This weekend was a bit odd. On Friday night, I started having problems with light sensitivity. It got worse on Saturday. On Sunday morning, I woke up and couldn’t handle light at all. I spent most of the day in the dark with a nasty headache.
I ended up taking 24 hours away from technology. I was forced to spend time without my phone, computer, or Netflix. Even just a 24 hour break was a jolt, suddenly realizing the amount of time I spend on the internet. Most of my technology time is productive. My business is online. My language learning uses a phone app and Windows Media Player. My friends are online (especially with covid going on!).
Instead, I took a very long nap. I worked on my puzzle. I sat and thought. I read a huge portion of my current book. I wondered what else I could do without using technology. I could knit! Or quilt! I could cook something. I could break out those watercolor pencils and sketchbook my husband bought me.
This morning I eased back into technology use. My eyes are still sensitive today but nothing like yesterday. I attended an hour long Zoom Bible study. I met with my business coach for an hour (also over Zoom). I watched an episode of Stranger Things.
But I still spent a portion of my time without technology. I read more of my book. I sat and thought some more. I made more progress on my puzzle. I’m back on my computer tonight to write a blog post but I’ll be folding laundry before bed. Maybe I’ll dig through my closet and find a knitting project to work on tomorrow night.
Of course, I’ll have to log onto Ravelry to download a pattern. Even though I’m hoping to use technology less, to spend more time doing hands on projects, it’s hard to escape from it completely. Honestly, I’m not sure I want to. But it’s all about balance. A few hours spent online; other hours spent doing something away from a screen.
Balance.
Balance, that is the key, isn’t it? We need technology, and I certainly don’t want to live without my iPhone and computer and all the lovely things we see and read and learn online. But when our body starts complaining, it is a wise thing to pay attention. You’ve found some lovely ways to build offline creativity into your life.
I’m taking your post under advisement, Cassandra. 🙂