No problem

I use my phone out of necessity not habit. I only need my phone for 15 very important minutes a day and that I could not live without yes it is what you are thinking.

I think the people who are always checking their phone are lonely and in need of constant stimulation.


Anyways

I had the good fortune to grow up during my early years with my grandparents. That was in the early 50's. My grandma would visit her mom, my great grandmother for a few weeks every spring and autumn. My great grandma live in the Texas Hill Country and had for the majority of her long life. The entire time she was there she lived without indoor plumbing, electricity, or gas. Her stove was a wood-burner and she canned/preserved all her food. She did her laundry in the front of her house in 3 galvanized wash tubs, and I always got my weekly bath in the last rinse tub. It was great! It wasn't so great to tote water up to the house from the stream in those big ol' buckets, which had to be done every day. But is there anything that tastes as good and refreshing as a ladle of water fresh from the stream? I don't think so. I remember what life was like for her. She had to grow her own food, set up enough wood for cooking and heating during the winter, sew her own clothes as well as all the linens for the house. She cooked three meals a day, took care of the chicken and the sheep, as well as any other animals on the ranch. She sat on the veranda and drank tea in the afternoon, took a nap every day, and knew all the wild life around her.

I don't mind when I don't have any tech. I was a wandering hippy for about a year (a little longer). I lived by a mountain stream on the coast of California for some monthes - twice, in what is now known as Limekiln State Park, California. It wasn't a state park then, in the 60's. I like to think I explored every nook an cranny, and if there is something I missed it had to have been a mistake. I met a few other similarly engaged 'hippies', but as far as I know I was the 'second-longest-lived-there'. The other was a guy who lived nearer the beach. It was like Eden back further in and beautiful. I loved it and there was absolutely nothing there that would connect it the 60's outside. I am so very glad that California acquired it and preserves it as a state park.

Today, I have all the geek stuff, a completely modern home that will be ran from my computer by the end of next year, a car with the bells and whistles, and a cell phone that drives me nuts. The only thing I miss when I don't have tech stuff are people. Put your tech stuff down and ride the subway or bus, sit in an airport or doctor's waiting room. Watch how many people aren't there. It's kind of sad

I've tried tech free days with my family. Actually it's just TV free days. Small steps! Unbelievably it was my husband who was the hardest to coax. I bought two pieces of large material to drape over the tv's so it was a sign to the kids (& husband) - like "out of sight, out of mind". It was a struggle but it worked.

I might suffer a little withdrawal from my cell phone for a day but would do it gladly. And then if every restaurant I visited would shut off the DAMN TV permanently, I would be in heaven. Except for sports bars, I am completely mystified as to why it seems every restaurant I frequent has a television staring me or my companions in the face. Don't most people go out to a restaurant to converse and enjoy one anothers company without distraction? grrr...

Great idea. One only has to look around a restaurant at couples "having a romantic dinner" and both are looking at their phones the entire time.

Now this is going to seem completely bizarre to most people reading this but when Mrs. Architectrunnerguy and I go on vacation, we leave the phones and internet behind. And the duration has been as long as THREE WEEKS while on a European trip.

And I'm a sole proprietor businessman too. I just let everyone know what the time frame will be, take care of everyone beforehand, and it's worked fine during the entire time the internet/cell phones have been with us.

It serves as my little reminder to myself that the cemeteries are filled with indispensable people.

My husband and I frequently travel to places where there is no cell service, no wifi, no TVs, no nothing, and I never feel better than when I'm disconnected for a while. It's such a relief after the usual busy tech-filled days of real life! We do have a sat phone, though - just in case.

Do the days when the power goes out count???

I'd welcome it. Frankly, I did without a T.V. and computer for well over a year and it was wonderful! I read much more and didn't have that feeling of 'oh no, I've been on the internet how long?' We're becoming unhealthy by not getting out, unsociable by not interacting in person--do away with technology as much as you can!

I'd love to, but I have to be available to clients nights & weekends by cell and email. I technically work regular hours M-F 8am to 5pm, but my clients often work nights and weekends. I only have to be reachable after hours for emergencies, which might only happen once a month - but you never know when one will come up.

I do "unplug" about 95% while on vacation. I put an Out of Office reply on my email, referring clients to other managers or staff members in my absence. I check email once a day, and respond only to emergency emails (usually by forwarding the email to a colleague). I do call home once a day to check on elderly mother-in-law, but otherwise no phone while on vacation.

