I had a techno-free day yesterday and I loved it so much I am seriously thinking of adding another one to the week. But not too soon as I wouldn't want to fall down and trip over myself on the way up.
No web.
No phone.
No computer.
One day off is fine for now.
I read. I wrote (by hand). I went out for a very long coffee stint with a fairly new friend and we were shocked when we both realized we were connected with the same work colleagues, me back in the day in Toronto and she currently. This would not have happened if I had been racing home to feed my Lexulous habit on the interwebz.
I also sorted some old knitting, took a chilly walk with the dog, made a more comprehensive to do list, visited a used book store, a Sally Anne and a Value Village and had Mongolian food for dinner and read 6 chapters of a book.
I recommend being unleashed even for just one day a week.
Gosh, writing by hand! I'll have to think this over. I'm not sure I remember how to do that.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a wonderful day.
I still remember how to write by hand.... it is the reading back that is the problem! :-)
ReplyDeleteI actually had a few hours 'away time' today. In the latter months of the year my internet and phone were crook for five days. By the time all systems were go again, I was almost weaned off the whole idea. I found it very interesting.
20CW:
ReplyDeleteInteresting you should say that as I find it a little odd to be handwriting whole sentences and not just a shopping list or to do list.
XO
WWW
GM:
ReplyDeleteThat would make one think being 5 whole days without. I really really enjoyed myself, I must say!
XO
WWW
I have been listening on the radio to a woman who, with her three children, gave up all computers, ipods, cell phones, etc for 6 months. She wrote a book about it: The Winter of our Disconnect. It seems to have done the kids a lot of good. But I think I would be too lonely and would not want to give my technology up, even for one day a week. Even with technology I get time to read. Or rather, I should say especially with technology. I now have a Kindle. Suddenly I can have pretty much any book I want (as long as it is published before 1923) for free.
ReplyDeleteDO:
ReplyDeleteMy fear was feeling the sound of that disconnect too, so I am literally shocked it hss pleased me so much. I felt I was let loose in a wonderful playground and could choose from a wealth of other activies.
So far, I am staying away from Kindle for all the reasons you hear, the pages, the feel of the paper, etc. etc.
I will probably be a raving convert within the year.
I can't believe how rapidly my Ipod owned me!
XO
WWW
I'm definitely going to try it - some time in the future, not sure when.
ReplyDeleteMarcia:
ReplyDeleteLOL!
XO
WWW
Sounds like a good plan WWW. I will try to persuade Himself to join me in trying it. Our only big cyber vice is the desk-top computer, blogs and reading news online. TV is switched on only in the evenings, cellphone only used in emergency or when travelling, no texting, no Facebook (me), he only lightly to keep in touch with outlying family. So it wouldn't be too much of a stretch to go for a day with no technology or TV - could we listen to cds though?
ReplyDeleteHimself might turn ultra-grumpy if left music-less for long. ;-)
Yah, I'm with Marcia ;-) Soon...
ReplyDeleteT:
ReplyDeleteYou'll never know until you try, I was actually quite terror stricken at the thought and I am still in shock as to how truly marvellous it was.
XO
WWW
Annie:
ReplyDeleteAh another one, there are many out there!!!
XO
WWW
Some of my most powerful moments over the last few years have been when I've been able to go away to a deserted cabin without television, telephone or internet access. (I do admit to bringing a portable radio - just in case I saw a large mushroom cloud and was wondering about it) We are so over-communicated and over-technified that it can be disconcerting to be separated from the technological mother ship, but it can also be freeing. d'accord.
ReplyDeleteVP:
ReplyDeleteGawd it's so nice to have a pal out there!
I like your "mother ship" analogy!
XO
WWW
Aye!
ReplyDeleteI've always been a big fan of solitude and especially the Christian spiritual tradition of hermitage or the Russian notion of poustinia. The word has its origin in the notion of desert and to me, being separated from that mother ship is something like a desert experience. There’s a reason the early spiritual hermits went into the desert. It was an escape and it seems that sometimes we are so tied into the world that solitude is frightening for many people – how many times have we heard “I couldn’t stand being alone for that long”? For me, having a chance to spend a week in that sort of solitude is so refreshing that I often wish I could afford to do it full time … not something that was an issue for the early spiritual hermits!
I would hardly know what to do with myself. I would be at a complete loss. I do admire you.
ReplyDeleteThere are times I yearn to be away from technology. In Illinois, with its vast acres of corn and soy, technology - in one form or another - is all around. GM crops being just one example. In a few months we move to solitude, and though technology will still be available via internet and phone, I expect to use it much less. Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteThought you might enjoy this joke someone sent me:
ReplyDeleteLast night my kids and I were sitting in the living room and I said to them: "I never want to live in a vegetative state, dependent on some machine and fluids from a bottle. If that ever happens, just pull the plug."
They got up, unplugged the computer and threw out my wine!!! The little b*st*rds.
I would love to do one technology free day a week, but I'd have real trouble deciding which one... It couldn't be during the working week - my working life revolves around electronic communication and working on the computer (though I could try a technology free evening...), Saturday is the day for sorting out my finances - both on the spreadsheet on my netbook, and online if I need to shift money between accounts, and Sunday is the Skype call day - two hours (or thereabouts) of calls to family back in the UK.
ReplyDelete*sigh*
VP:
ReplyDeleteYes, I too am a fan of retreats and getting away by myself (does the dog count, I wonder?)
I know very, very few who can stand their own solitude.
We need to be truly content with our own vibrations.
XO
WWW
Nora:
ReplyDeleteBut that's the point. We never know until we unleash ourselves and see what happens, you might be amazed!
XO
WWW
RJA:
ReplyDeleteOK. How many days EXACTLY? ;^)
XO
WWW
Oh Annie:
ReplyDeleteI laughed so hard I posted it as my status on FB!!!
Thanks!
XO
WWW
Jo:
ReplyDeleteMaybe start with a few hours? How is that knitting BTW?
But as we are both addicted to Lexulous it ain't easy!!!
XO
WWW