Being "Internet-Free" and What It Means to Me

For the month of December I went off-line. I use that term loosely, however, since I still used my computer, phone, and Kinldle Fire quite a bit during the month. Basically it was meant to be a break from mindless time spent on the computer on Facebook, on Pinterest, reading blogs, and playing games.

Here's what changed:

• Then: I would get on my computer first thing in the morning. I wouldn't do anything else until I checked Facebook, my email, Pinterest, my personal blogs, everyone else's blogs, and any other sites I was crazy about at the moment.
• Now: I didn't even think about getting on the computer today until well into the afternoon, and that was only because I had to check for an email I was expecting.
• Then: I would lose myself in x for hours on end.
• Now: Unless it's a movie/TV show, I'm on my computer for about 10 minutes at a time. Maybe.
• Then: Constantly behind my laptop screen.
• Now: Playing on the floor with my buddies.
• Then: Small panic attack if I didn't check x ever few hours.
• Now: I could go days without any of it and I wouldn't feel out of the loop at all.

All in all my month off helped put things back in perspective for me. In December I actually misplaced my computer for days and didn't notice until I needed to print something off. Dutch and I bonded over building Lego, especially when he realized I could look up the instructions on "the 'puter." Dane sat on my lap for almost an hour while we read books together. Chris and I spend more quality time together, instead of sitting side by side, but worlds away.

I would recommend "unplugging" to anyone who feels like technology has taken over their life.