Thank you for how practical you made the post. It is one thing to talk about the evils of screens, it is quite another to lay out a plan for behavior change.
Thanks Paul. You were actually the one to bring the book 'Digital Minimalism' to my attention. I read it over the last two weeks and it mirrored much of what I had already done, but motivated me to make it more accessible by summarizing its main goals for others. I think committing together as a community is a valuable addition and hope that it will motivate readers to take the leap.
Thanks for saying that! It's meaningful. I actually held off reading it for a while because I figured it was "preaching to the choir," but I got more out of it than I expected.
I may be an outlier here, in that I own a smartphone (a de-Googled one), but I don't use it in the ways that you're describing. For some reason, I never got hooked on it in the typical way. It's almost never connected to a network (either wifi or cell), and I don't have any social media or email apps on it (I am not on Facebook or Twitter). In short, it's not a communication device (except for the rare phone calls when on the road). Instead, I use it as a piano tuner, a bird guide, a hike recorder, an appointment calendar. None of these uses requires connection to a network. I can go for days without looking at the thing.
In other words, it's like an old-school PDA that can make phone calls in an emergency. But I recognize the potentially addictive quality of the thing, and maybe that's one reason why I never got hooked. And I recognize that people who are already addicted will probably not be able to restrict their use of the device in the minimalist way I'm describing -- going cold turkey is probably the only way.
Thanks for your comment Mark. It seems that you are engaged in life in a very real way and practice 'high-value tech free' activities (given that you play piano, watch birds, and hike among other things). Being closely connected with reality, nature, and people is likely allowing you to stay as grounded as you are:) I know several people who use their phone in the way you describe, and I think 'de-Googling' it is key to avoiding its usual traps.
I nod in agreement to all of this and especially to the expression of severity of its reality. You have my wheels turning actually because so much has shifted in our lives since moving off grid. It’s been gradual and intentional change and we live very much in this digital detox realm all the time now. The days I dip into more normalcy (lying in bed checking my email on my phone) are during periods of time that my own stress is up, when I’m struggling with loneliness or unhappiness and then picking up the smart phone is so easy. But on the whole, this is an exception in the new everyday of our lives. I just bought a new journal because I needed something other than my computer to start putting down my essays and ideas. Perhaps I’ll crack the cover today with this very topic!
Andrea, you are an inspiration! Your move off the grid is the ultimate detox, and few of us have the gumption to follow. Reading about your experiences is a breath of fresh air, and it serves to encourage those of us who continue to live within the confines of urban life.
Thank you - I am glad you liked it:) Wonderful to hear that you will join the Digital Detox. I am just preparing a post to get us all ready for the start of May. Just first need to tend to the new chicks, prepare for science co-op and a homeschool conference, feed the family, and clear some weeds...
It was much more than liking! It blew me away how harmful cell phones are, especially to children, and it how ubiquitous they've become despite being harmful to us in so many ways, not to mention to our environment and all life on earth. It's madness, and we've never had a chance to weigh in on whether we want these little monsters in our lives or not. They appeared, public telephones disappeared, we got pulled in, and now we're stuck in muck! I'm working on a cartoon about cell phones right now and I'll link to this article. Thanks again, Ruth!
thank you, Anne, for sharing this with YOUR followers! I especially appreciated all the stats and reference links, which make a piece like this, so much more than just opinion.
most of the 'detox' steps are things I already do (or more specifically DON'T do, like surf internet, shop, game, email... on my phone. I NEVER take my phone into stores or while on walks.)
the Detox is kind of a moot thing with me but I am so terrified for the kids... I myself feel like my 17 yr old literally lost his soul to the matrix, with the final kick down the hole being 'remote learning' during covid. even my very much 'like-minded' adult son (who will be 30 later this year) does not see the digital danger, he only sees the convenience.
yes, its easy to feel hopeless, especially since we cannot control the behavior of others.
I empathize with you. We have no control over other's choices and that is painful especially when they are dear to us. Remain patient, continue to sow your seeds, seek our conversations, walks, and shared activities, whenever they offer themselves. Most importantly keep being the mirror that reflects a different choice and don't give up hope.
