Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. I have readily agreed to Switch Off for myself and my family and wanted to share with you in case you also would like to switch off. I was sent a digital detox kit to help with our ‘downtime’. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
In this day and age we are constantly connected. At any given moment, we can be checking our emails, flicking through facebook, tweeting, posting photos, playing word games, drawing games, messaging, blogging, reading blogs. Or, we could even be making phone calls. Through these amazing technological advances we are able to keep in touch with friends and family near or far and we are able to do it where ever we are, whenever we feel like it. We no longer have to wait until we a home to sit at our computer or haul out our laptop. The whole world is accessible and we keep it in out pockets, bags, or in my case, bras.
As a stay at home mum of three children, I certainly appreciate that I am never more than a moment away from adult interaction. Having spent the first two years of my parenting life feeling completely isolated, I find much comfort in the knowledge that I can reach out when I need to and I often do.
At one stage I was always checking my phone or always getting on my laptop to check my comments on the blog, on facebook, on instagram. I found solace online as I struggled with Postnatal Depression and it was all too easy to get lost in the cyber world.
Then, I happened upon Hands Free Mama, her beautiful words broke me. I was hiding in a world away from my children and it was a painful reality to face.
I implemented rules for myself about the use of my phone, my online time, blogging time and when I could have my laptop out. I moved all blogging, writing and reading, to when the children were sleeping. No phones at the table. No social media when my children wanted to be interacting with me.
If you’re connected with me online you probably see lots of photos on Instagram. I do take heaps. But, generally, I wait for a more appropriate time to upload them. I take a snap or a video and then put my phone away. Or, if I needed to upload straight away (for reviewing experiences and so on), my rule is to upload and move on.
If there’s a quite minute I might update a status or check my blog comments, but my rule is to not get distracted and only when the children are happily engaged elsewhere.
Obviously, the above is easier said than done. If it was easy to not get sucked in there wouldn’t be a problem, would there? I’ve just been sent some research revealing that one third of people are connected to technology for between 8 – 16 hours every day*. At reading that I was slightly alarmed but then I thought about it and I know how it can happen. You get sucked in.
While my rules guided my usage strictly for some time, I have noticed recently that I am getting my phone out more, scrolling through facebook instead of doing the things I promised myself I would be doing. At first, I denied it but more recently I’ve noticed that the longer it is since having some quality alone time (with or without James) to get my mental state realigned, the more I find myself ‘escaping’ online to try and grab what normalcy I can. Because I am struggling and I have to do what I can to find calm and balance. (If you have a holiday to offer me please contact me pronto).
I am not happy with it and it’s not okay.
Because of this I have put my hand up to participate in Switch Off Sunday this weekend. While I know nothing of Amaysim as a provider, I am pretty impressed that a company which makes it’s money from us being switched on and connected is initiating a campaign to help us take some downtime.
James is thrilled. I think his exact words (via SMS) were ‘Switching off is not my favourite lol’ but I think (hope) he will be surprised on the day. I believe we need it. I certainly do.
What about you? Do you ever have a day to switch off? Do you think about it? It’s a daunting idea and can readily be seen in the comments on the Switch Off Sunday post. People freak out. I panic about being contactable, but my kids will be with me, as will most of the people who contact me!
While being able to reach out into the world is such an amazing privilege which has blessed me with many friendships that see me through the tough times, it is also so very taxing. On our families and friendships. On ourselves. I don’t need to be constantly wired. I don’t need to know every little thing that’s going on. Right. Now. I can live and be free without the constant distractions and enjoy my connectivity on occasion.
I am going to challenge myself to stay off for as long as possible during the weekend and come back next week to tell you how we went and what we did. Are you interested in joining us?
* Research conducted by Pure Profile on behalf of Amaysim. March 2013.
