Digital Detox

In the past I have admitted that I have an ongoing affair with my smart phone. It never leaves my sight. Okay, maybe it does leave my sight because there are multiple times I can't find it, but I definitely never leave home without it. I think my husband's multiple deployments have fueled the addiction to my phone. Thinking that I could miss his call would drive me crazy. So I often will sleep with the house phone and my cell phone. But, he's home now. Do I really need to be on my cell phone as much as I am?

Tonight as I sat watching TV a dateline story came on about four twenty something girls that went through two weeks of digital detox. They had to give up their cell phones, internet, and gps for two weeks. They could only use the internet to check email and for work. It sounds easy. I've tried to do this more than once. I usually fail miserably.



Tomorrow I will begin a detox from my smart phone and digital media. This is a little harder for me than simply locking away my phone for two weeks. I start school tomorrow. I drive 45 minutes from my house to go to class. I have 4 children in 3 different schools. Because of this I won't be able to simply lock my phone away. However, I can set up boundaries for my phone and computer use. So, here is what I came up with.........

1.) No texting. Period. My kids text me all the time but in reality they can wait to call me after school.
2.) No Twitter
3.) No Facebook-this includes randomly checking FB to see what everyone is up to. No status updates, messages, posting pictures, etc......
4.) Only phone calls will be made with my cell phone.
5.) Once I am home my battery comes out of my phone and my phone will go into my drawer.
6.) Internet at home will only be used for school work, work, to blog about my experience, and to check email.
7.) I can use my cell phone as my music device when I work out. I have all my music on my phone so I only have to carry one device.

As I type those boundaries for my cell phone addiction, I already feel like I am having an anxiety attack. But I know that I will live without my cell phone. I will live without instagram, FB, Twitter, WordFeud(sorry scrabble buddies) and the countless text messages that I get and send each day. Instead of walking with my head down reading what is on my cell phone I am going to walk with my head up, look people in the eye and start conversations. Real life happens beyond the screen of my cell phone.

I plan to blog my success and failure as I go through this 3 weeks period. I decided on three weeks but I have always heard that it takes about that long to create a new habit. So here's to a smart phone free mommy for the next three weeks. Anyone brave enough to take the challenge with me?