Hello!
You can’t escape technology these days and most schools and colleges won’t let you leave without learning the bare minimum such as sending emails or creating a spreadsheet. Being an online college, you could not complete your course with Learn Now without technology.
It’s there to help you wake up when the alarm blares. It’s there to help you navigate when you have to get from one location to another.
The world has certainly become a place where everything you do — needs to be done or can be helped through — with its assistance. So, if you wanted to prevent yourself from being a part of it, could you survive?
If you made it your mission to prevent yourself from using technology for an entire day, could it actually be done? Let’s take a look!
Waking Up Without Your Smartphone
You reach for your smartphone: a jarring beep rips through the air and your eyes fly open. You fumble to hit snooze, then burrow under the covers as you try to eke out a few minutes more of sleep.
But what if you didn’t have your smartphone right there?
What if you had to rely on an antiquated alarm clock with real bells to awaken you in the morning?
Of course, people survived before the days of smartphone alarm clocks. You’d need to be a little more proactive about setting the alarm on a clock, and checking that it was properly wound, but it’s doable.
Not allowing yourself the luxury of opening up your laptop or phone the moment you roll out of bed may mean you will have to communicate with other human beings.
Getting Around Without GPS
Alright, you accidentally don’t die yet but are awake, ready to start a day of activities.
But how do you get there without Google Maps rolling out turn-byturn directions, or your car’s GPS announcing when to turn left or navigate the correct way to head for?
Suddenly Point A to Point B seems impossible!
You’ll actually have to take out a map (remember those?) and plan out your course. You’ll have to look at the map, figure your route, and then memorise it. No navigating mid-trip.
This is a go-it-alone story.
It will take time. You’ll go the wrong way at least once. Humans moved successfully on foot for millennia before GPS. It’s time to move by that other reliable navigation tool, deep inside you.
At least you’ll know your city like the palm of your hand.
Paying Without Your Phone
You need to go shopping.
Today, you would pull out a credit card and watch the cashier scan it. Or pull out your mobile phone and pay before you even reach the cash register.
In either case, the process is speedy. But now you will be fumbling with plastic cards and paper currency. Sure, each transaction will take longer; but what’s more, you will be unable to zip through the self-checkouts.
For once, you will stand in line and chat with the cashier. Something that probably hasn’t happened for a long time.
Bills and banking will also be more tedious. No more taxes automatically deducted and no more payments ‘in the cloud’. It will take time to write and mail payments and budget based on only how much actual money you have in your wallet. Hello again, financial dark ages. Farewell Venmo, Apple Pay and Google Wallet.
Working without Computers
It’s time for work. Without a computer, it’s going to be difficult.
No documents, no spreadsheet, no emails; you’ll have to revert to pen and paper communications. Files and data will become physical objects that take up physical space.
Contacting colleagues in foreign lands? Try carrier pigeon.
Would you need virtual meetings or conferences for your teams? Forget it – we’ll work together, face-to-face, all in the same room.
Gone is remote work. Keen to stay informed about industry news and updates? Forget all that social media and RSS feeds stuff – what’s that, like, Google Reader?
You’ll have to phone around, read print newspapers and books. Informative, but slow.
Suddenly you cannot focus on your work as you usually do. Simple mundane tasks require more time and effort to complete.
It’s harder to communicate, both by talking and typing, and it now takes much longer and comes with more frustration. But your ancestors dealt with this, and so will you! After massive adjustment, you will be fine.
Socializing Without Social Media
Today, social life happens with social media. But not anymore.
Would you want to get in touch with a lost friend? Well, too bad - you probably couldn’t track them down online. You’d have to call them or write them a letter and hope they respond to you.
You couldn’t look down and find them at your whim.
You’d greatly struggle to keep up with friends and loved ones near and far.
Got a photo to share or want to see what everyone’s up to? Tough.
No Instagram. You’ll have to pick up a phone and talk to someone to find out what they’re doing. If you’re curious about what someone ate for dinner tonight, you’ll have to find out the old-fashioned way too. Oversharing? Forget about it.
Privacy and discretion will have to make a comeback. Fortunately!
But no invitations created for events; no groups; to find like-minded people, you’re compelled to return to the pre-digital age of bulletin boards and newspaper classified ads, people talking to hitherto unsuspected neighbours about favourite pastimes, special clubs, and so forth. No automated mass communication of any kind.
You’re jettisoned, back into analogue, face-to-face, and the adjustment will be grinding. But it is likely to be a purifying experience, too.
Relaxing Without Digital Entertainment
Time to chill.
Browsing your tablet? Netflix? Music streaming? Sorry.
You’ll have to read books – actual books, not your e-reader. Stream your DVDs or listen to your records and CDs. You have so many fewer entertainment options!
Without internet or smart technology come mosquitoes and boredom.
No more killing time on your phone. No more games. You’ll have to entertain yourself. With talk. With a board game perhaps?
Outside, playing sports, some hobby or … well, yourself. No more quick fixes. Lots more time for thinking. Lots more potential for boredom. Do you want to lose your digital toys?
Ready or not, you’re about to find out.
Back to Real Life
Not easy by any means – everything takes longer, more effort.
Humans have got this far without the tech revolution. You’re drawing on resources ancient DNA. You’re exercising patience; building self-discipline. You become better at spending your time, since you’re forced into the now.
Unplugging is no picnic of course. Modern conveniences become luxuries you appreciate all the more. Better face-to-face skills as well!
The digital world will still be here experiment. Become wiser through periodic tech fasts. Going forward, use tech for what it’s good for – to augment (not control!) your life.
Key Takeaways:
- Waking up and navigating take more planning without technology
- Analog payments and banking are slower and less convenient
- Work productivity takes a hit communicating without computers
- Social connections are fewer and require one-on-one interaction
- Entertainment options are limited without on-demand digital media
- Life moves slower, forcing you to be more present
Study Online If You're Short on Time
More formal education in computer science or information technology (IT) may be useful for anyone who wants to understand our digital world and is open to international students.
However, most people don’t have the time to pursue a full-time program of study. Learning about the latest developments online in your spare time may simply be a better alternative.
Technology will of course become even more interwoven into the day-to-day from this point. Learning more about computing and information systems will empower you not only personally but also professionally. Exploit your limited time by investing in yourself, with free, flexible, online education. Your future self will thank you!
