The first thing I do each morning is reach for Daniel’s cell phone, which we use as an alarm, and check Instagram. I don’t even bother putting on my glasses; I squint at the tiny screen to view all the new photographs posted since I last checked (which was probably no more than eight hours ago before bedtime). I’ve been obsessed with the platform since discovering it a couple months ago. I have never been huge social media user, but I LOVE Instagram; love so much, it is the first thing I want to see in the morning.

When I finally make my way out of bed, I sit at my computer. I haven’t yet said good morning to my kid or husband, both whom have been up an hour earlier. Apparently checking email is pressing. There is never anything interesting, let alone urgent, in my inbox in the mornings.

Throughout the day, I am pretty much glued to a screen of some sort. At work, it’s my laptop. If I was working every minute I’m at work, I supposed all my screen time would be excusable. I admit to checking personal email at work (okay, fine. I also read blogs). After putting the kid to bed, I sit at my laptop again. I tell myself I’m blogging or researching, which is true, but only 15% of my internet time is spent productively; the rest is plain ol’ surfing (i.e. fashion and craft blogs, Emerson Fry or Everlane, my Feedly feed, Etsy etc.). Whilst on the computer, the TV is generally on as well. I like the television playing in the background; it gives me comfort. Every so often, I’d look up from the computer screen to stare at the television screen or phone screen (Instagram, texts from my besties). When tired, I’d watch television until I fall asleep. On Tuesdays, I skip pretending to be productive and just catch up on a week’s worth of television shows.

Here are some other examples that demonstrate my crazy addiction to media:

• Maternity leave was the height of my TV dependency and it would be my faithful companion when nursing a baby. I marathoned through eight seasons of Grey’s Anatomy within two months. I have gotten a bit less dependent on my friend Television lately; I grow too attached to characters and when something happens to them, I despair (I have not recovered from Matthew’s death in Downtown Abbey and have not watched an episode since; the death of Ned Stark in season one was the last time I watched the Game of Thrones). These days, I watch re-runs of my favourite shows over and over again, much to Daniel’s annoyance. He’s heard all seven seasons Gilmore Girls play in the background at least four or five times.
• I need television to sleep. I put on an episode of The Closer or Major Crimes (because I find falling asleep to a murder mystery oddly comforting) and zonk out in five minutes or less. I’ve always had trouble falling asleep and chatter from the television helps distract my mile-a-minute mind.

I don’t know how this addiction/dependency happened. I didn’t own my own computer until 2002, let alone watch television. I didn’t even have cable growing up! Somewhere between that simpler time and now, I’ve developed this addiction to media which has slowly growing in the advent of new technologies (i.e. smart phones, tablets) and social media platforms (i.e. my beloved Instagram).

The Solution

Time to go into rehab. This month we’re going offline.

The Challenge

No Television

Daniel and I agreed that since it helps me sleep, I can put on the last fifteen minutes of Major Crimes before I sleep. I can’t actually watch television and must turn the screen off and only listen to the audio. I may also try an audiobook.

No Social Media

No Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instragram, unless for business (i.e. the blog). Since we only use twitter and Facebook for the blog, we can tweet or post Urban Departures updates but we can’t browse through tweets. No Instagram whatsoever- whether that be browsing or posting (*sob*)

No Video Games

This isn’t an issue. I don’t play any video games. Daniel only games socially (at guy nights). Daniel will refrain from playing Plants and Zombies on the phone when he’s bored or waiting for something (usually me).

Limited Texting

We are to use the cell phone to make and take phone calls. We can text, if necessary, like to inform someone we’re stuck in traffic or running late. Or to communicate to Daniel to pick-up a snack on his way back from soccer. We can’t, however, text to make sarcastic or inappropriate comments or have meaningless conversations. This really only applies to me; I have a habit of texting my sister to make fun of my mum/dad/brother/some other mutual acquaintance. No checking Whatssap whatsoever.

Limited Personal Emailing

This will not pertain to work, blog, Toronto mayoral campaign emails. This is mainly to curb the frequency in which we check email. Daniel cannot check email at the sound of notifications on his phone. I will not check email in the mornings. Instead, we’re limiting email to 2 times a day (possibly a little more for Daniel since he has all that campaign stuff to address), at noon and after we put the kiddo to bed.

Limited Internet

The Internet is unavoidable. It is necessary for our jobs, this blog, and life in general. So no Internet is not feasible. It is also incredibly helpful, like when I need run out of buttermilk for buttermilk pancakes and want a substitute on the whim. We will continue to use the Internet, but we will go without browsing in general. No Feedly, no blogs of any kind (unless for Urban Departures’ post research purposes), no Nordstrom, no Stellar Stories, no travel articles, no news (unless it’s relevant to the campaign and from an actual news source, like the National Post or the Globe and Mail).

Last Word

As I write this post, I grow nervous and almost panicky. I am eliminating pretty much all outlets of media and cutting myself off from the world. Whatever will I do with my time? (Emily, remember your time at the Captain’s House; you found plenty of things to do. For one, finish that quilt you promised Daniel for Christmas in 2012).

I am signing off now, decluttering my life from media distractions and embracing month of silence!

P.S. We started this challenge on Tuesday September 3rd. Today is Day 4 of the challenge. I’ve written two and a half blog posts, finished reading a book, but all I want to do is watch TV (*sob*). Stay tuned for more updates on our progress.

What was the longest duration you’ve been unplugged?