Technology Detox Wasn't For Me, But I Still Needed A Change
This spring I spent quite a bit of time coming up with a Summer Schedule for our Year Round Homeschool. The kids have a list of chores and tasks that must be completed each day before they are allowed screen time. While creating all the rules for my children, I realized that I didn’t have a set of rules for myself. So, when The 7 Day Technology Detox came along, I decided it was time for Mom to have a set of rules, too.
A few months ago I realized that I wake up in the mornings with a little caffeine and a lot of technology. I had come to the conclusion that I needed to quiet my mind and Be Still. I started trying to do this on my own little by little, but I couldn’t give up social media. I have met many wonderful friends through Facebook and Periscope. I didn’t want to give up my “Me Time”. But, as Amanda talked about her reasons for creating the 7 Day Technology Detox I looked at my life and realized that I needed to make some changes. If the kids had screen time rules, then mom needed them also.
Amanda really encouraged us to make the detox our own and fit into our life, not wanting to give up my “me-time” but still wanting to make changes I began a Social Media Detox rather and a Technology Detox
Rules for A Social Media Detox
The first step of the 7 Day Technology Detox is to set appropriate boundaries. My children’s boundaries involved school work, outdoor time (physical time) and chores. Mine would be similar. I have to use technology for work and homeschool, so honestly I didn’t want to count that time in my boundaries. I did discover that I could combine my physical health time with my social media time. So here are my rules changed to fit MY life, from the 7 Day Technology.
Social Media Detox Rule #1
No social media of any kind without it accompanying physical activity.
You see I have a problem being consistent with exercise. Honestly, I kind of hate exercising. It bores me. So, I have to come up with ways to distract myself from the fact that I’m actually exercising. I started with setting the iPad up on the elliptical, so I could check FB while I was running. This proved a little dangerous. I moved on to setting the iPad on the counter and jogging or walking in place while I responded to comments, tweets and emails. I even got pretty good at Pinning while jogging in place. I walked the dog with my phone in hand. I danced around the kitchen while listening to Periscopes. I got so good at exercising while checking notifications that my Fitbit steps increased from an average of 5000 steps per day to an average of nearly 13000 steps per day! I actually won a Fitbit Workweek Hustle Challenge!
Social Media Detox Rule #2
Stop taking your phone to the bathroom with you.
Ok. This one I thought would be pretty easy, and it was. I only had to stop myself twice. I know…I just grossed you out. I’m sorry. I’m admitting it. But, you’ll be happy to know that my phone is now bathroom free!
Social Media Detox Rule #3
Delete all Social Media apps from your phone.
This one was relatively easy, too. On the day I was supposed to delete my apps, Facebook crashed and removed itself from my phone. And my computer had a hiccup and spent the entire day refusing to connect to the internet. A little odd…but maybe someone was trying to tell me something.
Social Media Detox Rule #4
Spend the last day going Cold Turkey. No Social Media of any kind.
I’m going to be honest with you. The day for Cold Turkey was the day we were driving over 8 hours to the beach. I may have cheated a little this day. I didn’t cheat a lot, but I did check my iPad a few times. I’m not counting this as a failure. I’m just keeping it real.
So what DID I learn from my Social Media Detox?
- I can combine brain candy with body health. I no longer lay in bed checking my notifications. I’m getting healthy by doing things I used to feel guilty about.
- I am easily distracted by the whistle of periscope or the tiny red number on the other social media apps. I don’t need to check notifications immediately. They’ll still be there when I make time for them.
- Technology and social media aren’t evil. But anything that distracts you from your life, health and family on a consistent basis needs to be curbed. I love technology. It makes my life easier which in turn makes me happier. I have no intention of giving it up. But, I know that I am more important than my “likes” and “comments” and “hearts.”
