Appendix A. Continuing the conversation—and taking a break from it
We want to have a conversation with you about new uses of Twitter and questions you may have. Post comments using the hashtag #TwitterBook, and make sure to include at least one of our @usernames: @timoreilly and @SarahM. If we can’t answer a question, look to Mashable (http://mashable.com) or ReadWriteWeb (http://readwriteweb.com), two of the best sites covering social media, often with how-tos.
Continued conversations aside, we do recommend that you take occasional breaks from Twitter and other social media. Our brains are wired to get a small, positive jolt from each new incoming message, and the feeling of connection can be a bit addictive, especially when those messages arrive by the dozen every hour. Indeed, lots of people of find that once they’ve tapped into social media, they can have a hard time concentrating on other things that don’t generate constant dopamine hits.
A good way to mitigate the problem is by taking Twitter holidays. A few options:
Ignore the site except for, say, thirty minutes at 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. every day.
Observe a Sabbath and stay offline one day a week.
Go on vacation for a week or three a year and leave social media behind.
Your mileage may vary, but getting away from Twitter makes it all the more interesting when you return.
Happy tweeting.
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