Hi Anne, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
I will definitely join your May "Detox" and add to some of the techniques I already use to separate myself from 'the Machine.' I also found Cal Newport's book helpful. A bit of a tangent, but I was reminded today that standing - or traveling - against the powers that govern our society is not a new challenge. In Matthew 10:5, Jesus says, "... Do not travel on a gentile road...." Why not? These were the major thoroughfares for travel. In Matthew: A Commentary, R. Alan Culpepper writes, "the building of major roads in Galilee introduced foreign trade and cultures, so the Hellenization and Romanization of Galilee literally traveled on these new roads, which were marked with milestones. Chancy explains: 'The milestones not only marked the distances, they served to make sure that everyone knew just whose territory - Rome's - was being crossed'" We see something similar with the government's control of the internet.
Wonderful to have you join Diana! I greatly appreciate your support and your thoughtful comments. That is an intriguing historical detail - we might draw a parallel with the gentile roads and the information highway, remaining ever vigilant that whenever we choose to travel the wired paths we face robbers that steal our time, and hijackers that hold our attention captive....(maybe taking the metaphor a bit far here). I am looking forward to hear about what strategies you added to your digital detox experience at the end of May:)
Hi Diana, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
When something is worthwhile, be prepared for surprises.
Admittedly, I felt a sense of privilege as I started my thirty-day fast from most media. Outside of my duties as a CASA (Court Appointed Advocate for a Child) and my desire to read several sub stacks, I had no pressing reason to be on the computer or phone for any extended time. Much of what Cal Newton discusses in "Digital Minimalism" I have adopted. I thought this internet fast wasn’t going to change much, either physically or mentally. Maybe I would stop listening to podcasts and walk in the desert without any distraction. Or maybe I would stay off the computer for 48 hours instead of taking a one day ‘Sabbath' from the internet.
I did both of those things. Walking in nature without listening to music or a podcast was great, but that’s not what I learned.
Midway during the month, I became a volunteer at a local refugee center. Because I have lots of experience in food service (for over a decade, I paid for my education by working in kitchens), I was quickly ‘promoted’ to supervisor. The center is a temporary shelter for young, unaccompanied men. These men cross the border and have enough references and contacts in America to pass through ICE. They are then bused to a large, nondescript warehouse away from the center of town. Dozens of us work to help process these men within two-four days to their next destination.
Every refugee, 99.9%, use their phone constantly. The place is a cacophony of phone chatter in at least a dozen languages. Without understanding Arabic, Spanish, or indigenous dialects, I heard desperate conversations between husbands and wives, shouted pleas of help, and warm, vibrant words between the traveler and his friends at home. I heard exclamations of pain, loneliness, worry, laughter, and hope.
Perhaps in generations past, these immigrants wrote letters home, if they could write at all. Maybe they lived with a lack of connection that is unimaginable today. I am glad these young men could still see their children on a small screen as they try to establish a new life for their family. If I must curate my mindless absorption in narrow silos of politics and culture available online, these young men use their phone to help them start a new life without losing touch with the past.
What changed for me was my appreciation of what our devices can offer - the connection and creative opportunities they provide for immigrants is important. These aspects don’t negate the dangers of cyberspace, but I have more nuanced, less binary understanding of the internet in a way I never imagined.
So happy to have you join along! Yes, without the next generation there is no future; focusing on helping them navigate the ocean of tech-infused society is an essential task.
I am in the tech world but I am also a physician and one day will be a mother (my most important role). Finding a workable solution for patients and children is very important to me.
