No Tv, no video games, no radio, no internet for 1 month

Today I completed my 25th day of my no distractions from technology challenge.
The reason why I took this was as an experiment, to see what would happen to me.

My thoughts for doing this were that cutting off most technology must be good for your goals since most technology is made to distract you. But using it unnecessarily is such an encouraged habit in our society that we don't even think we're doing anything wrong.

Actually, tv, music, computer, and video games are very bad for your life and, dare I say, your ability to procreate. I think this is the reason why immigrants usually exploit our economy so well and become wealthy, because they don't have the same habits as the average US population.

Here's what the challenge consisted of:

TV - no
Radio - No
video games - no
Internet - 30 mins a week, except for emails, work (my job doesn't really require it that much), and emergency once in a blue moon situations (career research, weather, etc)
Music - 20 mins a day max
Video / audio - 30 mins a day, cummulative (If I dont use it one day I can do 1 hr the next) This is only instructional videos that I actually need, such as spiritual related, guided meditation, self actualization, etc
Cellphone - Only as necessary, not for distractions, no internet.
Movies - No movies except at movie theaters if invited

Unintended exposure is ok. meaning if someone at my place is watching tv or listening to music, its ok. I can also watch a game if my friends are watching (dont wanna be a party pooper), or at the sports bar, and I can go to clubs with music, as long as my intention is to be in a social environment.

Was this like jail? No, because hits much harder when its at your disposal.

I wanted to see how long I could do this for.
Well today I gave in. Broke the rules by watching tv and listening to music. I couldnt take it. The thing is that i was a little sexually stressed. Plus some issues with work. Yesterday and today my thoughts were racing and I had to slow down somehow.

I do have some insights:

The first 2 days I was having a mix of emotions ranging from fear to happy. Frankly, when i had nothing to do I felt defenseless and lost. My state of boredom eventually motivated my self amusement.
I became more focused on people. Interactions with others became more engaging. I was so focused some times that I could foresee the next thing the other person was gonna say and knew the best way to respond, without really thinking of a response.
From the things they like to talk about and from their worries, you begin to see the extent to which the media filters into people's lives .

The most valuable lessons that I learned:

I think you learn a lot about yourself by having alone times doing nothing. But its hard, and you'll realize that the less you love yourself, the harder it is. You also realize that the more time you spend with out distractions when you're alone, the more you start accepting being with yourself, and this is the definition of self-love. Some people are always taking advantage of all the distractions brought by technology, thse people dont accept themselves.

I've learned to accept myself. The liberation that this brings and the progress to my life this brings is too much to give it up to wasting hours in front of tv radio and computer.

Being aware and conscious is being in control and aware of everything you do, and this includes being in control of your thoughts. You're only conscious when you're in control of thoughts. If your thoughts take control of you, you lose, and if you try to drown them with tv, video games, music, or alcohol, drugs, or porn, you lose control of your own life. You fall into the state of semi-consciousnes so prevalent nowadays. As pick-up artist Tyler Durden well puts it, "Most people walk thru the world in a walking daze". Today I lost, but its like a blessing in disguise because its helped me see the benefts this expierence brought me.

Having control of your bad habits is essential to confidence and self actualization.

Sadly, I no longer see any use for this forum which has helped me and others a lot. I don't intent to log in any more but maybe i will in my moments of non-acceptance of myself, moments which distractions will actually only end up increasing.

My advice, use technology only when necessary.

Now try the same but without electricity...

You'll be thinking a lot more, and reading a lot more... not that it "helps you get to another level of consciousness or awareness about your own self" but... it kinda avoids you going mad.

But take that exercise. 30 days without electricity. Only candle light and food cooked on a fireplace or something.

Technology does not "derail" you as you may think... and about that sudden "attachment to people", well... you dont have anything else to do, have you? So you get more dependent on people. Thing is... they dont depend on you, so the "attachment" is pretty much one-sided. You need people, but people dont need you...

Like the Borg say... "resistance is futile - you will be assimilated"

Try basic training.

Every year, I try to take a bike trip where I spend at least a week but longer when I can totally apart from the electronic world. I'm not without implements, but it is good to detox yourself from the constant stimulus overload.

I think what you tried is difficult because you were basically living in the technology oriented world without technology. If you try this again, consider going out into nature or even just somewhere new, and see that there are different ways of living, and how you compare them.

You won't regret it.

Yeah, I think that technology, especially the internet, is short-circuiting our brains and making us forget how to think long-term in addition to hampering us from having healthy social relationships.

For example, when I hang out with my friends these days, they are constantly checking their Facebook on their phones or using the internet to do useless tasks if I'm at their place. Even when I talk on the phone with someone, they are checking e-mail. I find that I also spend most of my time doing this.

Since I am a psychology major, I read a bit about this. Basically, what is happening is our brains are attracted to the instant reward of checking e-mail or even coming to ATS, even though in reality, there is very little gain.

reply to post by omarm1984


I'm kind of in a similar situation but I have been facebookless for about almost 10 months now, life is freaking great, I really am learning a lot about myself man.

reply to post by omarm1984


I have gone for years without the things you are discussing. Except for the internet. I went for most of my life without it. The main reason I am on it is to be able to chat with friends that live abroad. its easier and cheaper than the phone. I am seriously thinking about just calling it quits for the internet as well. I may not have a choice about the net. It appears that almost everyone is wanting to shut it down for me. I have decided that I will not use their internet 2 . It will way too controlled and way too expensive.

