Rosanne Dingli

Rosanne Dingli

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Why You need a Computer-Free Day

Mouse gtw                                   Image via Wikipedia
This might seem like a no-brainer to a lot of people. Still, it cannot be denied that a lot of our interaction has moved online, most of our business is done on a computer, and financial transactions... is there any other way but the internet?

It's all too easy. The whole world would rather do their banking in pyjamas, sitting in a comfortable chair at any time at all, including the wee small hours. Keeping in touch with global friends? Not a problem - it's live, it's casual and it's almost free. Stocking up with supplies, getting the latest appliances, and holiday gift-buying are also easiest done at home on the desktop or notebook.

All this comfort and convenience, however, means we are all getting rectangular eyes and mouse hands. Okay - hands up those who haven't had wrist or elbow problems recently! Back and bum a bit stiff or sore? Hmm ... perhaps we all need one day a week away from the mouse-and-monitor trap. It's not only necessary, but liberating and healthy.

You need a computer-free day because this thing is threatening to take over your life, and yes - you feel guilty sometimes that a few of the ordinary tasks are left undone, and some are not done justice. People are getting less of your time, and you also need some pampering and rest.

How can it be done? Easy: all you need is a desk diary, which I know many of you have already, and a coloured pencil in a shade of your choice. Mine is a kind of browny-maroon. You can have bright pink or even green. Live dangerously.

Now you start to make decisions: is your computer-free day going to be the same day each week, are you going to favour the weekend, or are you going to stagger this liberating day? Tuesday one week, Friday the next? It's important to decide ahead, because various things need scheduling: there's bill-paying, draft writing, eBook formatting, database classifying, spreadsheet spreading (well, what DO you do with spreadsheets?) and all the other tasks you simply cannot do without your computer. They are all tasks you are going to schedule around your FREE day. That day must be conspicuously marked in your diary: I use a diagonal line in my maroony colour right through the page.

You can choose your way: shade the entire page, mark vertical lines through it, or a series of wavy horizontal waves to signal the day. That means: do not schedule  any computer tasks there: other stuff is great: exercise, reading (from a real book), writing (with a pen), talking, catching up with friends, walking your pets, and aha! yes - some housework or gardening.

It's amazing how good  a day spent cleaning a bathroom, clearing out a pantry or weeding a garden bed can feel. Your brain only feels it after a few hours. It fires up, and fills your whole being with rest and zest.

At first you will dread the day: it approaches on your diary, and you wonder whether you will be able to resist taking a peek at your emails, or just visiting your social sites. Just a peek. Don't worry if you feel resistance is futile: you will eventually start to look forward to the day, simply because you get so much done!

Those wavy lines or shading in coloured pencil inside your desk diary will take on great significance. You will list in pen all the things you can do, and the scheduled computer tasks on the other pages will become more rational and organised as a result.

Wow - why didn't you think of this before?
Enhanced by Zemanta

21 comments:

  1. You are so right, it's liberating to have a day away from a square outlook on the world. I do, since some time.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well done, Inka - I realised I'd be preaching to the choir with some people when I wrote this.

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a wonderful idea! Although it is hard to go cold turkey when you work as a social media consultant. Although I do try to schedule ahead to give myself some 'down' time.

    I must admit that whenever I'm brainstorming or working on my genius journals (an old habit refined after reading Michael Gelb's "Innovate Like Edison" and "Discover Your Genius") I ditch the desk top and lap top and take to paper and pencil! Primarily (I'll admit) because I'm not that adept at doodling with a keyboard but I've found that a different aspect of my brain kicks in when I use pencil and sketch or draw mind maps - hadn't thought as far as colored pencil but I like that!

    So while I am not quite at the stage of taking a whole day I do set aside 2 hours twice a week ~ my daughters Taekwondo class, when I refuse to run around doing chores and read and free think ~ as I read I make notes of whatever book I'm studying (fact or fiction) using mapping and then apply the reasoning to my subject... I like to think of it as "channeling their genius". So Gary Vaynerchuk's Chapter on "Success is in your DNA" is in notes and is then translated into parallels in my life.

    Hopefully you will consider that a partial pass? and I promise I will work at it more !

    Thanks for a great idea.
    Laine D.
    http://www.ThoughtsfromABroad.net

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've been attempting to unplug on Sundays. Hasn't always worked, because I'm the IT gal in the family. Also, I've started taking my writing to the library - where you can't have a cell phone and I don't have the password for the wi-fi. I've found that I'm spending less time on the pc and getting more done.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Laine - I have always wondered wht's in your genius journals!

    Ms Kitty - I do miss the days I would work in the library. I should revisit those times.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hey,

    Nice idea..though I have been trying to unplug I just can't seem to let go...Will try it soon and share how it goes!!!

    Hajra

    http://hajrak.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm with you Hajra, as the owner of a writing and editing computer-based business I don't think it's possible! I have managed to stay off my computer for large blocks of time but not for an entire day. I think it's my fate.

    This past week my computer needed fixing. A guy came over to my house and took my computer apart! I HAD to be computer-free for an hour. There were several times during that hour that I "needed" my computer, despite the fact that I was making baked apples to pass the time. Sigh...

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hajra: I would be interested to hear your experience.
    Brenda: yes, we do seem to mosaic our work with all life's other necessary tasks. But the bliss of one whole day is so attractive, isn't it?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Computer-Free Day

    Can we make this a national or even a international holiday? GREAT Idea!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I can not nor do I want to do this. I understand that the world would continue on if I did not use the computer but for me the computer is apart of my life. If I did this for even a half a day, I would be so behind. Nice thought for those who can do it, but I have way to many computers I work on daily to even attempt this.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I couldn't agree more Rosanne. We need to be connected to each other, we need these machines and the wonderful things they provide. We also need to stop using them every second!!!
    Great post as always, thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Shane: Thanks for your return visit. Every second is how it feels sometimes.
    Crystal: what you say is exactly what I meant. It sometimes feels as if it's impossible. But there might be ways. And yes, you are so right. You have got to want to do it. If not, it's pointless.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Your right, I agree. I totally need a computer & blackberry free day!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Yes, I fully agree, computers can get addictive without realising that's what is happening. The easy way to have a computer free day is to take yourself in an environment where there are no computers, like on a sailboat.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wow - then I would be seasick as well as relaxed and organised - LOL.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hey Rosanne,

    Did try and I made it a good 30 hours without my laptop. And you are so right! I loved it. I made a lot of calls I was planning for so long, started reading a good book, helped Mom with housework and still had time left!
    Planning to make it a weekly thing!!

    Hajra
    http://hajrak.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Hajra: so it has benefitted those around you as well. I thought it would work for most. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  18. This is one of those things I seriously intend to work on, only I plan on making it a couple of computer free days. I've found it much easier, and more rewarding, to plan something that will occupy most of the day, not involve work, and includes family as much as possible. Perhaps a day fishing, time at the beach, or just wasting time window shopping and eating junk food for no real reason. The important thing is to make sure its not a matter of avoiding the computer, but doing something else because you can and it's fun.

    Nice reminder Rosanne, thanks.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Yes - it ought to be used for stuff that's getting ignored because of the computer, you are so right, Paul.

    ReplyDelete
  20. you may be right, but for some of us in the real world. It's impossible!

    I work in a computer environment, so weekdays are out. Weekends means catching up with my Blog, research writing, and posting are needed, not to mention email.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I do realise how some people have to work Stanley - but who does all your non-computer tasks, jobs and errands, then?

    ReplyDelete