Hi Zaitoon, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
I would quite like to join in in this digital detox! I am getting married in May, so it seems like a perfect time to get off my phone/computer and connect more deeply with my (soon-to-be) husband. We have actually discussed not having an internet connection in our home at all, at least to start out with. We own a business and we already pay for internet at the store (where I spend 9+ hours a day, 5 days a week anyways) so anything internet-wise that needs to be done can probably be done there. Also, he is planning to by a flip phone or “dumb phone” once we are married, and I will maintain my own cell phone strictly for business/communication purposes. Unfortunately, social media is a HUGE part of how we market our business, so I won’t be able to quit that at this point, but I know I can definitely set better boundaries around using it only for business purposes instead of mindlessly scrolling. I just wanted to say, I love your Substack and I find it encouraging to hear that other folks are thinking so deeply about the dangers of digital media and the internet. Can’t wait to read what you write next!
So happy to have you along Aria! I hope the digital detox will serve as a wonderful wedding gift that you can give each other:) (Also a husband who wants to buy a flip phone is a true catch:)
My husband and I lived without tv or internet in our home for many years. In the evenings we would sit on the couch together and read novels aloud to each other. If you can manage to keep the internet out of your lives at home, you will make an incredible choice that will enrich your relationship. Social Media seems like a burr to me that is incredibly sticky and difficult to disentangle, but setting yourself clear boundaries will certainly go a long way. I was disappointed when substack introduced notes, because it comes with a 'scroll danger' that I was trying to purge. I have not gone back to news or social media (apart from substack) since the beginning of Lent and feel relieved and much less aggravated. All the best with your wedding preparations!
Hi Aria, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
Hi Amy, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
“How to have a healthy relationship with your addiction” — capsule review of Tech-Wise.
I felt a little bad about being critical of this book when it came out— why am I always so dissatisfied with mainstream Christian-y writing, I wondered? — but your summary is exactly right. The problem we face is an existential threat to children.
I'm joining the 30 day Digital Detox. I did a 4 day media fast and it helped a lot. But then the slippery slope back into checking email/text, distractions, cravings all started again. So it's clear I need to do this for much longer. Thanks for this opportunity. I'll be very interested to read others' experiences and report my own at the end of the month.
Wonderful to have you join along Montana! Yes, the problem is that we can't walk well on slippery slopes...I have set myself a specific time in the morning where I get to correspond and check messages (such as now), but then my laptop goes on top of the bookshelf for the rest of the day. Having this rule allows me to manage the 'cravings' throughout the rest of the day. It also allowed me to use the day way more efficiently, as I was not constantly interrupted with checking a message or getting drawn into reading an article - I even finally got to clean my entire basement yesterday:) Looking forward to hearing about your experience at the end of the month:)
Thanks for this "hack." I've started doing the same. Take care of all the laptop related business in the morning, including research and email and then put the "stimulus" out of sight so I don't get triggered by the sight of it. Very simple and helpful.
Hi Montana, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
I was very pleased to see Justin’s work at Stay Grounded mentioned throughout this piece. He’s a decent bloke and his work is hugely underrated in my opinion.
And after a brief seaside holiday recently where I didn’t take or use any screens whatsoever, I have become massively re attuned to the crucial importance of Digital Minimalism. Thanks.
I am joining the 30 day digital detox too. I enjoyed Digital Minimalism and found it useful, but it is so easy to be pulled back in, even without social media. I think a refresh of intentional digital activity and inactivity is necessary to get back on track!
That's great Carinn! Yes, I agree. Veering off the road is so easy, especially when no one around us is making any effort to resist. I am also hoping to use the month of May to re-commit myself to firmer boundaries around my internet use (....alas there are so many interesting posts to read).
Hi Carinn - the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
I’m joining in the 30 day digital detox. I’ve already been making some attempts towards something like it so this will be a good gauge as to how I’m doing and how I can improve. Should be a good time!
Wonderful! So happy to hear that the 'community digital detox' will be useful along your way. I am looking forward to it myself and hope to clean my digital habits up further:)
Once again, Ruth, a stirring essay. Thanks again for the encouragement to defy this machine and for clearly spelling out the dangers it possesses when uncontrolled.
I've been away on vacation and haven't ready any essays for about a week. Today I return to this article, Peco's latest on technology and saints and Jack Leahy's latest essay as well. What a day of reading it has been!
