(Yes, this includes 3/1. Because otherwise it would be Unplugged29, which doesn’t quite have the same ring to it.)
So yes. Like the similarly named Whole30, February is going to be a reset of sorts. An internet/mindless screen time/aimless browsing/online multitasking cleanse. The rules will be rather stringent, because:
a) It’s only 30 days!*
b) I would really like to see what happens if I really really REALLY commit to changing my online/phone behaviors. Previous attempts have been unsuccessful, and I am thinking that perhaps I wasn’t clear enough with myself on what the goals/rules were.
c) I feel that I could then figure out which strategies/limits really worked, and which could potentially be loosened in the future
I will present my list of Unplugged30 rules tomorrow. If you are interested in playing along, you can either follow the same rules OR modify to create your own. ** There will be weekly check-ins each Monday — anyone following along will be required (um, to the extent that I can enforce this . . .) to report progress/observations/victories/challenges.
Before we dive in tomorrow, let me just briefly delve into the why. Several commenters have noted that spending some mindless internet browsing time sounds pretty harmless in the grand scheme of things, and perhaps I’m being crazy overly hard on myself.
I disagree. It is not harmless, because I will never get those hours back. I cannot revisit A&C’s early childhood and change the example I set for them/erase the times I was mentally scattered in their presence. It cannot be healthy to stare into a bright screen every morning when I wake up and every night before I go to bed. SO, this is important to me. It absolutely may be harmless for you, if you can moderate well and feel like you have enough time to do the things you want to do. But for me, I find it problematic. There are too many other things I would like to do with my time to be just letting it slip through the hourglass while I mindlessly scroll, scroll, scroll.
* And unlike Whole30, you can still drink wine and eat cookies! So, yay.
** Also different than Whole30
11 Comments
Im in! Looking forward to a reset :-). I would like to modify slightly to be able to interact with family, my running club, and my book club via FB so I have to figure out a balance for that.
I love this- I’m in too!
I am SO in! I’ve been contemplating a digital detox/electronic fast for a couple of weeks now, so this is perfect timing. I don’t use social media, but spend WAY too much time mindlessly scanning the Internet. I have always been a big reader (averaging multiple books per week), but that has slowed down tremendously since I bought an iPad in 2012….
So in! Great idea.
So…. what are the rules? Are you going to stop blogging? Reading other blogs? Or is this primarily another facebook detox?
Oh, nm I see you will post the rules tomorrow. Reading comprehension fail! Enjoy your Sunday!
"There are too many other things I would like to do with my time to be just letting it slip through the hourglass while I mindlessly scroll, scroll, scroll." – PREACH!
I want to follow along!!
I’m in! I left Facebook over a year ago, but my main "bad" habit is doing mindless internet scrolling before bed on my phone rather than reading. Reading would bring me more joy…I just need to leave my phone downstairs!
Me too. Guess I need to get a user name. One thing I’m thinking of doing is charging my phone on the kitchen counter instead of my night stand.
I love your blog and have been following for a long time now! (Years!) I have to say, I’m loving the frequent posting. Also love the idea of an internet fast that WORKS. (I tried Moment after you suggested it, but then turned it off because it was sapping my battery and I got into a long distance relationship and use Skype/messaging on my phone all the time.) Looking forward to tomorrow’s plan!
In. In. Double in.
It’s a complete time vampire that absorbs so much time while taking away from alternate positive things that I’ve identified that I want to focus on this year – finishing first round of KM [½ way – stuck on paper & komono], health & fitness, meal planning and implementation, reading and adequate sleep/bedtime routine.