I have been trying to find little ways to explore how technology is affecting my life. In past posts, i've written about several ways I'm taking control of my own technology use. The first goal became about focusing on people instead of being attached to my phone. The second was to limit my screen time and rest my eyes. In implementing these two, I found a bit of relished freedom. Coming home from work I had more things I could do and the interactions I had with people were more meaningful. All and all, I felt more rested and fulfilled.
Taking a step back I evaluated what one technology totally consumes the majority of my time. The answer undoubtably was the Internet. I can do little else but sit in front of a screen and glean information: checking email, watching movies & tv episodes, googling everything under the sun, and who knows what else. The whole idea makes me feel like an endless information vacuum. Then again if I limit my internet use, maybe I can cut down on my computer screen time. To me, that's a win win, not to mention I'd be more active and have more time to exercise.
First I had to discover how the internet is affecting me so I setup a time when I could go three entire days without the internet, both on my phone and through my computer. The only exception was my computer still checked my email. I only allowed myself to respond to work-related time-sensitive email which couldn't wait until the three days were up. I could still use my computer, just not the internet. My purpose here was to see how much I'd actually use a computer if I couldn't use internet, as well as see how hard it was to do the normal activities and if I could restrain myself from using the internet.
Enduring the first day brought on definite withdrawal symptoms. I felt anxious and dealt with the lack of internet by forced myself to write in a journal instead of tweet or update my facebook status. It challenged my self-control and discipline skills. Every hour or two I had the urge to google something. Instead, I would ask someone who might know or go find the answer elsewhere. Or better yet...I'd say to myself, "it's not important. I don't really need to know." Honestly, this was probably the best answer and a better use of my time. Really, do we need to know? Probably not. Some information is better off not knowing. Take webMD. I've lost count how many times friends have told me they've sought medical advice on the internet and really scared themselves. Just go to the doctor. That's what they go to school for — to figure out what's wrong with our health.
The urge to tweet and update my facebook status came more frequent than a google search at first, but I lost interest in this after the first afternoon. The desire to google happened all throughout the period of three days confirming what we've all come to accept: Google and Wikipedia have become the new Encyclopedia in addition to a dictionary, gallery, thesaurus, phone book, map, and so much more.
I don't own a tv so all of tv episodes I do watch are online, which of course couldn't be watched in these three days. Instead, I completed a sewing project and finished writing a chapter. I learned a lesson I've known in theory for a long time, but have been too chicken to do: "Turn off your internet access if you want to get something done." It's true. The internet has endless searches. One search leads to another, then another, and another. Hours later nothing productive had been done. Furthermore, the information searched may not even be useful or retained. Forgotten answers will be googled again and again, always at our fingertips with no need to remember. Access to unending information let's us think information is always accessible, will always be there. It allows instant gratification. There's no reason to wait. This, in turn, can carry over to the rest of our lives and can make us impatient, expecting more out of our world.
Internet is a little like electricity. Everyone uses electricity unless your Amish and even then they indirectly use it when in public. Electricity has dramatically changed how we live our lives. Staying up later is an option because there's light. There's air conditioning, indoor plumbing, and oodles more to improve how lives are lived and all because of electricity. Internet has a similar affect in that it broadens our world. It allows gaps to be bridged that were never before crossed. People share information across the continents in a matter of seconds.
It's hard to imagine life without electricity. Likewise, it's hard for me to imagine going without the internet forever. It's become such an important resource. In essence it's becoming a utility. Still, both electricity and internet are simply tools. It's how these tools are used that shapes and defines. In the end, it is as Shane Hipps says "our tools may end up using us" and our addictions may entrap us. These three days were about teaching this tech-a-holic and internet-a-holic when enough is enough. To show that internet addiction is a real thing and to help me make some smarter choices in my own internet use.