Living Without Twitter

Earlier this month, I wrote a post about why I don't need Twitter.

Everything I wrote in that post is still true for me, but as I looked through popular bookmarks on Delicious yesterday, I started thinking of ways I might use Twitter. I came across a collection of social bookmark icon sets and Mashable's post about Blogger widgets, many of which were Twitter-themed. I considered incorporating Twitter into this blog and posting interesting links I found throughout the day. Hypothetical Tweets floated around my mind.

Then I thought about how I don't need to get involved in another web service, that I stopped using StumbleUpon and hardly Digg anything anymore. I remembered I don't even update my Facebook status that much. Currently it says something about not having anything to write as my status.

Leo at Zen Habits posted How to Get Things Done with Twitter today. I know the post is for people who already use Twitter a lot. It's not meant to convince people start Tweeting, but I still read the post looking for a reason to start.

I realized most of the tips and uses listed in Leo's post I already have covered.

My version of his list:

1. Reminders. Post It notes, a comment in my planner, or a calendar event in my cell phone.

2. To-do list. I use to-do gadgets in iGoogle and NetVibes, and I keep paper to-do lists. I used Remember the Milk for a while too.

3. Calendar. Regular paper planner. I take it with me everywhere (which is handy, being a college student) and write down assignments, meetings, and anything else I need to keep track of.

4. Delegate. I don't have to delegate many things, but e-mail works for me when I do.

5. Follow up. E-mail again. Phone call if necessary.

6. Accountability with goals. Not something I really need, but I could use Facebook for it. Use my status, write notes, or write on friends' walls.

7. Get info or ideas quickly. I think this would be the most useful for Twitter if you had a good network. I'm limited to people I know or browsing the internet for ideas and info.

8. Do real work. I know people write poetry and even stories on Twitter, but the 140 character limit would frustrate me. If I want to write something, I'll open Word or pull out a notebook and write it down. No limits, no formats to worry about.

I've never used Twitter, so I can't speak from experience but it seems like it would be a huge distraction for me. That's why I stopped using StumbleUpon. I wasted too much time on it. Same with Digg. I don't even sign onto instant messenger anymore when I have work to do because I find it's too much of a distraction.

Social networking is a great way to get up to date information, stay connected, and find people with similar interests. There is a breaking point, though, where social media cuts into your other work and hinders your productivity. Twitter would push me to that breaking point.