

Thank you!! That is a good point. Technology is everywhere now and so convenient now that it’s so hard to avoid, impossible really.

That said, I do remember before smart phones and when computers were still big blocky I got desktop ones lol we did have iPods though but even those were so primitive. And we barely used the computer. Maybe would go on it a bit to use Paint or AIM (AOL instant messaging) or to play some of the old computer games like Zoo Tycoon or Rollercoaster Tycoon or Sims or pet vet or whatever but that was it ha was still outside tons and we shared the computer so couldn’t be on it all the time. And I didn’t even get a cell phone until 8th grade and even then it was a Nokia brick type ones not the cool Motorola Razrs and stuff everyone got in like 6th or 7th or even 5th grade haha but now little toddlers and kindergarteners are getting their own tech. I don’t really agree with that but idk. Different times I guess. But I didn’t have it when I was little and I’m glad I didn’t. But now that I do I’m addicted haha I didn’t even get a smart phone until a few years ago and only got an Apple in March for my birthday and the tablet for Christmas before that and I think getting that for Christmas really sparked the addiction all over because before that, my last phone was broken, still usable but annoying to use and could barely do anything on it, which is why I got the new one because I need one for the working thing, missed one job cause I didn’t get a text, so needed it, but now I’m like addicted again cause having a broken phone forced me to put it down and do something else haha

And now a days of course we all have our own tech.

Having all the tech in my pocket is great but at the same time, not really. My dad’s somewhat addicted to his too ha

And yeah, I HATE talking on the phone lol horrible phone anxiety. Never really do it unless necessary.

But I text and do social media and BYC and everything.

And thank you!! I think I am going to try. I actually love talking to everyone here too! So many different ages and experiences and wisdom in one place LOL plus of course you guys are all cool and nice, funny, etc.

But that said...

I actually check BYC on my phone and that’s part of the problem and why I am on it so much during the day. I basically exclusively use my phone for everything. I don’t even know where my laptop or tablet are at the moment. Should probably find them. But I have a smartphone so that’s the problem I think. I am always on here or on Twitter. Use Facebook and Instagram less but do still use them and check them from the phone. But I’m pretty sure I’m addicted to BYC and Twitter. :lau :hide

Those are the main things I do on it. That and take pictures and of course Spotify (music). And sometimes texting.

So that’s part of why it is so hard I think. I have so many great friends on here and on Twitter. And I don’t want to miss anything and am constantly checking both. But of course I should probably get some IRL friends too. I do have some but a lot of friends from school moved away. But there are some around still that I could and should hang out with more often.

But yeah. I have everything in my phone which is what makes it so hard to put down.
 
But I am going to try leaving it in the house sometimes and just working on the garden or hanging with the chickens or whatever without it.

Also maybe cooking because currently I literally do not cook.... :oops:
Get out sometime without the phone

It will not kill you!

:thumbsup
 
Get out sometime without the phone

It will not kill you!

:thumbsup

Thanks, definitely going to try it. You’re probably right. Might even be kinda fun haha

I’ve gone to the movies a few times recently and didn’t use it but did before and after ha but at least for a few hours I didn't. At home I usually do. :hide

Try not to though. Try to pay attention. But sometimes can’t resist ha

Anyway, not sure exactly WHAT I will do without my phone when out but I am going to try it sometime.

Usually I sit in my car in the parking lot for a while before and after going into or leaving places. Usually on the phone, sometimes listening to music, sometimes both. Usually quite a while though. At least 10-15 minutes usually but usually closer to 20 mins, half hour. Sometimes even an hour. :hide them once inside I sit there on it, if it’s a restaurant. Going to Panera is usually a 3 hour trip because of how long Iwbaste just sitting on my phone. :hide but truth be told, sometimes I usually go there just to use it and/or take long on purpose just because I like getting out. :hide And also at home and out going to the bathroom is a very long task because I get side tracked and stay in there on my phone even after cause I kind of lose track of time or sometimes am just too lazy to move. :lau :hide

I think I should probably start leaving my phone at home or in the car when I go out and leaving it in another room when I go to the bathroom and leaving it in the house when I go do stuff outside. Really, basically, just try to hardly use it. :lau impossible for me I think but we’ll see. I’ll give it a real effort.

Going to try eating healthy and going for walks too. Never really walk except dog walking but that’s only twice a week and it that long of a walk or at least, I can do it with ease now because I’ve been doing the same route so long, and haven’t done it at all in like a month cause they’ve been in VT or at their parents a lot because the renovation of the MA one is taking longer than expected. Hopefully I’ll start again soon but going to start walking even without dogs. Anyway, haven’t been too terribly unhealthy lately until this week. :hide but even before then, been eating out way too much. Need to start cooking. I know how but am usually either too lazy to or I put off eating too long and then am starving and can’t wait or a combination of the two. Mostly been eating only like once a day lately because I don’t eat until like late afternoon so skip breakfast then am not hungry later cause I are so late. :hide

Going to cook more. I can but I suck at it too so that’s the other reason. Takes me forever to make even something simple so then by the time I prepare it/cut stuff up or whatever (takes me way longer than it should to even get things ready for cooking), cook it, eat it, then clean up, etc., it’s like hours and I’m exhausted because I’m not used to standing that long or doing that much or whatever as ridiculous as that sounds. So sometimes I just purposely don’t cook cause it takes too long. Eggs don’t but I get sick of eggs haha

But with my garden and all the fresh vegetables finally ready lately, I really need to start cooking and using them all up!!

Guess now is as good a time to start as any.

But anyway, I need to work on a lot of the things. The phone addiction/obsession/whatever. Also have a bit of a junk food/carb/whatever “addiction” and major sweet tooth I need to work on too. (Addiction in quotes cause it’s stupid to even call it that and just need more self control/will power, same with the phone thing ha). And of course actually cooking/eating healthy. Starting to walk/actually exercise. Trying to read more/hang with the chickens more/actually do hobbies/things I like. And of course calling the doctor. And a therapist. Or finding one first. Lots to do ha

And of course building a quail cage so I can get quail and finding hatching eggs for my broody and lots of stuff I have to do to the chicken pen and clean up.

And once I get going on all of that actually clean my room and car and do laundry.

It’s definitely a lot. And a lot I’ve put off like the chicken stuff and the cat stuff and fish stuff (mostly cleaning tank/coop/litter box and putting stuff away) and cleaning my room/organizing.

And lots else cause basically all I do is the phone or drive around. :hide

So I guess the main thing is working on the phone thing first then maybe I will have more time for the rest.

But idk. It’s definitely a lot. Probably shouldn’t do it all at once? But I’m going to cause I’m sick of living like that ha

But then again, I can never actually stick to anything (tried exercising/working out and eating healthy before but it only usually lasts a few days or week at most) so I’ll probably fail at it if I try to quit or change everything at once but I gotta do something and idk. Sometimes cold turkey or diving in feet first is the best approach. We’ll see.
 

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