Does Technology Create Stress?

And can we alleviate some of our stress by removing technology from our lives once in a while?

This is what I and several others asked ourselves late last month when we joined together for the Technology Free Challenge. For one whole day per week, we all vowed to turn off our computers, our iPods, our tvs, our video games, and all that flickering technology built since the 50s... We slowed down, for that day, and we spent that time doing quality things that mattered to us.

And in tandem with the Technology Free Challenge, several of us joined Chile in her Stress Less Challenge, spending 30 minutes a day committed to mindfulness, and seeking balance in our lives.

What did we do?

We gardened. We read. We walked and played and hiked and dreamed. We spent more time with our kids and wrote letters to friends. We listened to the silence. We caught up on life, visited relatives, and learned to be happy where we are. We meditated and reflected and we felt more at peace. And we lapsed, too, and sometimes we downright failed in our attempts because life got in the way. But we grew. We learned how technology affects us, how much we rely on it, how much it consumes us as we consume it. And I think overall, we became less stressed. Just a little bit. And sometimes, that’s all it takes.

What Now?

Matt and I enjoyed our free time immensely. We won’t be formally taking a day totally free from technology anymore, but certainly we’re more aware of how it affects us. We’ve done away with television for now, excepting watching dvds. And we’re much more apt to shut down the computer when we have that computer glare in our eyes.

Plus I learned that posting every day is sometimes difficult, that life does happen and life is really what all this is about. So, I learned that it’s ok for life to get in the way of blogging. From now on, I may decide here an there that I don’t have time to post. And when that happens I’m going to let myself put away the computer, and to confront life head on. Because that’s life. (Curtis has a great reflection about this on his blog, too.)

I have offered up an easier challenge this month - I hope you’ll all join me in turning out the lights for just one hour per week!!!! So simple, so fun, so good for the planet.

Participants of the Technology Free Challenge.

And that Gorgeous Local Lady with the Green Pom-Poms on the Sidelines was: Katrina, Kale for Sale

Winner For the Longest Period Without Technology.

Arduous, who spent 43.33 hours without.

Winner For Most Extreme Letting Go of Technology.

Me! My husband and I put the tv in the garage for an entire month. And it stayed there gathering dust for the whole month - we didn’t even cheat. Know what? We hardly missed it.

Thanks for participating, formally or informally!

If you missed the challenge, I encourage you to try taking a day away from technology. It will open your eyes and ears in a way you may not expect!