This week, I was challenged to stay completely technology free for 4 continuous hours. A challenge this was, indeed. I chose to complete this task on a Wednesday, but this wasn’t random, of course I was going to be strategic about this project. I chose Wednesday because it is usually my busiest day of the week, so I was sure I would have things to occupy myself during the 4 hours. I also assumed completing this challenge would increase my productivity. This was true. I finished nearly all my homework for the day in one four hour period. This was the positive of the situation. Most of the time when I am faced with a large workload, I think about turning my phone off and putting it in a drawer… but do I? Never. Anyway, this was the perfect opportunity to cultivate the most ideal studying environment and get my work done.
Though it was convenient to complete my work with lack of distraction, this little experiment came with more negatives than positives. First of all, my sense of FOMO really kicked in. I wondered if my friends were texting and I was missing out on the conversation and/or possible plan making. Additionally, a sense of anxiety was very present. Like I have mentioned in other posts, my phone provides a sense of comfort and security. During the time spent without my phone, my mind wandered all over. What if I was missing messages or calls from family? What would I do if I had a homework question? How would I contact people to ask? Long story short, there was a lot that left me feeling slightly uneasy.
Completing this experiment reminded me of an article I read recently, titled “Hamlet’s Blackberry.” This article described the ins and outs of a family’s venture to disconnect from all internet on the weekends. There was more to this article than just this disconnect, but it is this aspect that reminded me of my time spent without technology. In the account of their journey, something they touched on was the uncertainty that they might miss out on something important. Would a child’s sporting event get cancelled? Would plans change? Would they be stumped for an answer to a question but not have the ability to simply look it up? Additionally, they talked about the need for completing tasks in advance. If any research for a school project or a work meeting was necessary, it had to be finished before the start of the weekend. Though this would be rewarding once the weekend came and the work was finished, it creates extra stress and pressure during the week. This exact point prompted me to examine the extreme luxury that the internet is. If a person has access to a computer and wifi, questions can be answered and tasks can be completed instantly in a painless way. Without this ability, my life would be altered severely. The need for planning and getting things done ahead of time would grow so much larger.
It seems that everyone thinks their life is incredibly busy, but we take for granted the accessibility of the internet and technology and how much it cuts down on the work we have to do. Forget about research, but something as simple as writing a paper (or a blog post!) is made incredibly comfortable with the ability to type and not write out every single word. Learning is effortless, making plans is a breeze, and we are kept up to date with greater efficiency than ever before. It’s fair to call ourselves busy, but next time we do it, we might take a minute to consider the parts of life that are cutting down on the amount of time we have to spend doing things. We should be mindful of taking these parts of life for granted.
In pulling all of my points to a close, it was rewarding to spend time away from technology. It gave me first hand experience in realizing not only how much it does for me, but how much complication it removes from my life. I’ve said this before and I will say it again, I would not like a life without my phone. Whether I consciously notice or not, it does so much for me. Without these faculties, my life would be far more tedious.
Ruthie's Writings. 