All that being said, I'm joining the 30 day detox and am so excited to do so. Thanks for the challenge! Very much looking forward to the beauty that will emerge.
Wonderful to have you join! I hope that you will feel encouraged by the fact that others are swimming upstream alongside you. I am also looking forward to what will come of it, and hope that it will bear fruit in people's daily lives.
Hi Ruth! I hope you are able to see this because I am in a pickle. I am of the “Rewiring generation” (1997) and have two littles. I have loved your articles for a long time, but I haven’t seen anything on what you do when you’re sick. I grew up that when we were home from school we got plopped in front of the tv and watched cartoons to keep us on the couch. My husband was the same. We’re currently fighting colds nonstop and I have a fever writing this. I honestly can’t imagine what to do without TV. I see lots of what to take and how to fight sickness, but nothing on what to do in the doldrums of it!
Hi Sloane, sorry to hear you are sick and hope you will all feel better soon :)
To your question, here is what we used to do when in the doldrums:
- audiobooks (librivox, libby, or CDs) - this would engage the kids while they were truly bedbound and feeling awful. When they were a bit better they were happy to play lego, blocks, or draw while listening to stories
- look at stacks of picture books
- when we did let watch them a film it was for a limited amount of time. Watching for too long is not actually enjoyable and tends to make kids restless and annoyed. We often chose films that were based on books that they knew such as:
Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
Thank you for how practical you made the post. It is one thing to talk about the evils of screens, it is quite another to lay out a plan for behavior change.
Thanks Paul. You were actually the one to bring the book 'Digital Minimalism' to my attention. I read it over the last two weeks and it mirrored much of what I had already done, but motivated me to make it more accessible by summarizing its main goals for others. I think committing together as a community is a valuable addition and hope that it will motivate readers to take the leap.
Thanks for saying that! It's meaningful. I actually held off reading it for a while because I figured it was "preaching to the choir," but I got more out of it than I expected.
Ruth- This is exactly what we all need to start doing. Thank you. -Jack
Thanks Jack. You are part of the inspiration behind it:)
Thanks for this article.
I may be an outlier here, in that I own a smartphone (a de-Googled one), but I don't use it in the ways that you're describing. For some reason, I never got hooked on it in the typical way. It's almost never connected to a network (either wifi or cell), and I don't have any social media or email apps on it (I am not on Facebook or Twitter). In short, it's not a communication device (except for the rare phone calls when on the road). Instead, I use it as a piano tuner, a bird guide, a hike recorder, an appointment calendar. None of these uses requires connection to a network. I can go for days without looking at the thing.
In other words, it's like an old-school PDA that can make phone calls in an emergency. But I recognize the potentially addictive quality of the thing, and maybe that's one reason why I never got hooked. And I recognize that people who are already addicted will probably not be able to restrict their use of the device in the minimalist way I'm describing -- going cold turkey is probably the only way.
Thanks for your comment Mark. It seems that you are engaged in life in a very real way and practice 'high-value tech free' activities (given that you play piano, watch birds, and hike among other things). Being closely connected with reality, nature, and people is likely allowing you to stay as grounded as you are:) I know several people who use their phone in the way you describe, and I think 'de-Googling' it is key to avoiding its usual traps.
I nod in agreement to all of this and especially to the expression of severity of its reality. You have my wheels turning actually because so much has shifted in our lives since moving off grid. It’s been gradual and intentional change and we live very much in this digital detox realm all the time now. The days I dip into more normalcy (lying in bed checking my email on my phone) are during periods of time that my own stress is up, when I’m struggling with loneliness or unhappiness and then picking up the smart phone is so easy. But on the whole, this is an exception in the new everyday of our lives. I just bought a new journal because I needed something other than my computer to start putting down my essays and ideas. Perhaps I’ll crack the cover today with this very topic!
Andrea, you are an inspiration! Your move off the grid is the ultimate detox, and few of us have the gumption to follow. Reading about your experiences is a breath of fresh air, and it serves to encourage those of us who continue to live within the confines of urban life.
