Technology Time Out

Time out: Noun: a pause from doing something (as work); “we took a 10-minute break”; “he took time out to recuperate.” respite, break, recess; pause – temporary inactivity.

There’s been a lot of talk on my Twitter and Facebook timelines about having some technology free time. A regular period of time where we are screen free; all technological gadgets and equipment turned off. It comes at an interesting time for me, as this weekend has seen several discussions between my husband and I about how much time we are spending on our phones and iPads. On Saturday I witnessed both of boys climbing up their father’s legs whilst he looked up something on the internet on his phone. I saw my daughter roll her eyes again as I picked up the iPad just to have a peek at Twitter. I saw us through my children eyes, and it did not make me feel good.

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Social networking, the internet, the television and more are all available 24 hours a day seven days a week and unless we switch them off they will not be silenced. We went out as a family to enjoy the sunshine yesterday morning and as I wondered around Victoria Park in Bath I observed a ridiculous number of parents looking at their phones whilst their children played and called out to them to ‘look’ and see what they were doing; and often when the parents did look it was through the lens of their phone’s camera – including me.

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Photos are extremely important, I love having an in depth record of my children’s lives so far – but I must admit I don’t sit and pour through photos of my childhood – everything is firmly imprinted in my mind, And I’d like the same to be true of remembering my children.

And what are we afraid of if we put our phones down? Missing an important call? Missing a mention or a tweet? Missing having access to the news and weather? Would it really harm us if we weren’t so accessible? If we switched off, zoned out and focused on what was happening right in front of our very eyes? Those messages will still be there hours later, but what is happening then and there will not.

I think that the thought of turning off our electronic devices panics many. But for my family, panic or not, it has become a necessity for us. We need to switch off. It’s all too easy to escape into a different world and shut out the real one. My children are growing up painfully quickly and I don’t want to miss a second. They deserve our time, our energy, our devotion…at all times!

So starting this week we are going to have technology time out. Daily from after school until the children go to bed. Then also at the weekend; phones and iPads will be switched off and put away. And family time will be family time. I think it may be quite refreshing…I’ll let you know how it goes!

What about you, do you think we all rely on technology too much and miss the world around us at times?

12 Comments on Technology Time Out

  1. Mummy Zen
    January 20, 2014 at 2:09 pm (10 years ago)

    Good for you! I’ve been thinking a lot about this recently too and knowing deep down I should put my phone down/away for some periods during the day. Your rule of after school til bedtime is a good one to choose so I may give it a try too. You make an excellent point about childhood memories mattering more than the photos documenting it – something we should all definitely keep in mind!

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      February 19, 2014 at 2:54 pm (10 years ago)

      I like photos, but my brain always seems to remember the whole picture when I take it all in first hand! I can hear sounds and smell things that were there then, magic!

      Reply
  2. WallyMummy
    January 20, 2014 at 2:25 pm (10 years ago)

    I definitely think we need a break! It’s harder when you’re a blogger because I think I feel the need to check social media like it’s part of my ‘job’, But actually I had a weekend off it this weekend and thoroughly enjoyed not being glued to the screen! And spending more quality time with everyone around me xx

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      February 19, 2014 at 2:53 pm (10 years ago)

      Its surprising how little you miss out on when having time away from social media! xx

      Reply
  3. Lotte
    January 20, 2014 at 2:47 pm (10 years ago)

    This is something I’ve been mulling over too but resisting because – let’s face it – I’m addicted. I’m literally typing this comment behind my daughters back while I give her her pre-bed boob. Not good enough! From this point I’m not using the phone while the babe is awake, except when I get an actual phonecall. The internet can wait. Thank you for the push I needed! X

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      February 19, 2014 at 2:52 pm (10 years ago)

      You are very welcome – wow I feel all powerful and stuff lol! X

      Reply
  4. mylittledreamworld1
    January 20, 2014 at 3:31 pm (10 years ago)

    Brilliant post, and very true. I am quite strict with when I use my iPad / phone – ill check for ten mins a couple of times during the day, but then I do out it away. If its around its too easy to ‘just check’ stuff. It’s hard though sometimes! Xxx

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      February 19, 2014 at 2:51 pm (10 years ago)

      It is hard and for the first few days it was ok, but then the novelty wore off lol! xx

      Reply
  5. Caroline
    January 20, 2014 at 9:19 pm (10 years ago)

    I’m very aware of using my phone when out and about with my boys, but I need to sort out my self control – actually contemplating ‘jailbreaking’ my iphone so that I can block Facebook and Twitter.

    I wonder how we all managed without the fingertip-internet 10 years ago. Did we actually talk? (Irony, anyone?)

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      February 19, 2014 at 2:51 pm (10 years ago)

      I remember sitting by the phone at an arranged time when someone said they’d call! And being late was never an option because you couldn’t text and let people know! And you wrote letters and sent photos to keep in touch! Ah life was so simple… 😉

      Reply
  6. suzanne3childrenandit
    February 1, 2014 at 1:05 pm (10 years ago)

    I certainly do! I was probably one of the people you saw banging on about it on Twitter! So we had a Sunday ‘off’ every screen-related device available and although a little tricky at times, it was well worth the effort. I honestly don’t think that I could enforce it for an entire weekend, mainly because a lot of communication and organising is now done via the PC but for one day a month, it is vital for us as a family to reconnect 🙂

    Reply
    • instinctivemum
      February 19, 2014 at 2:43 pm (10 years ago)

      Yes you were one of the ones I saw! How is it going??

      Reply

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