[davie08]

Hi Everyone,

I figured I'd post this here, because my goal is to reduce the amount of technology I use that contributes to me isolating and not doing as well with school/studying. I've recently started crossfit, and will be back at school On January 6th, so hopefully this will help prevent that lonely feeling that causes my relapses. I've tried reducing technology so many times, but have failed miserably due to me having a depressive episode and using technology to comfort myself.

I feel like posting here and keeping myself concentrated more and more on reducing technology will help. So my plan will begin right now and this will be for one week and I will adjust as needed next week, along with trying to update once a day.

December 31-January 7

The plan for me is to not watch any tv, movies, internet videos except for Sundays, which will be like my cheat day. I will allow myself to watch videos that are geared towards the classes I'm taking, and if I'm with friends I will allow myself to watch whatever they're watching as well.

The next "rule" will be that if someone texts me I will not reply for at least 15 minutes, if it's someone I'm not really close to. Or if I am close to the person I will call them, and maybe ask if they want to hangout. My philosophy on this is that face to face socializing is the most healthy followed by talking over the phone, and then texting would be the least healthy.

The last "rule" is video games. I will allow myself to play with friends if they're playing, but when alone I will only allow myself 20 minutes a day.

I know the first days will be very difficult, so I will update tonight on how it went, and I also hope that if accomplish this then I can try more to move further away from unhealthy forms of technology .

[Perna]

Taking things away can be hard to sustain, it feels like punishment? I find it easier to do new, good things, that naturally take the place. You say you want to study more rather than use technology, I would come up with a way to combine the two.

I have a Nook eReader (Barnes and Noble) and that has a PC ap and I buy/read non-fiction on my computer and fiction in bed in the evening before sleep, for example. It is easier for me to study and work on my course knowing I have a couple non-fiction books that I want to read and put into my papers I am writing and all that is on the computer so is more "fun". Barnes and Noble rents textbooks, too, so some I can make part of my studying and feel like I'm working rather than playing but it is much more enjoyable. I have the Nook ap on my phone too, and when I have to wait somewhere or am on a long drive, I read and take notes with my phone word processing/note software.

But mostly I go back and forth when I am studying using my computer (I have been taking all online courses for about 10 years now), do a little work and then play a game or two, shuffle papers and do some classwork and then play, do some reading, etc. I make sure I have 3-4 different activities I can do for my classes at any one time, writing a paper, reading, doing stuff in the classroom, planning, etc.

[davie08]

Originally Posted by Perna

Taking things away can be hard to sustain, it feels like punishment? I find it easier to do new, good things, that naturally take the place. You say you want to study more rather than use technology, I would come up with a way to combine the two.

I have a Nook eReader (Barnes and Noble) and that has a PC ap and I buy/read non-fiction on my computer and fiction in bed in the evening before sleep, for example. It is easier for me to study and work on my course knowing I have a couple non-fiction books that I want to read and put into my papers I am writing and all that is on the computer so is more "fun". Barnes and Noble rents textbooks, too, so some I can make part of my studying and feel like I'm working rather than playing but it is much more enjoyable. I have the Nook ap on my phone too, and when I have to wait somewhere or am on a long drive, I read and take notes with my phone word processing/note software.

But mostly I go back and forth when I am studying using my computer (I have been taking all online courses for about 10 years now), do a little work and then play a game or two, shuffle papers and do some classwork and then play, do some reading, etc. I make sure I have 3-4 different activities I can do for my classes at any one time, writing a paper, reading, doing stuff in the classroom, planning, etc.

That is a really good point, and I think I will take that advice. One thing that I will leave in that I had in there is to reduce non face to face relationships with more face to face ones, but I'll remove the 15 minute rule I had. I still notice many insecurities in myself when I'm around people, especially when I drink with past friends. But I feel that the more I put myself out there with relatively positive people the better my anxieties should get.

I think of my kindle as a break from "technology" because a. The browser is worthless and b. it isn't back lit which seems to be a big part of the problem to me. It's like it sucks you in like a magnet. I am referring to the ereader not the fire of course.

I think a technology fast is a great idea. Somebody told me a friend of hers did it with her family for a month and it was great. No cable, no computer, no nothing. My career is sometimes overwhelmed with computer work so I HAVE to take a break at home or I go crazy. My online self disappears at these times. Good luck!