This was one phenomenal article! Thank you, Ruth, and please count me in for the Digital Detox in May!
Thank you - I am glad you liked it:) Wonderful to hear that you will join the Digital Detox. I am just preparing a post to get us all ready for the start of May. Just first need to tend to the new chicks, prepare for science co-op and a homeschool conference, feed the family, and clear some weeds...
It was much more than liking! It blew me away how harmful cell phones are, especially to children, and it how ubiquitous they've become despite being harmful to us in so many ways, not to mention to our environment and all life on earth. It's madness, and we've never had a chance to weigh in on whether we want these little monsters in our lives or not. They appeared, public telephones disappeared, we got pulled in, and now we're stuck in muck! I'm working on a cartoon about cell phones right now and I'll link to this article. Thanks again, Ruth!
thank you, Anne, for sharing this with YOUR followers! I especially appreciated all the stats and reference links, which make a piece like this, so much more than just opinion.
most of the 'detox' steps are things I already do (or more specifically DON'T do, like surf internet, shop, game, email... on my phone. I NEVER take my phone into stores or while on walks.)
the Detox is kind of a moot thing with me but I am so terrified for the kids... I myself feel like my 17 yr old literally lost his soul to the matrix, with the final kick down the hole being 'remote learning' during covid. even my very much 'like-minded' adult son (who will be 30 later this year) does not see the digital danger, he only sees the convenience.
yes, its easy to feel hopeless, especially since we cannot control the behavior of others.
I empathize with you. We have no control over other's choices and that is painful especially when they are dear to us. Remain patient, continue to sow your seeds, seek our conversations, walks, and shared activities, whenever they offer themselves. Most importantly keep being the mirror that reflects a different choice and don't give up hope.
Hi Anne, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
I will definitely join your May "Detox" and add to some of the techniques I already use to separate myself from 'the Machine.' I also found Cal Newport's book helpful. A bit of a tangent, but I was reminded today that standing - or traveling - against the powers that govern our society is not a new challenge. In Matthew 10:5, Jesus says, "... Do not travel on a gentile road...." Why not? These were the major thoroughfares for travel. In Matthew: A Commentary, R. Alan Culpepper writes, "the building of major roads in Galilee introduced foreign trade and cultures, so the Hellenization and Romanization of Galilee literally traveled on these new roads, which were marked with milestones. Chancy explains: 'The milestones not only marked the distances, they served to make sure that everyone knew just whose territory - Rome's - was being crossed'" We see something similar with the government's control of the internet.
Wonderful to have you join Diana! I greatly appreciate your support and your thoughtful comments. That is an intriguing historical detail - we might draw a parallel with the gentile roads and the information highway, remaining ever vigilant that whenever we choose to travel the wired paths we face robbers that steal our time, and hijackers that hold our attention captive....(maybe taking the metaphor a bit far here). I am looking forward to hear about what strategies you added to your digital detox experience at the end of May:)
Hi Diana, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
When something is worthwhile, be prepared for surprises.
Admittedly, I felt a sense of privilege as I started my thirty-day fast from most media. Outside of my duties as a CASA (Court Appointed Advocate for a Child) and my desire to read several sub stacks, I had no pressing reason to be on the computer or phone for any extended time. Much of what Cal Newton discusses in "Digital Minimalism" I have adopted. I thought this internet fast wasn’t going to change much, either physically or mentally. Maybe I would stop listening to podcasts and walk in the desert without any distraction. Or maybe I would stay off the computer for 48 hours instead of taking a one day ‘Sabbath' from the internet.
I did both of those things. Walking in nature without listening to music or a podcast was great, but that’s not what I learned.
Midway during the month, I became a volunteer at a local refugee center. Because I have lots of experience in food service (for over a decade, I paid for my education by working in kitchens), I was quickly ‘promoted’ to supervisor. The center is a temporary shelter for young, unaccompanied men. These men cross the border and have enough references and contacts in America to pass through ICE. They are then bused to a large, nondescript warehouse away from the center of town. Dozens of us work to help process these men within two-four days to their next destination.
