Do you think you could spend a whole day without looking at your phone or using a computer?!
One of my assignments for a Graduate class I am taking was to complete a “technology challenge” as I like to call it. This meant going without using my phone or internet for 24 hours. I decided to ask my dad to complete the challenge as well. Lately, he has become more addicted to his phone than my high school students! When I reviewed what the technology challenge all entailed, my dad seemed stressed! I was in some ways looking forward to not using my phone as much, but also wondered how hard it was going to be for me!
Start to day: (6:00am) – Every morning, I take a picture of my dog and send it to my mom and dad. As I woke up and attempted to take a picture of my handsome sweet dog, I immediately put the phone down and remembered I couldn’t do that today. I thought to myself “no big deal, that wasn’t too hard to avoid.” I then began my 50 minute commute to work. Every morning, I reach a certain spot in my drive and make a morning call to my mom to check in and see what my parents are up to today. I went to make the call on my bluetooth, and caught myself again saying, “nope can’t do that either.”
1st & 2nd Health class- My day then transitioned to teaching back to back 9th grade health classes. As I was teaching, several texts came through on my apple watch which I would normally take a look at during class. Instead, I did not and focused on teaching. It made me think none of those texts are probably important anyways so no need to look at them or respond right away. My school has become very reliant on using technology to complete work on students’ computers. Instead, I did a lesson which involved all interactive activities where students had to do a handshake game, bingo on our unit topic and draw a villain along with the information on their assigned topic. I found all my students were engaged (no one was on their phones during this class or playing games on their computer). My classroom was also the quietest it has been all year while they drew and colored their villain. For a stress lesson we did earlier in the semester, we learned that drawing, coloring and journaling is very therapeutic. By doing these activities and taking an “old school approach” to assignments, I feel I saw first hand the therapeutic effects of these activities.
Lunch time (10:23-10:53am) – Usually during lunch, I call my mom or dad to see how their day is, check in on my dog or even facetime to see my dog! I also use that time to call my friend Xenia. I didn’t make either phone calls. Instead I ate my lunch in silence. Also during lunch, I usually check facebook and instagram. I took my phone out and went to click the facebook app then went to click instagram app, before stopping myself and saying “can’t do either of them!” It kinda blew me away a little how my brain and hands were so automatic to complete these actions. It was like I didn’t even think first about clicking these apps. My brain is so conditioned, it was just like a normal routine. Since my health classes are both high energy classes, I just sat and decompressed for a few minutes. I then began to think of all the stuff I had to get done that day. I wanted to go on athleticnet.com since we have our track championship tomorrow to prepare for our opponents and use the pacer calc to do my runners lap paces. I once again had to remind myself nope can’t do that either! Next thought was that I need to text my friend Brittany to see how she’s doing and make plans for this weekend, but I guess I’ll have to do it another day. My “to do” list began to build as I thought about what else I needed to do today, but all of it revolved around technology (changing an appointment, calling another friend). I started to get overwhelmed with the things I couldn’t do during lunch because they involved technology.
Rest of school day 10:53-2:40 pm= I had advisory since it was nice out. I took the kids outside to join other classes for some freetime. During the winter months, this class would have been on their phones as well as me taking a mental break and scrolling social media. Instead I socialized with my coworkers outside. I used my prep period to grade the villain drawings and clean/organize my office. This time is also a time I usually end up scrolling on social media or browsing on the web. According to Harvard Business Review, I am not the only one scrolling on my phone during the work day. According to the article, “The Psychology of Your Scrolling Addiction,” 77% of employees use social media while on the clock, many of them for up to several hours a day. I definitely could relate to this, since I had caught myself throughout the day on times I usually would go on social media, but instead how to do something else.
2:40= It was time to drive from school to an appointment. During this long drive, I usually make multiple phone calls to pass the time. Since I could not do this, I found myself wondering what my mom was up to, and that I would have to wait tomorrow to make my other usual phone calls. Once I reached my appointment, I sat waiting for the doctor. Without even thinking, once again so nonchalantly, I took out my phone, clicked on facebook app, closed it quickly without looking and clicked insta and immediately closed it. It was then that I realized I seem to go to check social media when I am alone and bored. I tried to pass the time while in the waiting room but just sitting in silence and being present. While sitting there I was thinking “wow this is how life use to be. It felt like a slower lifestyle and pace for me. It made the time go by slowly.
5:00= went to pick up my dog and head home. Time to eat, shower, and relax. After eating dinner i was relaxing on the couch, also a time i usually catch up on social media. I played ball with my dog. I kept wanting to look at social media and felt myself fighting the urge to check. I decided to do some coloring in an adult coloring book I have had for months and have not done once. I then took my dog on a walk. During the dog walks i usually make another phone call to my mom and a friend or two. By not calling anyone, it allowed me to be more present. At times I was bored throughout the day by not being able to search the web or make calls. By being more present in the moment I found that I had more time in my day and allowed me to rest and at times bored which showed me that I’m not supposed to be simulated every second of the day which I have become very use to.
Usually after everything is organized for the next day and my night time routine is completed, I hop into bed early, lay with my dog, text any friends / make any phone calls to friends, call my mom or dad, and scroll facebook instagram and read the news on my phone. I usually end up in bed around 8:30ish and engage in all the above activities, and end up not going to bed until 10:30. Since I could not participate in any of those activities, I decided to close my eyes. I fell asleep from 8:30-9:30pm. I woke up and tried to go back to bed but couldn’t right away. I laid there and felt a bit isolated since it was just me and I couldn’t connect with anyone or anything. I reflected on my day without technology. I realized my emotions were up and down regarding this challenge. Sometimes I felt relaxed in the moment, and that I was able to be more present in the moment which made me feel calm. I felt less anxious at times, which goes with the findings from the article; Psychology today. Other times throughout the day I become frustrated because I needed to contact someone or look something up but couldn’t. I was overwhelmed at times because I needed to get stuff done but couldn’t since it required technology. My to do list began to get longer and would be pushed into the next day. Now looking back shouldn’t make me too stressed because everything will get done.
Overall I felt myself more present throughout the day and more mindful. I was focused on only me throughout the day and not on others on social media. I felt like my brain was not overstimulated. Usually I feel like my brain and thoughts are nonstop since they are stimulated all day long from technology. Instead I felt like I was able to slow myself down, not have thoughts racing in my brain all day.
Summer I am usually so busy enjoying the day that I do not use my phone much. Maybe this is why I like summer more because I am truly present more often. I am going to continue to limit my social media time and instead do other activities instead of using technology (mostly my phone). I journaled some things I want to do this summer / this year and also found this article for some more ideas!
My dads reflection= hated going without his phone. When my mom got a text he would say whose that? What did they say? Missed searching the web, buying stuff on amazon. Kept himself busy doing around the house tasks and yard work. My dad hated going without his phone/ the internet. Whereas, my mom loved that he was not able to go on this phone so he could be more present and social instead of always on his phone and missing out on the conversation.
Food for thought
- How can we encourage others to not be on phones as much, but instead be more present (especially my students)!
- Would you choose to go back to how life was prior to our technology dependent lifestyle (90s or stay how it is)?
- What are some other activities you could be doing instead of on your phone or using technology?
Game Changer 