Note: This is Day 4 in the “Recharge Your Creative Batteries in 31 Days” Challenge. For the rest of July, we’ll be posting different ways for you to get yourself on the path to living in a creative flow and reaching your writing goals. Be sure to subscribe so you don’t miss any.
What’s the first thing you do when you get up in the morning? For many people, it’s checking their email using a smartphone which keeps them constantly connected with the world.
Having technology is amazing—we can watch our favorite TV show, talk to our friend who lives across the world via online video chat and check our email … all at the same time. There are definitely many uses for smartphones and I highly recommend every writer have one.
But there are times when having this much access to everything and being so connected to everyone takes a toll on your creativity.
The Problem With Constant Connectivity
When you’re constantly connected, you never get to truly immerse yourself in life. Because your phone is always at the back of your mind.Or you’re thinking about what’s on TV.
It’s kinda hard to live in the moment when the voice in your head keeps saying, “Check your email.”
Sometimes you have to enjoy your life. Sometimes you have to do things without technology. Sometimes you just have to have fun the old-fashioned way.
Plus, when you really engage in life, you’ll start to see inspiration for your writing wherever you go.
Let The Technology Rest
If you want to really live in the moment and truly get to enjoy the moment, you have to let go of the technology. Just for a little while.
For the rest of the day today, go technology-free. That’s your challenge for the day.
Yes, I know it seems impossible and like it can’t happen. But you can do it. And once you’re disconnected and enjoying the moment, you won’t even think about your phone or TV and Internet anymore.
It’s the 4th of July and most people are off from work, so take advantage of this time. Get outside and have a picnic. Take a trip to the beach. Go for a long hike.
Anything you can do to pull yourself away from the “world of connectivity” for a little while is good.
How To Do It
Since going technology-free is a big challenge at first, here are some tips to make it a little easier:
- Purposely leave your phone at home when you go out—not having immediate access to it will make it easier for you to forget about it.
- Schedule recordings of all your TV shows—then you can enjoy your time without worrying about missing your shows. If you can’t record them, research times when they will be replayed or ask someone to record them for you.
- Announce your plans on social media—let your friends/fans know that you’re taking a short technology break, that way they wait and contact you after your break is over.
I know, this is a really big challenge. The first so far in this 31-day series. But if you can do this, you can do pretty much anything.
I recommend going technology-free once a week, it’s good for your creativity.
Now get off your computer and go enjoy your life.
Share With Us
How did your technology-free time go?
I’m trying to help as many creative people as possible during this challenge, please help the movement by sharing this article:
I totally agree. I don’t have a smarthphone for this very reason. I do just fine with a rinky dink cheapo phone that doesn’t let me do anything but talk on it. Life outside of the internet is so beautiful and exciting! And you’re right – what you find outside of technology can really fuel writing.
I just spent the whole day without my phone and it was awesome. When I did finally get back to my phone later, I found that I didn’t miss anything. I’m gonna do it more often!
Periodically have unplugged days and technology free days. We record all our shows because I hate, hate, hate commercials. Use my phone to listen to audiobooks in the car, but otherwise it’s just there for emergency when I’m out. I don’t talk on the phone while shopping and give 100% attention to whoever I with while out and about. Unplug for the rest of the day. Yeah I can do that. After lunch! Have a great day!
I hope your unplug session went well!
I spend too much time on email and I’m trying to schedule just certain times each day to check email. The hardest thing for me, and I really need to do this, is not check email until after I’ve done my morning’s work on my book revisions. Maybe I’ll try a reward system to accomplish that. I did use a reward to break myself of clicking to FreeCell all the time. I’m totally addicted to that game and can’t let myself play at all or I’m right back into procrastination mode.
We don’t have cell phone service out in the country where we live. So, no smart phone. Just a cell phone I carry with me when I leave the house, for emergencies. Not for idle conversations.
Barb
Have you ever tried one of those programs that blocks your Internet usage? You set it for what time or how long you want your access blocked for and then you can write distraction free.
Thanks for the suggestion. Do you know of a good one?
Barb
I haven’t actually tested this myself (I actually do OK forcing myself to write when I need to and not get distracted), but if you’re on Mac, SelfControl is a program that blocks internet and email access for a period of time. I’m still looking for a Windows version but I will comment again when I have one.
I’m copying this series into Word docs so I can go through it more earnestly starting next week. My husband has been home on vacation since June 27th and will be off untill July 9th and I am focusing on spending time with him.
That said, I’m not very good at doing “tech free”. I write on my computer as well as doing all the email, social networking junk, etc. I spend most all day on my computer. I do get out and away from it from time to time each week – but I think I need more time away from it.
I’ll give it a try next week.
Sounds good Sandra. I hope you’ll come back and share your results!
I was going great guns on my novel until my husband set up a wireless network. With my laptop “connected,” I have to MAKE myself write before logging on. Still, the call of e-mail is strong, and just knowing it’s there is a distraction. On the positive side, I have a dumb phone that stays off most of the time.
I think what you need is a program that allows you to block the Internet for a set period of time. That will help a lot!
Hi Jennifer, I’m loving your daily challenges and I think this one is important. I have a love/hate relationship with technology, and one of the reasons I haven’t gotten a smartphone yet is because of not wanting to be too connected or relying on technology too much. Don’t get me wrong. I love technology but it can become an addiction and an excuse for not living in the real world. I want to take this challenge one day and see how much I miss it or not!
Definitely find time this month to take this challenge. Even if you only do it for half a day. It’s amazing how much you can really fall into living and not worry about the world at large for a little while. If you give it a try, I’d love to hear your results!
This is a great idea that would do me wonders. I’m completely addicted to my phone. I use it for so many things (email, taking notes, reminders, social media, checking the weather!) that it’s constantly w/ me. But lately I’ve noticed how constant my use is. And I spend a lot of time on the computer as well. One day per week tech-free sounds scary but I bet I would totally benefit from it!
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Just getting caught up on this series, great discussion. My phone is just calling and texting. My issue is always browsing the internet while I’m on the computer supposedly “writing” = trying to block it never works because I know how to get around that. I just purchased an old Alhpasmart 2000 “word processor” on ebay… no internet, just 4 lines of text displayed at a time, runs on AA batteries and you hook it to your computer later when done writing and send it to a word document as text. Only just began using it but love it so far. When I first started writing I had an old laptop with no internet, no program except a text editor and a floppy drive. Wrote like a crazy man then, hopefull will start that again…
I used to have a NEO! I actually just gave it away a couple months ago on my old blog. It was a great tool for writing without distractions I highly recommend it. I’m glad to hear it’s helped you too.