Skip to main content
Skip to main navigation
Skip to talk navigation

Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

Join the discussion and meet other Mumsnetters on our free online chat forum.

Join the discussion and meet other Mumsnetters on our free online chat forum.

Chat

Can a Day Without Technology Change My Life?

18 replies

MmeLindor · 03/02/2013 14:55

I took up the challenge set by Joanne Mallon and her daughter to go a day without my gadgets and tech.

As a severe Social Media addict, this was Not Easy but I survived, and I learned some new stuff along the way.

What do you think? Could you imagine spending a day without the internet, without your phone?

OP posts:

Report

Tee2072 · 03/02/2013 14:58

God no! For one thing, I can't write with a pen at all any more, so I'd not be able to do what you did and write instead of typing.

For another...just...no...

MmeLindor · 03/02/2013 15:26

I couldn't believe how much my hand hurt after an hour of writing. What a wimp!

OP posts:

Tee2072 · 03/02/2013 15:43

My arthritis doesn't let me hold a pen for more than a short form and/or a signature. It's part of the reason I bought a tablet.

NormaStanleyFletcher · 03/02/2013 15:46

Our holidays tend to be foreign camping holidays.

Once in a different environment, it is funny to see how the DCs and we cope without the constant access to gadgets.

Then they spend the first 24 hours back at home staring at screens

MmeLindor · 03/02/2013 16:05

That must be difficult for you, Tee. Never thought about tablets being good for people who have arthritis.

Norma
Our DC are like that after a holiday at my PILs.

OP posts:

Tee2072 · 03/02/2013 16:12

Yeah, it pretty much sucks. Especially considering my artistic training. I can't draw any more except digitally.

NormaStanleyFletcher · 03/02/2013 16:17

It is quite funny.

We moved house in November, and had no internet acces for over 5 weeks.

That was hard

NormaStanleyFletcher · 03/02/2013 16:17

oh x posts - not funny at Tee

Want to see more?

Find more threads and control what you see

Tee2072 · 03/02/2013 16:23

Don't worry about it Norma. I'm just lucky the technology is there so I can still be a graphic artist. There are some fantastic drawing programmes for tablets.

NormaStanleyFletcher · 03/02/2013 16:26

Yy tee. My mum has always.been v artistic, and as her health has declined (parkinsons) she has moved to printing, and now iPad apps. Were it not for technology her opportunity would be much more restricted

MmeLindor · 03/02/2013 18:39

Tech advances have been great for people with mobility issues, I think.

My mum finds her iPhone great cause she can change the size of the text easily.

OP posts:

Tee2072 · 03/02/2013 19:50

Sorry for derailing your thread here, MmeL.

MmeLindor · 03/02/2013 19:51

Not at all derailing - it is a good thing to remember. While we may say that less tech would be better, for some it is absolutely necessary.

OP posts:

JoanneMallon · 04/02/2013 13:40

Thank you for linking to my post! It's been really interesting to see how this has spread - about 10 bloggers have said they'll do the no technology challenge for a day.

But equally many have said they couldn't even contemplate it for an hour, and the sticking point seems to be giving up the smartphone/internet access. Yet 5 years ago most of us didn't even have these gadgets.

I see so many parents getting their knickers in a twist about children's screen time & online activity, but really it seems like it's the adults who are most addicted.

I got very twitchy when I was offline for a day, but at the same time it was quite peaceful and I got way more done without internet distractions. I think I'm going to do it more often.

MmeLindor · 05/02/2013 11:12

Yes, I agree that giving up the iPhone was the hardest part of the day.

I sometimes say to the kids, 'Right. Screen free time' and they answer that I should have screen free time too.

I have started watching films or reading a book in the evening instead of sitting till all hours on FB, Twitter and MN.

OP posts:

JenniferJJ · 05/02/2013 15:47

I took up the challenge! I did it yesterday (will be blogged tomorrow!). I had to keep the phone on as I was mostly alone with two little ones and needed to be contactable by hubby and pre-school. I didn't find it too difficult although catching up today, I was so irritated when my husband came home and spent the whole time on his phone, it really made me think!

MmeLindor · 05/02/2013 17:00

Jennifer
ha. I was snarky with DH in the evening when he was using his phone.

OP posts:

JoanneMallon · 06/02/2013 19:50

I am loving reading other people's posts about this. Glad I'm not the only one who looks at their iPhone first thing in the morning. Some interesting comments from people saying that they got sore hands from writing more than usual - are we developing keyboard-only fingers??

Flip

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.