I groaned as I slowly opened my eyes and bought my fingers to my face. I groggily rubbed the grit from my eyes. My head felt like an avalanche had assaulted my frontal lobe and every time I moved it made loose rocks bump around painfully in my skull.
“It’s happened again. Why do I do this to myself?” I thought through the red wine fog.
My wife stood in front of the mattress that I sleep on in the living room because my snoring keeps her awake at night. She surveyed the damage from the night before. Two empty red wine bottles and scattered packets of biscuits, chocolate and nuts that were eaten in a drunken buffet.
“Are you at the point where you realise something needs to change yet?” She asked.
I farted and groaned.
Today I started Yoga classes again. I’ve had a 6 month break from them and after today I’ve realised just how good it is to clear my mind and make myself become aware and present.
I’ve noticed a change in my thoughts of late. I’ve been thinking a lot about the future. Thinking about the things I would like to do and things I want to achieve.
I think mobiles and social media are going to have a similar journey to junk food. If you really think about it, there’s a distinct possibility they will have a very homogeneous history arc.
Mobile devices have really only been available to the masses in earnest for the past 10-15 years. This being the case, there hasn’t been much time to pass to enable us as a species to truly understand the implications these devices will have on our lives both physically and mentally.
Well, I’m halfway there and I have to admit I’m feeling pretty good about this whole process. I started out thinking that I was really only going to focus on my main concern which was my dependency and addiction to my mobile device.
What happened along the way are some ‘happy side effects’ of this 30 day challange.
Can Facebook really help us connect?
I know it can help people to share information, images, movies etc... but can it really help people to have a real ‘connection’.
All the shiny advertising and media campaigns for the latest ‘innovative communication platform’ will certainly try to make us bel...
If I were on the Quidditch pitch, I reckon I would be a seeker.
It seems in the past I’ve always been looking for things, searching for things. Things to make me happy. Things to fill my time. Things to help me succeed. Things to eat that are healthier and better for me. Things - Things - Things....
I’ve been wondering over the past few days about the correlation between the shortening of our attention spans due to social media and the internet and what impact that has on our social constructs.
For example, growing up, I listened to cassette tapes - Yep, I’m a Gen-x-er - I remember the first tape I purchased with my own money was “What Hits” by the Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Man I listed to that tape back and forth, again and again until I knew every song. It made me look into their back catalogue and I’ve liked them ever since. But I do like their old stuff better than their new stuff.
How much do you have to do something before it becomes an addiction?
Are the levels different for different people and different things? For example, how much heroin, sex, gambling, shopping or booze do you have to consume or take or do before you’re labeled an addict?.
I’ve noticed lately that I’m starting to cherish the process of creation.
I guess it started with writing in this journal, but i’ve noticed that there’s a joy and anticipation creeping back into my life at the thought of creating something instead of consuming it.
23 days in and device proximity doesn’t seem to be much of an issue for me anymore.
My old self would have always had his phone near him at all times. I would have had it right next to my desk when I was working, in my pocket when I was out and in front of me on the coffee table when relaxing on the couch and next to me when I slept.
I’ve found that going analog for this challenge has played a hugely important role in me kicking my mobile and social media addiction.
The act of finding offline alternatives to what I used to do in front of a screen has been both challenging and rewarding.
The past few weekends we have been using our new firepit in the backyard.
At first we got it to roast marshmallows and do something different with the kids on a Saturday night. What we’ve actually gotten out of it is so much more.
Two weekends ago my Wife and I held a secret meeting away from the ears of our little ones.