This week I’ve given up my vices, no iPhone, iPad or iPpod out of work hours. (Think of it like a social experiment) It’s a very hard thing to do, and although I miss my mod cons, you forget what you used to do before technology was literally fastened to your hip.
Even in the life of my marriage of 8 years, technology has changed so quickly, and made lives easier, but at what cost.
Sure in a week, where I have been able to give my full attention to my beautiful kids, cook, clean and make conscious decisions to do things I have let slip as a result of becoming lazy, thanks to technology , we are better off as a society, but suffering for it at the same time.
My wife works part-time and on the days she’s at work, I am Mr Mum. I pick up the kids, clean up, make dinner and get them bathed, fed and in bed just as she’s coming home.
Having put down the distractions, I was able to make my wife a delicious parmesan chicken and salad dish, waiting for her when she got home. She’d had a rough day and we just sat, (TV off) and I listened. Something I usually do, but whilst checking my phone for updated twitter feeds, news and events. So she rarely has my full attention. I am a bad husband, I know, I can see it. By just listening to her day, giving her my full attention, eye contact and concern, we re-connected.
Mod cons, have stolen away our ability to communicate, which is ironic as communicating is what they do. When do we ever just talk, listen and share. i enjoyed something I’d been missing from my life, time out, alone time with my wife, quiet time with just the two of us.
No I havent had a massive light bulb moment where I will never use my phone in the house again, I’ve just realised how detrimental modern tools can be, and regaining those skills of listening, reflecting and being empathetic to others is really important.
My fear is when my Self Imposed Tech Ban ends, old habits will re-emerge. So I am weighing up that cost, reminding myself whats really important and looking for life balance. And someone to mend my lycra running shorts, since Ive had the phone off Ive been using them more, buts thats a different story.
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