For this week, we were assigned to try and not use any electronic media for 24 consecutive hours. Every time we broke the rules, we had to start over and try again. We had to try three times. I already knew what the outcome of this was going to be. I'm always glued to my smartphone. When I get up in the morning, as I'm eating breakfast, I always check my email and get on facebook. There is no way for me to remember that I'm on a media fast when I wake up unless I put sticky notes on the fridge and the table reminding me. Using technology is just a force of habit. I've been using the internet and social media too long to give it up. Also, another challenge for me was not watching television. When I get home from work at night, I usually turn the TV to some mindless sitcom just to relax. It's nice not to have to think at some point during the day. I think I would go insane if I didn't have some sort of media to distract my thoughts. Everyone has to have a cool-down period, a time in the day where you just let go of all your troubles. For me, that time is when I'm watching TV, playing on my phone, or shopping online. Oh yeah, I almost forgot my shopping addiction. When I'm bored (well, I don't even have to be bored), I go to Victoria'sSecret.com and browse the latest fashion. Yeah, you know you're addicted to shopping when you work in the mall every day, and on your free time, you shop online. I admit I have a problem.
Even the time in between classes causes me to get online. For one of my classes, I have to use Spark Notes right before the class so I can understand the material. I can't say I just use the internet for educational purposes in between classes though. Of course, I have to see what's up on facebook. Sometimes I check the weather to see what a beautiful day I'm missing or am going to miss because of school/work. I also play scrabble with my boyfriend on my phone. Something I've been doing lately that is new to my routine is quite shocking. I have found some cool people to follow on Twitter, and I actually check my Twitter every day now. I didn't even have a Twitter before this class. I thought it was dumb half the semester, but now, I think I'm getting into it. I still don't like it as much as facebook, but I'm not going to talk bad about it anymore.
I've named off most of the things I do with electronic media EVERY day. Obviously, technology is vital to my (our) existence. We could survive without it, but it wouldn't be any fun. I think back on the days when I had a regular cell phone, and I think how those were the "dark ages." I got along fine then, but now, I would be devastated if I had to give up my technology.
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