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Disengaging from Technology

Given work, school, and life in general I wasn't able to do the no technology challenge back when it was issued. After stepping up my social media presence and connection to online tools, I really think it will be valuable to do try this once class ends next week. So I'm vowing to go technology-free for 24 hours. 

 I don't think being off social media will be the hardest thing for me. I would say texting followed by television will most likely be my struggles. Of course this will have to take place on a weekend since I need my computer for work. While avoiding TV won't be too stressful, as I have a hard copy book I've been putting off reading because of my Audible membership (Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult), I imagine it will be hard to have plans with anyone other than my husband during this time. Usually when I have plans I'm texting to confirm or letting them know when I've left, and what if they need to cancel? They won't be able to get ahold of me. The other thing will be letting my family know they won't hear from me for 24 hours. My mom, sister and I have a constant group message and so I can imagine they would be wondering about me if I just stopped answering.

 So while thinking about it being disconnected in part makes me nervous, it also sounds relaxing. This article from Elite Daily shares a Journey about Disconnecting from Social Media for a Week. We've all heard about how the "likes" on our photos produce actual dopamine highs and the effects on our brain chemistry. This author shares that by disengaging from social media it helped to feel less lonely, less envious, it was easier to sleep, and could enjoy the moment. While I don't feel quite as connected to social media as others, that doesn't mean I'm not connected to my phone or to technology.  I don't know how all the logistics will work out, but I am looking forward to a 24-hour technology break! Those of you who tried it how did it go? Any tips? Anyone who plans to try it, what are you looking forward to?

Comments

  1. SAJuly 29, 2018 at 3:10 PM

    I really would love to try it, but it is the little things that I wouldn't be able to disconnect from. I don't use social media daily, and I have found that I use my phone less and less. Yet, when my fiance watches SVU, I can't help but to tune in. Whether it is checking emails or doing homework, I am forced to interact with the tech.

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  2. UnknownJuly 30, 2018 at 1:21 PM

    Hi Leah, I echo your sentiments about looking forward to getting off the social media merry-go-round for a while. From my initial rounds of reading blog posts it seems like everyone has reached the tipping point about now. Like you, I have yet to fully unplug for a full 24 hours. I’m sure it would have been fine, like Dr. Dennen said, but a different kind of FOMO was too much for me to pull the plug. This fear was the fear of missing out on the things I felt like I should be doing - namely school work. Of course this fear is not a new phenomenon but one that I have been dealing with the entire time I’ve been in the ISLT program. There is so much to accomplish that it is difficult to be still and intentionally do nothing. This past week I used a token for a pass on the participation requirement and I was surprised that I had to fight the urge to not open the notification about a new blog post or respond to the latest tweet. I don’t consider myself addicted to social media by any means, but over the past 5 weeks it has certainly worked its way in and really rooted itself in my daily routine.

    Thanks for sharing the article - interesting read with some very poignant lessons about social media use. #8 really resonated with me, especially this remark: “One thing I've noticed about using social media is that I will often go down rabbit holes into other people's Instagram accounts or Facebooks, and at my worst, I'll compare myself to someone else online, and think about how much smarter someone sounds on Twitter than I do.” This is why I can only visit Facebook once every few years. I never feel good about my own life after scrolling through picture after picture of other families having picture perfect moments. Deep down I know that people aren’t going to post when they’re at their worst - when the kids are fighting over who hit who first and the dog is doing laps around the house and the frozen lasagna got burnt to a crisp in all the commotion - but it’s hard to come away not making comparisons and feeling like your life can’t compete.

    The other day I actually forgot to take my phone off of do not disturb mode and it was thoroughly enjoyable to not have the constant reminder of notifications going off that new content was waiting for me. I think that is what I will enjoy the most when I am finally brave enough to pull the cord.

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