---
source: https://jimeh.me/blog/2010/was-i-really-that-social/
date: 2010-02-10
archive: jimeh.me
tags:
  - productivity
  - social-media
---

# Was I Really "That" Social?

Reducing IM distractions by disabling all notifications in Adium.

![Abstract chat bubbles fading into quiet space](https://jimeh.me/_astro/chat-bubbles-muted.CUh23Q1N.png)

As some of you might have noticed the last couple of days, I haven't been online
much on IM networks. I'm not sure what originally kept me from launching Adium
the other day, but along the way I've come to a realization.

## The Problem

I realized that IM has been taking up way too much of my time, and constantly
distracting me from both work and personal matters. You just can't hide from the
tsunami of Growl notifications, bouncing and flashing Dock icons, plinging
sounds, and more that almost all IM clients spew out in one form or another
whenever you receive a message.

A friend of mine
[gave up](http://blog.sugarenia.com/archives/productivity/why-i-gave-up-on-instant-messaging)
(dead link) on IM networks almost a year ago, for pretty much same reasons. —
Yes, I'm linking to Sugarenia again. She always seems to have the same opinions
as me, just days/months before me. _Dammit!_

## The Solution

Unfortunately I couldn't bring myself to completely disconnect from IM networks,
so I took a slightly different approach than Sugarenia. I've gone out of my way
to make sure my IM client — Adium of course — doesn't notify me via Growl, Dock
icon, sound, telepathy, or even alien abduction. This means, I'm online, I can
chat, but unless I manually switch to the space/virtual-desktop where my IM
client sets up camp, I don't even know if I have any new messages.

After a couple of days, I have to say it's a quite nice change. I only get
distracted **when I choose** to check if there are any IM messages to respond
to.

So now you know why it might take me 8 hours to respond to a chat message. I
simply didn't want to check for new messages, or I completely forgot cause I was
hopefully working along all excited on my next attempt at building an awesome
online service which will hopefully pay my rent, and maybe even food.