Fasting: Going Tech Free Once A Week.

Posted: February 26th, 2010 | 14 Comments »

In case you haven’t noticed, there seems to be about a million “simplicity” blogs launched every single day. Seems that more and more people want to slow down, live purposely, and declutter their lives. I totally understand where they are coming from, believe me! However, there is one thing that seems to actually be increasing the noise in our lives – technology. Cellphones, laptops, iPads, TV, blogs, Tumblrs, Facebook, Twitter, GBuzz, navigation units – you name it and our lives are surrounded by technology. I am not saying this is necessarily a bad thing, as I make my living because of this technology. But sometimes it gets to be too much, and because of that I have decided to take 1 day off a week from it all. No TV, no computers, no cellphones, no nothing. A while back I left my home for the day without my cellphone, and it was the most amazing feeling to be that free! No one could call me, and there was no checking my email, my Twitter stream, or my Facebook page. Hallelujah! It was so great to actually be experiencing what I was doing instead of staring down at a computer screen.

Thus, my technology fast began.

It’s not always perfect – sometimes I need to break it to take care of something, and sometimes I forget that I was even doing it. But for the most part, I stick to it. And it gives my mind a break from the constant bombardment of information, information, and more information. It cannot be healthy to be constantly “connected” like we are!

So, my suggestion to you – in your quest to declutter, slow down, and simplify – take a tech break every once in a while. Turn it all off for a day. Leave the house without a cellphone. Remember when you used to be able to do that, and if you didn’t answer the phone people just left you a message? Try it for a day. You may be pleasantly surprised at the experience.

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14 Comments on “Fasting: Going Tech Free Once A Week.”

1 Greg said at 10:16 am on February 26th, 2010:
Nice! I’ve been doing this on Sundays for the past couple of years.
2 Hasina said at 10:31 am on February 26th, 2010:
I ditched my facebook account a year ago. Best thing I ever did!
For me, minimalism is all about ditching virtual life experiences (anything related to technology and the internet) to increase real fun life experiences.
Sometimes I feel like we have forgotten how to really live life.
3 Clare said at 10:53 am on February 26th, 2010:
It’s a good idea to carry your cell anyway–just keep it turned off. Like many people, I originally acquired a cell phone for emergency purposes, and I would hate to experience such an event on the day I opted to leave it at home:)
4 Allison said at 12:35 pm on February 26th, 2010:
I am very forgetful and I typically forget my cell phone 3/5 days in a work week. It’s sole purpose for me now is ONLY to make phone calls if I need to, otherwise I do most of my communication online. I’ve also dumped my tv and cable because I never watched it, and I don’t like to watch it. But yes – living without technology is fantastic!
5 Ken nubo said at 6:01 pm on February 26th, 2010:
I think I beat you to this

I haven’t used my cell phone in 6 months, and I only check my email once a month.

I don’t use twitter, facebook or doo doo la la, or whatever new social network is out there.

I hop on the internet, take 5 minutes to check a forum, 10 minutes to read my google RSS feed, then the rest of the time is Internet poker (Grinder here) and make monies on the Internet.

I also pared down my belongings where I can fit all my stuff in 1 gym bag, but that’s another story …
6 Annie said at 9:50 am on February 27th, 2010:
I have to have a tech fast every week or so as well, but mine usually aren’t scheduled. I use computers for almost everything, so on those days I will either fire up the little emergency radio or just use my pda for a music player while I go about my day. We don’t own a television, and we use the computers for a home phone, so basically I keep the phones turned on for if they are needed but stay off of places like FB, email and news sites to clean on the house or play with the kid.
7 francesca said at 12:14 pm on February 27th, 2010:
why even have Twitter or Facebook at all? i keep up with my friends and family through good old fashioned e-mail and phone calls. much more direct and there’s no “farmville” or whatever to distract me. plus, i’ve had experience with MySpace and it just turned into a drama circus..
8 marci357 said at 12:27 pm on February 27th, 2010:
If there is no one depending upon you, ditching the cell phone is fine. But, if you have grandkids with school emergencies while their Mom is away at college, then it’s not so good for little kids to get stressed out about not being able to reach Grammi in an emergency.

That being said, there are days I just look at the number, and don’t answer if it’s not the grands. The cell phone is my servant – I am not its servant. But it stays with me always – in case of my own personal emergency.

We often have tech free days here in the Pacific NW – it’s called losing electricity Happens so often that we do not take tech stuff for granted, nor get too dependent on them. TV is rarely on in my house – except the weather reports while fixing dinner. That’s about it. I lived 18 years without TV, so it is a habit to keep it shut off and not miss it.
9 Annie said at 12:57 pm on February 27th, 2010:
@Francesca: most of my family never checks their email but are on FB daily, which is why I started using it…

I”ve got Myspace for some of my other friends who use it exclusively yet rarely check their email as well….

@Marci357 18 years without a tv? Kudos! You rock! We gave ours away last year after it sat unused for two more… but still watch the occasional show online… You truly rock! Would love to hear that story!
10 Dave M said at 1:08 pm on February 27th, 2010:
Thank you for another inspiring post! I deleted my Twitter account yesterday, culled my Facebook friends list by about a dozen or more, and unsubscribed from a few RSS feeds (don’t worry, you made the cut).

It’s funny how many “friends” will Twitter you, Facebook you, and/or send you an IM message, but those same “friends” wouldn’t think in a million years to just pick up the phone and call you.

I would argue that your TRUE friends are the ones who do call, whether or not you’re in their friends list on Facebook, or following them on Twitter.

Miraculously, I managed to keep in touch with my real friends long before any of these social time-suck websites were ever created.
11 Frances said at 6:46 am on March 1st, 2010:
Good for you! I grew up without all this stuff (and I am not that ancient) so I have never taken a lot of it on board. My computer is in someone else’s house so I am not tempted to be on it all the time. I don’t have TV and I don’t have a mobile or cell phone either. It gives me a feeling of great freedom which I love.
12 Kristen said at 9:30 am on March 1st, 2010:
I can go without most technology, but I’ve got to have my cell phone, especially now that I have a baby. When she was 2 weeks old, I went to the grocery store and left the baby with my husband. I forgot my cell phone. I had a total panic attack. My husband was trying to call me, and I didn’t have my phone.
13 Becky said at 11:20 am on March 1st, 2010:
I am in IT so need to be pretty connected on a regular basis. I will (especially in the winter months) spend a saturday night with all of the lights out curled up beside the fire reading. While the computer and phones are still on they are on a shelf or in another room. During the summer I can sit outside or float around in my blow up pool with the phones and such on a table in the porch. Both opportunities give me the sense of being disconnected without the worry that something is going to happen that needs my attention. I need those times.
14 Squirrelers said at 11:40 am on March 18th, 2010:
In today’s environment, it is almost expected that you are “staying connected”. At the very least, for many of us, we need to be accessible by phone. My cell phone is with me just about all the time.

Having said this, do we really need to be online all the time? Frankly, those of us that are working at a desk (likely in front of a computer) or on blackberries, etc are just used to living that type of existence. It becomes habit.

But again, do we really NEED to be like this ALL the time?

No, not really. Now, this is often hard for me to do, but when I spend a day away from my computer, email, etc – as well away from any TV, radio, and other forms of media – I do feel refreshed. Times over the last few years where I have spent a week away from the web or my phone (traveling), I have come away relaxed, recharged, and with a new perspective.

Sometimes the key to simplicity is to let go of those applications that are supposed to keep things simple and organized for us.

Of course, as I state all of this, I’m online, but that’s beside the point