Class Talk Fall 2016

I tried to be disconnected for 24 hrs on 11/06/16. I found it quite difficult to accomplish after 5 hrs. I was unable to do it because I receive my work schedule through my email and I needed to take a look at it. Not only that, I had to work on assignments that required me to navigate the web to find information. I was able to stay away from social media; it has never been a priority for me and I can go days without looking at social media. But when it comes to other stuff such as work, school, family, etc it is quite difficult. Communication using technology has become part of life and it is almost impossible to communicate without it. I think this was an interesting assignment that taught me of the importance of technology, but also the importance of having to disconnect from technology to be able to appreciate the beauty of life. I still believe that it is possibel to go a few days disconnected from everything and I would like to give it another try.

I tried to be disconnected for 24 hrs on 11/06/16. I found it quite difficult to accomplish after 5 hrs. I was unable to do it because I receive my work schedule through my email and I needed to take a look at it. Not only that, I had to work on assignments that required me to navigate the web to find information. I was able to stay away from social media; it has never been a priority for me and I can go days without looking at social media. But when it comes to other stuff such as work, school, family, etc it is quite difficult. Communication using technology has become part of life and it is almost impossible to communicate without it. I think this was an interesting assignment that taught me of the importance of technology, but also the importance of having to disconnect from technology to be able to appreciate the beauty of life. I still believe that it is possibel to go a few days disconnected from everything and I would like to give it another try.

I tried to be disconnected for 24 hrs on 11/06/16. I found it quite difficult to accomplish after 5 hrs. I was unable to do it because I receive my work schedule through my email and I needed to take a look at it. Not only that, I had to work on assignments that required me to navigate the web to find information. I was able to stay away from social media; it has never been a priority for me and I can go days without looking at social media. But when it comes to other stuff such as work, school, family, etc it is quite difficult. Communication using technology has become part of life and it is almost impossible to communicate without it. I think this was an interesting assignment that taught me of the importance of technology, but also the importance of having to disconnect from technology to be able to appreciate the beauty of life. I still believe that it is possibel to go a few days disconnected from everything and I would like to give it another try.

I tried to be disconnected for 24 hrs on 11/06/16. I found it quite difficult to accomplish after 5 hrs. I was unable to do it because I receive my work schedule through my email and I needed to take a look at it. Not only that, I had to work on assignments that required me to navigate the web to find information. I was able to stay away from social media; it has never been a priority for me and I can go days without looking at social media. But when it comes to other stuff such as work, school, family, etc it is quite difficult. Communication using technology has become part of life and it is almost impossible to communicate without it. I think this was an interesting assignment that taught me of the importance of technology, but also the importance of having to disconnect from technology to be able to appreciate the beauty of life. I still believe that it is possibel to go a few days disconnected from everything and I would like to give it another try.

I tried to be disconnected for 24 hrs on 11/06/16. I found it quite difficult to accomplish after 5 hrs. I was unable to do it because I receive my work schedule through my email and I needed to take a look at it. Not only that, I had to work on assignments that required me to navigate the web to find information. I was able to stay away from social media; it has never been a priority for me and I can go days without looking at social media. But when it comes to other stuff such as work, school, family, etc it is quite difficult. Communication using technology has become part of life and it is almost impossible to communicate without it. I think this was an interesting assignment that taught me of the importance of technology, but also the importance of having to disconnect from technology to be able to appreciate the beauty of life. I still believe that it is possibel to go a few days disconnected from everything and I would like to give it another try.

Disconnecting from technology was a difficult thing for me to do. Mostly because I was attempting to vigorously study, and I needed to use my laptop for that. Since nursing school, I feel I’ve been physically disconnected from the world and constantly in need to grab my laptop or cell phone. The time I tried to disconnect myself was probably when I was at church. I am a Sunday School teacher and at that time I was away from technology and definitely connected with the children in my class. I read them a story, we had a conversation of the importance and moral point of the story, and then colored a print out that was relative. Besides that it was difficult for me to disconnect, especially this week because of the upcoming test. I’ve noticed that since I’ve had a cell phone, I’ve been extremely attached to it, and on my free time I sleep or watch TV. Disconnecting from technology seems like such an easy thing to do, but with work, school, and those who have children, it becomes a little more difficult to do so. Surely, I’ll practice how to give myself a break and really enjoy the presence of people and nature.

I miserably failed to stay disconnected from ALL technology for even 5 hours. Given that we have so much school work and a test this week, it was unrealistic. However, I was able to go an entire day without checking any social media (Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat), which was huge. It meant the only times I was on my phone was to look up nursing information, check emails, or textsomeone directly. I also made an effort to put my phone in my backpack while walking around campus all week just to see what would happen. It was really weird to watch every single person with their heads down. The people whose eyes were not glued to their phones (mostly people ages 30 and up) made eye contact and say hello, how is your day, good morning, etc. Once one person said hi to me, I found it really easy to start saying hi to everybody. It put me in an oddly good mood. They say the act of smiling releases endorphins and I think that is true. When I’m walking past somebody or say hello, I automatically smile and get really optimistic. This was a really nice change from constantly being connected to my phone, which can be very stressful. 

I stayed disconnected for the majority of the day. From the time I woke up until I went to bed. I spent the beginning of my day reading/studying my textbook. Otherwise, I had a 4 hour conversation with someone I had just met. Other than showing me pictures on his phone from his road trip, we just talked about various subjects: school, politics, weather, health, geography, diet, his son (my boyfriend), life, etc. My first time meeting my boyfriends dad was amazing! We knew minimal information about each other and before you knew it, 4 hours later we knew so much about each other. It was perfect timing for this blog and allowed two human beings to connect face to face without technology. We learned a lot about each other from viewing each others body language and matching our facial expressions to what we were talking about. It was refreshing to have an encounter of full human connection without technology.

I strategically chose a time to disconnect when others around me were doing so as well. In this day and age, we rely so heavily on our “connection” to others by social media, to resources online, and everything in between. I felt it would be easier if I kept busy with good company and things that would not require ‘signing on.’ My mom, stepdad, and younger sister are practicing Jews and so every week from Friday evening at sundown to Saturday evening at sundown they disconnect. They do not use any electronics or anything that has an on/off button. I did not do a full 24 hours, but I started late Friday evening through Saturday early evening. I went over to my mom’s house and studied, caught up with my family, and rested. This idea of disconnecting isn’t entirely new to me, but in the past has not been by choice, but rather out of respect for my family’s practices. Without technology, I felt I was more involved in whatever I was passing my time with and the longer I found myself being disconnected, the easier it became.

I strategically chose a time to disconnect when others around me were doing so as well. In this day and age, we rely so heavily on our “connection” to others by social media, to resources online, and everything in between. I felt it would be easier if I kept busy with good company and things that would not require ‘signing on.’ My mom, stepdad, and younger sister are practicing Jews and so every week from Friday evening at sundown to Saturday evening at sundown they disconnect. They do not use any electronics or anything that has an on/off button. I did not do a full 24 hours, but I started late Friday evening through Saturday early evening. I went over to my mom’s house and studied, caught up with my family, and rested. This idea of disconnecting isn’t entirely new to me, but in the past has not been by choice, but rather out of respect for my family’s practices. Without technology, I felt I was more involved in whatever I was passing my time with and the longer I found myself being disconnected, the easier it became.