Four days without social media.
Piece of cake right?
I think most of us could agree that choosing to go an hour or two without your phone is a pretty reasonable test for a modern woman.
But what if you went without it for four days, ceased social media, emails, television, radio and even reading?
I might here you say – “Are you crazy woman, 4 days! what’s there left to live for without my tech?”
Girlfriend! THERE IS MORE to live for THAN YOU COULD ever IMAGINE.
Let me show you why this is true…
The turning point came for me in early August, when my husband and I lead an intimate group of incredible humans through a four day movement and meditation retreat. We totally removed all technology, television and books.
And would you believe it? We didn’t go crazy!
In fact, I can wholeheartedly say this was one of the most incredible experiences I have been a part of – as a woman, wife and coach.
The experience of an individual on retreat is both varied and highly personal, but ultimately, there were several thematic similarities.
One: In the absence of technology we experience connection at a depth that is often fleeting in our modern lives.
Remember that feeling when you first fall madly in love with someone? In the early days of your romance you have little care for the rest of the world. It’s just you and them.
When you take away the tech, not only do we see people for who they truly are (without their social media feed as a filter), we also have the time and the space to meet them where they are. It feels distinctly similar to falling in love.
We listen, with undivided attention, instead of trying to cram in a 5 min phone call at the end of the day. This was a special part of retreat, because under these conditions the collective was able to really support and nurture one another through the ups and downs. I imagine this experience would have been available all the time in tribe based environments many thousands of years ago.
When we take away the ‘filter’ that society, social media, magazines and television overlays on our thinking, we are no longer ‘conditioned’ to feel, think or relate according to someone else’s vision.
We think for ourselves.
Similar to the depth of human connection, was the depth of connection experienced with the natural world. In the four days, I observed that the natural environment had an unrivalled vibrancy and clarity to it. We harnessed the natural environment as a classroom for learning, and without a phone it was our morning alarm.
Two: In the absence of technology, our intention for living is realised, and our creativity is unleashed.
For all the babes out there who frequently ask themselves “what the hell should I do next with my life?”- these are the conditions where you truly answer that question.
As with our deepening connection to one another, the removal of all external influences (especially for an extended period) allows us the conditions and time to ask what we want out of life. Secondly, with all the demands and influences put on us day to day (living in the matrix), we are frequently disconnected with that wildly creative part of ourselves.
This is why meditation is so FREAKIN’ powerful my friend.
Also, have you ever tried to drum up creativity on demand?
It typically doesn’t work like that does it? Unfortunately, your head ain’t a Netflix subscription or a Pinterest feed of never-ending content.
But after only four days sans-technology, my mind was off the hook with content ideas, enthusiasm, and perhaps even a new business concept.
And that’s just my experience. I’d be here for days reeling off the ideas that flooded from the participants.
Over the course of the weekend, a desire for a ’new way’ of living was shared by all – it may have looked like asking your boss to overhaul your schedule to suit how you want to live, getting back on course with that big dream, leaving your safety-net job and more.
Three: In the absence of technology, we can’t help but feel gratitude ALL the time.
In reality, a gratitude list is a very simple task designed to help maintain a positive state of wellbeing. Yet when you ask someone what they are grateful for, it is frequently met with a lengthy pause and then an “ummm let me think about it”.
So how does it become an effortless action?
Take your evening meal for example: when we remove the tech there isn’t the need to compare what everyone else is insta-storying for dinner and instead we relish every bite of food prepared for us with love.
It’s not to say that under these conditions everything is roses, but by pausing and removing the constant inputs, we will realise the beauty around us and become more grateful for what we have back home.
You probably think I’m really anti-tech by now, but in the four days without it I also realised the role it plays in my life.
For one, it’s a necessity in running online or remote business. However, my relationship to the technology has shifted. I see that it’s not the devices fault, but my mind that obsessively chooses to be in its grasp. Secondly, I have a stronger desire to limit my time on it and I can happily go without it because I now see the rewards available when it’s not the centre of attention.
Finally, I wanted to share something cool that one of our retreaters did to continue the no-tech time with his beautiful wife. The created ‘UPdates’ – an unplugged date every Thursday night. It could be as simple as dinner out or going for a walk, but for that period of time they have the undivided attention of each other.
Just like falling in love all over again.
And who wouldn’t want that?
Tell me, have you ever gone no-tech for a period of time? what did you experience? What did you take away from that period?
I would love to see your thoughts in the comments below.
x Ruby