Every refugee, 99.9%, use their phone constantly. The place is a cacophony of phone chatter in at least a dozen languages. Without understanding Arabic, Spanish, or indigenous dialects, I heard desperate conversations between husbands and wives, shouted pleas of help, and warm, vibrant words between the traveler and his friends at home. I heard exclamations of pain, loneliness, worry, laughter, and hope.
Perhaps in generations past, these immigrants wrote letters home, if they could write at all. Maybe they lived with a lack of connection that is unimaginable today. I am glad these young men could still see their children on a small screen as they try to establish a new life for their family. If I must curate my mindless absorption in narrow silos of politics and culture available online, these young men use their phone to help them start a new life without losing touch with the past.
What changed for me was my appreciation of what our devices can offer - the connection and creative opportunities they provide for immigrants is important. These aspects don’t negate the dangers of cyberspace, but I have more nuanced, less binary understanding of the internet in a way I never imagined.
A very important essay. Child rearing is the most important thing in the world. Maybe even the only important.
I would like to join the May experiment!
So happy to have you join along! Yes, without the next generation there is no future; focusing on helping them navigate the ocean of tech-infused society is an essential task.
I’m glad to have found your Substack.
I am in the tech world but I am also a physician and one day will be a mother (my most important role). Finding a workable solution for patients and children is very important to me.
Hi Zaitoon, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
I would quite like to join in in this digital detox! I am getting married in May, so it seems like a perfect time to get off my phone/computer and connect more deeply with my (soon-to-be) husband. We have actually discussed not having an internet connection in our home at all, at least to start out with. We own a business and we already pay for internet at the store (where I spend 9+ hours a day, 5 days a week anyways) so anything internet-wise that needs to be done can probably be done there. Also, he is planning to by a flip phone or “dumb phone” once we are married, and I will maintain my own cell phone strictly for business/communication purposes. Unfortunately, social media is a HUGE part of how we market our business, so I won’t be able to quit that at this point, but I know I can definitely set better boundaries around using it only for business purposes instead of mindlessly scrolling. I just wanted to say, I love your Substack and I find it encouraging to hear that other folks are thinking so deeply about the dangers of digital media and the internet. Can’t wait to read what you write next!
So happy to have you along Aria! I hope the digital detox will serve as a wonderful wedding gift that you can give each other:) (Also a husband who wants to buy a flip phone is a true catch:)
My husband and I lived without tv or internet in our home for many years. In the evenings we would sit on the couch together and read novels aloud to each other. If you can manage to keep the internet out of your lives at home, you will make an incredible choice that will enrich your relationship. Social Media seems like a burr to me that is incredibly sticky and difficult to disentangle, but setting yourself clear boundaries will certainly go a long way. I was disappointed when substack introduced notes, because it comes with a 'scroll danger' that I was trying to purge. I have not gone back to news or social media (apart from substack) since the beginning of Lent and feel relieved and much less aggravated. All the best with your wedding preparations!
Hi Aria, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
I would like to join the May experiment -- it’s okay to be part of the group if I don’t happen to be Christian I hope?
Of course Amy! This is an invitation to anyone and everyone - we can all take part in the resistance and reclaiming our mind for our own.
Hi Amy, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
“How to have a healthy relationship with your addiction” — capsule review of Tech-Wise.
I felt a little bad about being critical of this book when it came out— why am I always so dissatisfied with mainstream Christian-y writing, I wondered? — but your summary is exactly right. The problem we face is an existential threat to children.
I had also been hopeful, but was disappointed that it read more like a friendly magazine article with some tips rather than an urgent call to action.
I'm joining the 30 day Digital Detox. I did a 4 day media fast and it helped a lot. But then the slippery slope back into checking email/text, distractions, cravings all started again. So it's clear I need to do this for much longer. Thanks for this opportunity. I'll be very interested to read others' experiences and report my own at the end of the month.
