Unplugging at home
My life has become ridiculous kinds of complicated lately. I've been putting in overtime at work; I'm joining local organizations to boost my civic engagement; I'm doing more Web design and paper editing projects.
In my office job and in my freelance work, I spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen. When I was going home, I was spending more time in front of a computer screen, time in front of a television, and sometimes time in front of both.
I stopped writing entirely, and any time I sat down to write, I'd be distracted by e-mail, blogs, and a football game.
So I unplugged.
I called the cable company, and asked them to disconnect my television and Internet service. And my home phone, but that was secondary.
It's a lot more quiet in my house. I've been reading a lot. And I'm starting to write again – this here is proof of that.
And here's the kicker: I'm being more social. I have to be. I don't need to be online to write a blog post or design a Web page, but if I want to put either on the Web, I do have to be online. And now to be online, I have to go to a cafe. And that means that, even if it's one person, I have to talk to someone. So that's good.
If I want to watch a sporting event, I have to go to a bar that's showing it, and talk to people there.
If I want to watch a television show, I have to go to a friend's house and share it.
I could still plug my TV back in and watch a movie if I want, but I haven't wanted to.
What I've noticed in two weeks:
And you? How are you these days?
In my office job and in my freelance work, I spend a lot of time in front of a computer screen. When I was going home, I was spending more time in front of a computer screen, time in front of a television, and sometimes time in front of both.
I stopped writing entirely, and any time I sat down to write, I'd be distracted by e-mail, blogs, and a football game.
So I unplugged.
I called the cable company, and asked them to disconnect my television and Internet service. And my home phone, but that was secondary.
It's a lot more quiet in my house. I've been reading a lot. And I'm starting to write again – this here is proof of that.
And here's the kicker: I'm being more social. I have to be. I don't need to be online to write a blog post or design a Web page, but if I want to put either on the Web, I do have to be online. And now to be online, I have to go to a cafe. And that means that, even if it's one person, I have to talk to someone. So that's good.
If I want to watch a sporting event, I have to go to a bar that's showing it, and talk to people there.
If I want to watch a television show, I have to go to a friend's house and share it.
I could still plug my TV back in and watch a movie if I want, but I haven't wanted to.
What I've noticed in two weeks:
- My eyes aren't suffering as much strain as they used to
- I have less frequent headaches
- I'm talking a lot more softly and hearing a lot more loudly
- I'm listening to music
- Listening to radio shows and sporting events on the radio, I'm forced to use my imagination more, and that drives creativity
- I'm getting more exercise
- I'm exercising more will power
- I'm sleeping better
- I feel more in control over my body and my mind
And you? How are you these days?
Labels: internet, josh, self-improvement, technology, television, unplug
posted by Josh at
17:39
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2 Comments:
As a homebody myself, i can see the genius to this strategy. You should save up those 120 bills and, i dunno, take a vacation out west????
Congrats on unplugging. We all need to do some of that.
BTW black type on gray is a bit hard to read, but maybe it's just me.
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