This is like "aw, I'm a drunk, so I'm gonna stop drinking for 1 month out of the other 20 years I've been drinking and say that I'm not addicted anymore". You have to learn to "enjoy your life" no matter which circumstances you're under, not by "making a bike travel without outside contact" or "being without technology for x days", this is just a selfish way of saying "See? I am right". The state of freedom is only within yourself, not in the environment around you.

S&F. You're on the fast track to deprogramming. Congrats. You won't go back and if you do it will be as you are doing: with full consciousness.

TV (including vid games) is a 60 Hz brainwash machine.

why not eliminate processed foods,

and flouridated drinking water,

too?

reply to post by omarm1984


Nice, and congratulations! Most people don't know how much they are attached to something until they don't have it. It is always easier to say you can do something than to actually do it.

Peace.

Congratulations, that takes a lot of dicipline.

Were the first 2 weeks tough?
Did you catch yourself falling for the routine?
Was there some event that prompted you to start this?

Much Respect.

Golly darn it, I tried to crawl back into a womb to get away from it all, and found everything I needed was given to me there.

I can't go without anything it seems.

I guess, the only way to not be human, is to stop being human. Or die.

Fancy that, as a species we strive to better ourselves, only to look at it all and say "Enough of this nonsense, I'm going to live in a cave."

Cavemen had it no better, what with clubs and fire.

"Ugh, I try live without fire for month, eat only leaves. Now I better for it. Ugh!"

they didnt fare so well, I assume, since I read it on the internet that they became extinct.

Kudos for trying to live free, but you are trapped in a bubble of technology. A bit like "I dont like you technology, so I'll tell everyone about it on twitter!"

Just to make things a little more clear. I have nothing against technology, and I'm not totally getting rid of it. I'm merely getting rid of it as a distraction and using it only as a necessesary tool. I'm not resisting the world as it is, that would be insanity, I'm merely rising over the bad habits.

what drove me to get rid of these things? Nothing, the idea just popped into my head after reading about that kid who spent many weeks without social media and without telecommunications.

Originally posted by paulorf86
This is like "aw, I'm a drunk, so I'm gonna stop drinking for 1 month out of the other 20 years I've been drinking and say that I'm not addicted anymore". You have to learn to "enjoy your life" no matter which circumstances you're under, not by "making a bike travel without outside contact" or "being without technology for x days", this is just a selfish way of saying "See? I am right". The state of freedom is only within yourself, not in the environment around you.

edit on 20-2-2012 by paulorf86 because: (no reason given)

edit on 20-2-2012 by paulorf86 because: (no reason given)

You didn't quite get my point.
I agree, the state of freedom is with, but how can you find anything thats within yourself when you're constantly bombarded with distractions? I'm yet to meet a person who has some real quality time with themselves. Everyone likes to run to technology when they have nothing to do.

I stopped watchng t.v.years ago. Now, i only watch it OCCASSIONALLY, if at all. I will say this.....TV is DEFINITELY HYPNOTIC; and the more you watch it, the more you stay GLUED to it. Have you ever gone to the electronic dept. at the store, and seen people stopped dead in their tracks, GLUED to the TV, HYPNOTIZED? This is also why, OUT-OF-THE-BOX thinkers, look like cooks and quacks. We have our own opinions and not those dictated by people we 'know and trust'.

Radio isn't any better, with their 'gossip' and air-time filled with commercials.

As far as video games goes, that depends on WHICH video games you're referring to. Some video games like Tetris, Donkey Kong and even Pacman are actually GOOD for your brain.

I really can't find ANY harm with internet and computers. There's lots more things you can do with a computer, than you can with a television!

Eventually everyone will have their turn with no technology for at least 1 month... which happens when you can't afford your bills anymore. At least 3 out of 10 Americans have already endured this challenge.

i do the same thing a couple times a year.

it's called camping




i dont think the fishing would be very good if i brought a radio or a tv along


used to live in NY and NEPA... thats when i did the most camping trips.
www.visitthecatskills.com...

its a desert in southern ca but i still get out there at least once a year for a week or 2. big bear is sweet

[color=gold]* * * * * Stars for you and other posters that have done similarly.

TV has been gone from our household for almost 2 years.

The wife is almost done reading every book in our local library and is branching out to others closeby.

Internet is the only place to get news that has percolated and stopped (slowed) its' spinning.

Always from every source with a grain of salt.

Kudos OP (and other posters.)

I've spent months on the road living out of my car. You couldn't imagine how beautiful life is in comparison to staying in and rotting in front of the TV and computer. Driving down the Rockies, camping in the wilderness, meeting and partying with tons of new people. Life is beautiful. ♥

Now I have a baby and you know what? Nothing's changed. There are no excuses to actually live. Everyone should do exactly what you did. Huge props to you, I encourage you to do it way more often from now on.

We also started having an evening with all the lights turned off one night out of the week. Can't turn the electricity off because the food would go bad in the summer or we'd freeze in the winter but it's still worth it. The idea came about from doing earth hour, which is a good initiative it's far from being good enough.

reply to post by spaceg0at


I was just about to say that... I thought everyone went camping a few weeks out of the year at least? I feel horrible for people who don't.