Life Without Technology
What happens when the power goes out or the internet goes down? Odds are we get nervous and start to worry about what we will do with our time. It is hard to image a life without electronics, social media, and the internet. However, society survived for thousands of years prior to these inventions, and we must remember that there are other ways to occupy out time.
Television and Digital Visual Media
It is hard to figure out exactly when it happened, but we have become a society that is fixated on what we see. We watch the news, we watch sporting evening, we watch instructional videos, and we watch short clips on various platforms to entertain us. A large number of people watch everything, and the result is a declining ability to read. America was founded on the backbone of literacy. Early colonial citizens would have to read books and newspapers to know what was happening in the world around them. If a local sports event or community program was missed, people would have to read the paper the following day to get the box score and summaries. When was the last time you read a daily newspaper? Do they even exist anymore? The rise in electronics and technology has changed the very nature of the way we consume information. Most companies and workplaces have printed operation manuals with procedures, rules, and regulations. Employees do not read them. They watch the provided videos, take the materials, and ask others what to do. Most workplace mistakes, or really any mistake, can be avoided if people would spend the time to read the instructions.
Social Media
What does a morning or afternoon ride on a school bus look like for the average high school teenager today? Years ago, we had to read or talk to our friends. Technology has changed and so does the average bus ride. Most kids will be busy posting on social media or looking at videos. The days of reading and having a conversation are in the distant past. The new conversation topics revolve around the latest social media trends or a post from popular influencers. Far too many kids put too much effort in creating a social image and to little effort in planning for their future. This is a problem that can be solved. It is unrealistic to think we will be successful in stopping teenagers from using social media and their mobile devices; however, we can help them utilize digital tools. Instead of spending all day on social media get them interested or involved in eBooks or other productive ways to use their devices. A phone can be used to read a novel just as easily or to play a game or post on social media. It is up to us to expose them to their options and get them hooked on a better way.
Conversation
Growing up, most of us ate family dinners or had to find ways to entertain ourselves without technology. The option of sitting on our phone when we waited simply did not exist. Instead, we spend the time together talking to each other. This is a dying art in most homes. Families waiting for a table at a restaurant are sitting on their phones instead of talking about their days. As stated earlier, for millennia people talked to each other, told stories, played games, and found other ways to entertain each other. These ancient ways of bonding and enjoying each other’s company have not changed and can still be enjoyed. When was the last time you did a family game night? When was the last time you assembled a puzzle or Lego set with your family? When was the last time you simply talked? We often talk about the importance of family or friends and these activities, and more are a wonderful way to connect or reconnect with them. Plan a game night or a family camping vacation. Go somewhere where technology will not work. Odds are you will make great memories.
Technology is an important thing. It makes our lives easier and helps us ensure we always have a way to occupy ourselves. However, if we let technology consume us, we can lose our connection to reality and to what is important. Make plans to have some old fashion fun. Plan a game night or schedule technology free time. Doing so will refresh your mind and help bring your family closer together.