One thing I don't "unplug" from is my Nook e-reader. I categorize that as a book rather than an electronic. I don't ever use its browser or games, just for reading books.

I think it is funny that the first sentence of this article talking about a tech-free day shows a typing error: "on screens" instead of "NO screens".

As on Orthodox Jew this is a weekly sabbath reality. We do not initiate the use of electricity for a 26 hour period every week. My wife and I also have date night every Thursday evening and have a nice dinner at home and then walk down to the ocean for some quiet time and a bottle of wine. The reason it is called a cell phone is because many people are prisoners to them. We have stopped going out to dine as there are so many people on their phones or many restaurants have wide screen tvs. We are both great cooks anyway and our food is healthier, better tasting and served on the balcony watching the ocean.

We too keep the Sabbath. It is amazing how that one day free of outside influences keeps us sane. Mazel Tov

I can do without everything electrical and all electronic gadgets. I always loved being at one of our cabins where there was no electricity or plumbing. My mom and I used to put the coal-oil lamps and candles in the old stubby beer bottles on a table between us and read well into the night. I did jigsaw puzzles by candle-light as well. Food to be kept cold was in a cooler. Mom's coffee, which she needed all day long, was made on the wood stove. This, of course, meant that even with temperatures in the upper 20s and 30s outside (80s and 90s for Americans) that stove was still going. What did we do all day? We read, I rowed MILES in our old rowboat, did puzzles, did artwork, picked berries, walked to the campground for water, TALKED, played cards, and spent hours playing in the water.

I could do without electronics WAY easier than I could do without plumbing!

I just spent several hours this past weekend scraping the woodwork on my porch. I will admit, I had a DTV satellite music channel on, just because I love music while I'm working. But...there was no laptop...could care less what was going on on FaceBook or emails...just me & my heat gun & scrapers...oh, and the kitties! :0)

We do this every Sunday (unless something like World Cup or Olympics is on). When we started our son complained of being bored - now he just goes and plays or reads a book. I think it is hardest on me and my husband who are used to checking emails and chatting with friends that live overseas. Now that it is a routine for us we find it very relaxing and go exploring much more together as a family.

I do it often. Helps one to truly tune in.

It would probably be one of the happiest days of my life.

Cut off cable. No cable has left me with time to read and learn guitar rather than "veg out" in front of the tv for hours. Of course this means I don't hear about all the bad news going on in the world or where LeBron is playing basketball next year (shucks!)... I highly recommend it. If you're dying to keep up with a show then get an Apple TV, Roku, etc and borrow a friend's cable sign in. Or, have a "show night" with friends.

Living without any tech might just kill me good and dead but lately I'm thinking I should try it, just for a day.

Sure. I go for a few days every week without internet access or TV (though I do have a telephone.) I'm starting to feel like the internet is on re-runs. Same old stuff.

Cell phone use, texting, and emailing are literally the most addictive processes out there, or so I hear. Have any of you gone through withdrawal? A few symptoms: anxiety, insomnia, shaking, nausea, sweating.

I love going a whole day with no computer- cell phone- TV and don't do it often enough. People are too plugged in all the time and not in touch with other people....sadly there seems to be no social skills left in so many people.

LOL cabingirl13- it wasn't until I plugged in on the computer that I was told I had no social skills')

I recently returned from my honeymoon on an island where there was very little wifi. We made it 10 days into our vacation before looking at a screen (aside from the Kindle). It was soul-cleansing, refreshing, and enlightening. Everyone should put the little box down from time to time and look around.

We don't watch TV at all and it's AWESOME. We save money. We magically find time to create cool stuff and read and exercise. Our kids (ages 4 and almost 2) have fantastic attention spans. If you can pry yourself away from it for a month or so, you will find yourself incredulous that anyone watches it. As far as phones go, if we're with our kids, the phones are away, unless we're taking the occasional picture. The less tech we use, the better we feel on every level! We only get one life, to me it makes sense to see how well you can live it. Alright, enough screen. I've got to go do something. =)

Yep, I too, recently went without IPad (no HOUZZ!), phone, TV, computer, etc. for a lovely week on PEI. Ahh, didn't miss any of it, because we were busy with family, sightseeing, walking, reading and eating (PEI mussels and lobsters). Now that I'm home, haven't been on the iPad as much and that means I actually get chores and projects finished.

