Week-long Digital Fast

I have to admit something....

I am angry with modern technology, and I am angry with myself for being a sucker.

In general, anger is a destructive emotion, but it can also help us change. 

For many months now, I've been thinking about technology and distraction. On the one hand, I want to be part of the modern world, and I feel that my cell phone is a powerful and useful tool, but, on the other hand, I often find myself wasting so much time with my phone that I wonder if it is more trouble than it is worth... that I waste more time than I save, and I would be better off blowing it all up and going back to pencil and paper. In other words, I'd like to turn the clock back to about 1992. 

Do you remember those days? The phone was connected to your wall with a cord, and you used it to actually talk to people. 

The computer just sat there. If you started it up, there was a reason: you needed to write a paper or play a video game or look at your budget. You wouldn't just start it for no reason to mindlessly scroll in the hopes that it could entertain you.

This is the topic. I'm mad at myself, because my mind is not where I want it to be. I'm being hustled by a thousand companies that make money by catching my attention. I even know I'm being hustled, but I go along with it because I want to be distracted. 

It is easier to get sucked into the latest news cycle or gossip or silly video feed than deal with the things that will bring me long term health and wellbeing--not to mention face up to personal problems.

What am I getting at?

I'm taking a week off. I'm going back to 1992. No technology. Nothing digital. I may have to use the computer for work purposes, but no surfing the internet. No getting sucked down wormholes. No Youtube. No podcasts. If I go onto the computer, it is with a purpose, and after that goal is achieved (for example, write and send this email), I'm back off.

I'd like to invite you to do the same: a week-long digital fast. But that's up to you!

Wish me luck!

I'll report back next Monday.

And please, someone text or email me and let me know if the Nuggets won last night!