It’s now been over two weeks since I turned on my tech again, so what am I doing and how have I integrated my tech back into my life?
Good Question!
Well it’s not been as easy as I thought it would be, as I have said in previous posts the lure of tech is strong! But I do seem to have reached a balance of sorts.
There are some obvious things that I have re-introduced fully so to speak, like hot running water, central heating (as and when only as the clock is turned off), the use of the washing machine and the oven.
Then there are the other items of tech that I have re-introduced partially.
Clocks
The way that I see it clocks keep us anchored in a linear time experience, which is something that I want to rid myself of. So I have disabled the clock on my laptop, removed the clock on the home screen of my mobile, and taken out of the house any other clocks. This may sound extreme; and I know that I am fortunate that I can do this, but I found that removing linear time in the physical sense also removes it in a meta-physical sense, allowing my experience of time to remain dynamic, admittedly not to the same extent as during the 10 days, but it is dynamic enough that I can expand on it. On the subject of time, if I have any timed appointments I now set an alarm on my phone to remind me that I have to go out so that I don’t have to clock watch.
Mobile Phones
My mobile phone is the only phone that I have, however I am now using it more like a house phone, and it stays at home when I go out, unless I know that I am going to need it or I’m expecting a call from someone. For the rest of the time it sits on the side in the bedroom out of the way.
Computers
This is a big one for me; I still use computers for my work and keeping in touch with people. However I am reducing the amount of time that I spend on the computer and on-line. Once my work is done and I’ve caught up with everyone that I want or need to catch up with the computer goes off, period! There are no more hours spent ‘wasting’ time trawling the internet, Facebook or Twitter. Once the work is done that’s it, down time for both me and the computer.
Radios, iPods, CD-Player and iTunes
To be honest I have found that I love the silence; I know that many people find it hard to be in prolonged periods of silence, they perceive a need for some background noise. I have to admit that I did spend a lot of time with music on in the background, but having 10 days of forced silence I have come to appreciate it now and enjoy it!
Electric Lights
This for me a little bit of mix and match, if I’m in on my own for the evening then I will light all the candles and turn out all the lights, I’ll even cook by candle light! Electric light, especially fluorescent lights and low energy lights (particularly those that are mercury based) I find very harsh on the eyes, and after a couple of hours I find that they make my eye tired. So although I do us electric lights I do so as little as possible, using candles whenever I can.
Tech-Free Days
As we are coming to the end of this series (for now – who knows I may do it all again) and I am not posting every day, I have also taken the decision that I will be introducing at least one completely Tech-Free day a week, just one day a week where I go completely Back To The Basics.
I am doing this with the intention of maintaining and strengthening the connection that I developed over the 10 days. I have found that technology and more so time can erode this connection and for me this connection is so important, so much so that I will do what I must to maintain it.
Thank You
So there you have it, that’s where I stand now, thank you for taking the time to read what I have written and if you want to ask any questions or have any comments please feel free to fire away.
I have some exciting plans for up and coming subjects, to discuss on here and will be hoping to post at least three times a week. So please keep popping back to see what’s going on as it’s been great having you around.
Much Love and Many Blessings
Chris
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