I took an extra day before I started my technology deprivation to just prepare myself for the next morning. I told myself about ten times before I went to bed Thursday not to use my phone Friday, but when I woke up Friday morning I let my dogs outside and what did I do, I opened up Facebook. The second I saw that beautiful blue screen come on I was like oh no, stop and close it out! Even at 5 am I was already using some type of social media. That is what I have always done in the morning while my two dogs were out doing their thing.
The second time I had to stop myself was while I was getting ready not twenty minutes later. Every morning while I am getting ready and eating breakfast I will open up the ESPN app on my phone and see if I had missed anything from the previous evening. This time I caught myself and didn't even open the internet browser. Yes, it was starting to get a little easier.
Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays during the summer I work at a golf course and mow fairways. Usually I am pretty good while I am on the mower because I really need to focus on what I am doing. I left my headphones at home so I wouldn't be tempted to use my Pandora app while at work. So far at work, so good. Then about noon, I happen to look at my phone to see if I had any missed calls and there it was, the missed text message prompt. It was all bright and red like a Christmas tree light wanting me to open it up. I was able to remember this time that I could not open it.
I got off of work at 2 pm. I got into my car, got my phone out and of course being a little tired opened up the text message, not on purpose of course, and found out one of my softball buddies had text me so I responded. The second I hit send I was like*&%$, you can't do that today! So when my buddy responded back I just called him.
The rest of the afternoon went great not using technology because I was busy helping decorate and setup for my cousins surprise 30th birthday party. I almost broke the deprivation promise again when someone in my family asked me to look up Hy-Vee's phone number on my phone to see when the food was going to be there. Instead I had someone else find the number for me and then I used my phone to call.
The rest of the night wasn't to hard to stay away from using technology. I spent a lot of time talking with friends and family which didn't allow me to be on my phone. What I did notice though were many of my family and friends on their phones while we ate and talked. There were times when I was like hey you should talk to me instead of being on your phone.
I think as the day went on it became easier to not use the technology that was in the palm of my hand or burning a hole in my pocket. I did seem to be more aware of what was going on around me and also seemed to be more active and interactive especially when it dealt with other people being near. I think that I could go longer if I needed too but not sure if I would want to. What I missed the most about being technology deprived was my inability to check scores and stories on ESPN or other sports media pages.
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