I could easily go a day without tech, but I don't see the point. One can go without almost anything for a day. What's important is what you do day in and day out.

Electronics are a proven cause of insomnia. We don't use anything on weekends except our cell phones to make and receive calls. We watch very limited amounts of TV during the week and no electronics an hour before bedtime. We found that we personally rest better and are able to shut off our brains at night from the normal anxieties that most of the world experience. And I, too, wish that restaurants would get rid of the loud music and TV's!

Tech free days are great. My family always has tech free days on Sundays so we can spend time as a family

It all depends on how you define "tech". Electricity, ovens, fridges, A/C, it's all tech! Even the houses we live in are tech!

The only way I could go without the internet is if it's down, and then I'm bored. My cell phone is an older model that I barely use as I'm home all day, and I don't have an iPad or Kindle as I don't see the need for them.

tushar.gajjar

We aren't bored with a house ful of books, musical instruments, crafts, art materials, board games etc. however, people trying to get ahold of us get unhappy.

We do without TV and turn our phones off half the time anyway. I love reading, board games and cards, so no problem to have a tech-free home for us. Now if I had to go more than a month without the convenience of being able to research various subjects on the web in my own home, then I'd have a real problem.

I'd have to keep myself busy painting or gardening. I don't watch TV, so wouldn't miss that.

I like to have shoe-free days. Many addicts would benefit!

I like to have car free days (and carefree days). Many addicts would benefit!

I like to have addict free days. Burglary rates would benefit!

We don't do electronic entertainment (games/tv) before sunset to get stuff like yard and housework, as well as my writing done. So "no" to the electronics free days, "yes" to electronics free times.

I'm getting around the rule right now since I just had a baby and can't do much in the way of yard work for a couple more weeks, and I'm bored out of my mind. I have 3 tons of fresh woodchips in the driveway, waiting for me to wheelbarrow it into the garden! ;)

Congratulations, Penny V!

Thank you chookchook2. :)

I'm not exactly idle, just "taking it easy". After nursing and diapering, I put the baby into a sling on my chest, and moved two wheelbarrow loads of fresh wood chips, harvested seeds, and raided my husband's vegetable patch for dinner ingredients!

I even had time to socialize with our pullets, and enjoy the view over our valley. About 4-6 more long weeks, and I can stop buying eggs from the store! So many things you'll miss, if you're just staring at the telly all day.

It's better for the milk if you do less.

o.O

Milk is a matter of supply and demand, not work.

Just what my obstetrician told me. I always remember it when I hear about celebrity new Mums going hell for leather at the gym. I'm sure you're not doing too much.

Great comments all. As for me, my cell phone works as an insurance alarm clock during workdays and I've been stuck with an EMR (e-medical records) for the past 7 years so work days won't work. But weekends would be easy as long as I don't check into this site and check the phone to make sure me mum's is OK.

No. What would be the point anymore. I gave in a long time ago. Just don't even try to use a cell at the dinner table. I draw the line there.

chookchook, this is going heavily off topic...

I may not be a "celebrity mum", but I only gained 16 pounds during pregnancy, and lost 24 pounds during the first two postpartum weeks, without seeing a gym.

I only have amazing midwives (I don't feel I need an obstetrician - most of European moms never see one unless there are serious complications!), and none of them seemed worried with my gardening, horseback riding and training, tree climbing with lopping shears (yes, I did that while expecting) until about halfway through my pregnancy, when my body told me to take it easy, and now they are just fine with me doing light gardening. Nonetheless, the milk supply would feed a second baby just fine. :)

I think the "you're fine, you can take it easy" is for c-section patients, or mothers whose physical condition wasn't really "athletic" to start with, since starting a new physically demanding exercise regime during pregnancy or right after would be beyond stupidity. If you're already hiking up mountains or riding rodeo horses before getting pregnant, you can keep up an exercise regime that would be too heavy for someone who just sponges around. That's where the midwives are awesome - they really tailor their care to every individual patient, not some average, or for the lowest common denominator, because every woman is different, and should be treated as such.

LOL what could be more low tech than nursing a baby?

We have been doing tech free tuesday for about 6months now and its brilliant! At first it almost seems like a punishment but now its the best night of the week, going for walks, playing boardgames etc. We also don't allow cellphones at the dinner table or answering the landline at that time. People texting on their phones while they're with company is an absolute pet hate of mine.