Wonderful to have you join along Montana! Yes, the problem is that we can't walk well on slippery slopes...I have set myself a specific time in the morning where I get to correspond and check messages (such as now), but then my laptop goes on top of the bookshelf for the rest of the day. Having this rule allows me to manage the 'cravings' throughout the rest of the day. It also allowed me to use the day way more efficiently, as I was not constantly interrupted with checking a message or getting drawn into reading an article - I even finally got to clean my entire basement yesterday:) Looking forward to hearing about your experience at the end of the month:)
Thanks for this "hack." I've started doing the same. Take care of all the laptop related business in the morning, including research and email and then put the "stimulus" out of sight so I don't get triggered by the sight of it. Very simple and helpful.
Hi Montana, the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
I was very pleased to see Justin’s work at Stay Grounded mentioned throughout this piece. He’s a decent bloke and his work is hugely underrated in my opinion.
And after a brief seaside holiday recently where I didn’t take or use any screens whatsoever, I have become massively re attuned to the crucial importance of Digital Minimalism. Thanks.
I am joining the 30 day digital detox too. I enjoyed Digital Minimalism and found it useful, but it is so easy to be pulled back in, even without social media. I think a refresh of intentional digital activity and inactivity is necessary to get back on track!
That's great Carinn! Yes, I agree. Veering off the road is so easy, especially when no one around us is making any effort to resist. I am also hoping to use the month of May to re-commit myself to firmer boundaries around my internet use (....alas there are so many interesting posts to read).
Hi Carinn - the end of the month is here and I am just checking in with readers to ask if they would be willing to share their experiences,successes, challenges, meals, books, etc. You can send a message to schooloftheunconformed@proton.me. Would love to hear from you:)
I’m joining in the 30 day digital detox. I’ve already been making some attempts towards something like it so this will be a good gauge as to how I’m doing and how I can improve. Should be a good time!
Wonderful! So happy to hear that the 'community digital detox' will be useful along your way. I am looking forward to it myself and hope to clean my digital habits up further:)
Once again, Ruth, a stirring essay. Thanks again for the encouragement to defy this machine and for clearly spelling out the dangers it possesses when uncontrolled.
I've been away on vacation and haven't ready any essays for about a week. Today I return to this article, Peco's latest on technology and saints and Jack Leahy's latest essay as well. What a day of reading it has been!
All that being said, I'm joining the 30 day detox and am so excited to do so. Thanks for the challenge! Very much looking forward to the beauty that will emerge.
Wonderful to have you join! I hope that you will feel encouraged by the fact that others are swimming upstream alongside you. I am also looking forward to what will come of it, and hope that it will bear fruit in people's daily lives.
Hi Ruth! I hope you are able to see this because I am in a pickle. I am of the “Rewiring generation” (1997) and have two littles. I have loved your articles for a long time, but I haven’t seen anything on what you do when you’re sick. I grew up that when we were home from school we got plopped in front of the tv and watched cartoons to keep us on the couch. My husband was the same. We’re currently fighting colds nonstop and I have a fever writing this. I honestly can’t imagine what to do without TV. I see lots of what to take and how to fight sickness, but nothing on what to do in the doldrums of it!
Hi Sloane, sorry to hear you are sick and hope you will all feel better soon :)
To your question, here is what we used to do when in the doldrums:
- audiobooks (librivox, libby, or CDs) - this would engage the kids while they were truly bedbound and feeling awful. When they were a bit better they were happy to play lego, blocks, or draw while listening to stories
- look at stacks of picture books
- when we did let watch them a film it was for a limited amount of time. Watching for too long is not actually enjoyable and tends to make kids restless and annoyed. We often chose films that were based on books that they knew such as:
Fantastic Mr. Fox, Matilda, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
A Bear Called Paddingtion by Michael Bond
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
Winnie the Pooh by A.A.Milne
Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
Mary Poppins by P.L. Travers
Hope that you'll all feel better soon ! :)
Thank you for the reply! I appreciate it and your great recommendations. Now onto implementation!
Just shared your question on Notes and hope that other parents might have some additional ideas :)