Update
Weekly Digital Detox Reflections
During the month of May 2023, I joined my brother, Derek Petty (writer for Seeking the Narrow and Narrowtives) on a challenge issued by Ruth Gaskovski (writer for School of the Unconformed). The challenge, in essence, was to use digital technology in as limited a capacity as possible for the entire month of May. There were also ten challenges you were to try to complete during the month which, if achieved, were to highlight the great ways you could use your time and attention when not distracted by said digital technology. I wrote about my experience here. But to save you some time, here are few takeaways I had and explain why I am bringing them up again.
I decided after the 30 Day Detox was over that going forward, I would make sure each and every weekend, when I’m home with my wife and two young children, that my phone is in my hand or sight as little as possible . I now have a spot I leave it in every evening when I come home and on the weekends. I check it only periodically, mostly when the kids are napping or I will grab it if I am leaving the house without them for some reason, but for the most part, the phone stays in its place and away from me.
I also decided that every Wednesday during the week, I would work/drive in complete silence instead of listening to anything on Spotify or an audiobook. I’ll be honest, I have not kept this up perfectly. But I plan to. Here’s why.
Starting this week, in an effort to hold myself accountable to my desired limited digital habits, and to publish on a more consistent basis, I will be writing weekly reflections based on my time away from digital technology. Seeing as how I’ll never be able to fully disconnect 100%, I will always be detoxing and should always have something to reflect on. These reflections will be published every Thursday morning. I hope they will become a source of thoughtful contemplation, encouragement, and ultimately, hope. Maybe I can even make a few of you laugh!
Until Thursday, here’s a song to help keep things fun. Enjoy!
Oh my gosh!! That’s so cool!! I love that! You made great use of it! I took that during our Honeymoon. Taking a beautiful picture in Banff is easy. The entire place is breathtaking.
Oh my goodness! I have not even finished reading the post - I got stuck at the picture: you won't believe this I used this photo for my "Freedom Short Story Contest" for youth last year. I can't believe that you were the one that took it! See here https://humanitasfamily.net/freedom-short-story-contest/ how it was used. Let me read the rest now....