10/01/2019

“Catching My Breath“

The hardest challenges in life almost always require sacrifices to be made. Whether it be a material possession or a relationship, giving either away can be a difficult thing to do. Several weeks ago I was tasked with the short challenge of giving up all digital technology for a twenty-four-hour period. While one device free day didn’t sound hard beforehand, it proved to be more difficult than I imagined. Over the course of this challenge I learned many things not only about myself, but also in my observations of others. A day without technology might not have been convenient but it did offer a unique perspective of myself and my surroundings that otherwise would have gone unnoticed. The struggle of this challenge spawns from the brief sacrifice that I made from my everyday routine, and ultimately lead to a refreshed sense of self-control in my life afterwards.

To get my best foot forward with this challenge I decided that it would be best to start right after my afternoon classes ended. That way all I had to do was make it through a night of homework and a day of classes. Looking back now I realize that I was already trying to give myself a strategic advantage before the challenge even started! Never the less I turned off technology at the end of my last class. Before I left class that afternoon, I planned on taking a nap, which got me through the first several hours until dinner. I did this purposefully, because it is this time of the day that I use my devices the most. After class, if I’m not at rugby practice, I almost always listen to music and play my Xbox. Since my schedule is very busy throughout the day, this period of time is usually allotted aside to decompress after class. So with no technology, I resorted to a healthier alternative, a long nap.

Following dinner that evening I went back to my room to do homework. From eight until twelve most nights I listen to music, work on my laptop, and occasionally watch Netflix. At this point in the challenge I was definitely missing my devices. The devices in this instance provide more than just connections with others, but also create a comfortable environment space within the bare quarters of VMI barracks. With no music, movies, or a laptop to work on I quickly realized how solemn barracks can feel at night. This was a feeling that I have not encountered since the ratline when I was not allowed to use anything but my computer for school work. So on this night I read chapters from Bram Stoker’s “Dracula,” which I thought was fitting given both the month of October and the primitive nature of the novel. I also took time to reflect on what I was feeling and wrote several poems. While I usually use the aid of technology while writing papers and poetry, I was amazed by how creatively I was able to think without the ability to use my devices. I am still unsure if it was the lack of distractions or the clarity that can only be found beside one’s self. Although Stoker mentioned in his book that “despair has its own calms,” and while I wasn’t necessarily in dire despair, I definitely related to the calmness felt surrounded in my own thoughts that night. Overall, this was a productive evening that gave me confidence in my ability to work without my cellphone or laptop at hand. While my writing seemed to improve, the biggest thing I noticed was how attached my roommates were to their phones and computers. For the five hours that we were sitting in the same room before bed, we had hardly any conversation or interaction. I presume that most nights are like this, but without headphones or a laptop to stare at this solitude was amplified. I do not believe that it’s bad to be in your own world for a few hours after a long day, I just never seemed to pay attention to my five roommates’ interactions at night until this challenge. That night I went to bed with no alarm in hopes that my roommates would wake me up in the morning. I can remember feeling satisfied with the day’s work but vulnerable without the ability to check my email or text messages before bed. Checking my phone and setting alarms at the end of the day has become routine in my daily schedule. Skipping this step almost made the day feel incomplete, almost as if I missed home plate that night.

The following morning I woke up and got ready for my first class. Rarely do I ever use my phone or laptop in the morning before class as I am almost always too tired or unbothered to open my phone that early. Once in class, I usually browse my phone and computer either for class or to stay awake. Through completing this challenge I realized how frequently my bad habit of using my phone occurs. During almost every class, I check in on my phone about every ten to fifteen minutes to stay focused in class. It serves as an almost mental break from the constant focus of class or a lecture. While it does help me get through the academic day, it is an unnecessary crutch that I use far too much. However, once again, the biggest take away was how many people I observed throughout the day on their phones. Not only were Cadets occupied by their devices in my classes, but also in the halls of buildings and in the mess hall during meals. Even before this challenge I have felt uncomfortable using my phone at the table. Unfortunately eating while texting or scrolling through social media is very common among the upper-class cadets. While using your phone within the mess hall is a privilege not earned until junior year, it takes away from the social atmosphere of the building. Not to mention in the outside world it is still deemed by most to be inadequate table behavior, although I feel that this practice is quickly changing. Classes quickly came to an end that day, and before I knew it the challenge was finished. One aspect of the challenge that I could not have predicted was the feeling I felt after completion. Oddly enough it wasn’t a sense of relief or urgency, but a feeling of peace that I found within my separation. I was not only happy that I successfully detached myself for twenty four hours, but also relaxed from the interruption to my daily routine.

All in all, I took a lot away from this challenge. I learned a lot about my own daily routine and self-control, but even more about the behavior of other people. As cliché as it may be, I was truly surprised by how much I noticed when my eyes weren’t glued to my phone. The twenty-four-hour span of this challenge wasn’t so much of a struggle as it was refreshing. I enjoy using my phone, and all my devices, however they do not always bring me joy. While the thought of unplugging from technology sounded inconvenient and boring, it served as a chance to almost catch my breath from the daily energy I put into my devices. Ultimately, the small sacrifice I made during the challenge benefited me in ways that technology can’t begin to compare to.