Recently, I was overwhelmed with the constant presence of electronic devices in my life. I realized that I could hardly get through an hour, much less a day, without checking my email or Facebook. And than I decided to carry out the experiment and spend the whole weekend without TV, the internet, mobile phone, games and so on. I wanted just to forget about this stuff and try to find the alternative. My friends and I went to the countryside so I have a lot of time to think about my life, my time and my experiment. In the beginning it was extremely hard not to check emails or call somebody. But then I started using this time to think over so many things in my life. That’s what I had in result.
Being uncomfortable without noise in the background
In the old days, there were only three, four, or five channels, which meant you had to go entertain yourself in some way because watching TV was too dull. But, over time the TV has gained more channels, music is easier to get, and video games have become more fun than real life. Bringing up children on TV and nasty after effects can start to appear in later life. For example, kids watch cruel cartoons and movies where the murders, chases, accidents, divorces happen so often that in time, they subconsciously set themselves up to the worst. I think children should believe in fairy tales, miracles, that good defeats evil.
But unfortunately, there are so many people that feel incredibly uncomfortable in silence. It is not a new thing, but it is far more ingrained and damaging than most people give it credit for. You are going to find out just how bad you have this “no silence” condition when you try going without TV, the Internet, music or video games over a weekend. Just how uncomfortable you become is unclear, but you may be in for a very big shock as you realize just how lonely and uncomfortable you feel.
You may find yourself talking incessantly on the phone, to which people will become annoyed because they have TV to watch, video games to play, Internet the explore and music to listen to. When you do discover just how bad you have this “no silence” condition, it is up to you to start curing yourself. This weekend without TV, the Internet, music or video games could be the wake up you need so that you are no longer hooked on electronic entertainment. It could be holding you back far more than you realize.
Having nothing to do because it is harder to waste time
This is another big problem you are going to face that is second only to the point made above. The TV, the Internet, music and/or video games are great because they help you waste time without fuss and effort. Without them, you will start to feel as if you have nothing to do. You will start to feel restless or feel time start to drag.
Time drags and you feel bored and restless because you are removed from the time-vampires that are constant electronic entertainment. Your job is to work through these feelings to free yourself from electronic-entertainment reliance. Lose the reliance and you will start to realize other aspects of your life that you have been neglecting, such as planning for your future, your family, your house, your friends, your kids or your health.
The uncomfortable feeling of having to think
On the Simpsons, someone turns off the TV and Homer says, “Well turn something on, I’m starting to think.” Though they were making a joke, you will find that you do start to think. The things you think about may not be very good. People have a tendency to be very negative about themselves and their experiences when they are thinking alone.
Furthermore, such a long bout of having to think without cessation may also make you realize some things about yourself. You may realize just how little you are doing with your life, or just how long ago it was when you played with your pets. One hopes that these realizations will prompt you into action so that you change the way things are going.
The nights are often the worst
You are probably going to be okay during the day. There are often numerous distractions around the house and outside the house that will help you take your mind off the fact you cannot use your TV, the Internet, music or video games. But, at night it starts to sink in that you have very little to do. It is not that you truly have little or nothing to do; it is just that you are so used to having your electronic entertainment that it has blinded you to the other things you may do.
Actually going the distance needs to be done
If you cannot go a full weekend without TV, the Internet, music and video games then you are in trouble. It means you are far too reliant on electronic entertainment and it means your state of mind is not too healthy. A starting point may be to wean yourself slowly away from the TV, the Internet, music and video games. You can start slow and wean yourself off them over time. Replace them with other, more productive, activities.
Just remember that you are in serious psychological trouble if you cannot go the weekend without your TV, Internet, music and video games. It means your reliance on electronic entertainment is filling a gap in your life that you are not addressing. It means that you’re trying to find a refuge but do the opposite. Scientists call this disorder the Internet addiction. It also indicates that you have a compulsion–if not an actual addiction to electronic entertainment. It is not as uncommon as you think, as many people have a legitimate Facebook addiction.
Featured photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/marcelograciolli/ via flickr.com
