Can I survive a week-long media fast?!
Oct 6th, 2008 by spaceagesage
It may seem an odd thing for an avid blogger to do, but I’m pulling the computer plugs for a bit and going on a week-long “media fast:”
- No television
- No ning social sites
- No talk radio
- No email
- No Twitter
- No Stumbling
- No internet research or surfing
- No answering blog comments
- No going to blogs and commenting
- Not even reading
Nothing but telephone, writing, and face time.
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Why this insanity?
Since late August, I’ve been on a several-week adventure to “access my creativity and realize my dreams.” The book I am working from is “The Artist’s Way at Work – Riding the Dragon. Twelve Weeks to Creative Freedom.” Every day (OK, almost every day) I write three morning pages based on the criteria in the book. This week’s reading recommends the media fast.
I’m looking forward to it because the morning pages have helped me discover wondrous things about my inner landscape. I’ve learned to work with my Inner Critic better and to see limiting thoughts — even beyond them — in new ways.
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My husband’s reaction
To feel out my husband about going on a week media fast, I asked him, “So, do you think I’ve changed for the better since doing the morning pages?”
“Yes,” he replied emphatically. Very, very emphatically.
I paused to look at his oh so serious face and realized in that moment just how much better my outlook, mindset, and attitude have been recently.
We both burst out laughing.
He quickly agreed to support me fully in my media fast by taping our favorite Sci Fi shows, moderating my blog comments to allow newcomers to post comments, and reading my emails for me, just in case something really important comes up.
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My plan of action
My plan is to write and schedule some blog posts at SpaceAgeSage.com to come out during the week and then to see what happens when the online and television voices and static are silent. I won’t be replying to comments during this time, so if you would all talk amongst yourselves – that would be wonderful. Thanks!
I don’t know where this will take me, but the book authors say those who have done this often re-discover childhood loves and hobbies, tackle a big organizational project, or otherwise open up to creative and freeing possibilities. I guess it helps you to listen more to what really matters.
That’s always a good thing.
Besides, it’s autumn in the Rockies – time to get outdoors and let nature whisper healing words on the crisp winds of change.
I start at midnight tonight … ahem … the shows Chuck and Life are on the tube tonight.
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How about you? Is change in the air for you in work, ideas, play, relationships, or your Inner Self?
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Wow, enjoy your media fast. Can’t wait for you to come back and tell us how it was.
I read “The Artist’s Way at Work” a few years ago, excellent book. Wrote the morning pages for a long time–need to get back to journaling–but never did the media fast (I took it more as a suggestion rather than something I had to do to get through the 12 week course). Good luck 🙂
Good luck with it. I haven’t read the Artist’s Way but it sounds interesting and it’s a sound idea to retreat into our inner world every now and then. Listen to our own voice and cut out the noise. Look forward to hearing how it all went and any revelations you might like to share.
Kelly
Will so miss you. Just don’t so carried away that you forget
to return to us.
Hi Vered,
Thanks! I’m sure it will involve some fun cooking, photography, and writing.
Hi Marelisa,
The fast isn’t required for me either, just something the body, mind, and soul craved to get me back on track.
Hi Kelly,
Thanks — I hope to write a lot, so who knows what fun stuff might come up?
Hi Auntie M,
You are my last contact of the week, and I expect to be back, yes, indeedy, maybe some changes, but well, hey, change is the only constant, yes?
Hello All —
I’ll miss the communication, the life stories, the insights, and the fun — but it’s time to close down the big pipelines of interaction and entertainment and listen to the quieter, more still voices for a few days.
I have three posts scheduled to publish during the rest of the week, so the blog will be active.
Vaya con dios!
Lori
I’m looking forward to hearing how it all works out, Lori!
Oh, I started to twitch and experience withdrawal symptoms just reading about your fast. Good for you! Is change in the air for me? I think a brief bit of stability is in order first, then I’ll ask the Universe what is has next in store for me. *chuckle*
I really look forward to hearing about your experience!
Hey Lorie,
A cool experiment! And sounds like you planned the strategy well. I look forward to reading your discoveries.
As a person whose only media vice is internet, I can tell you that I really don’t crave any other media. I haven’t missed TV in the last 6 years I lived without watching them. We do own a TV just to catch occasional weather-related emergencies, but that’s about it. I guess TV-watching impulse is completely out of our system, since we don’t watch it even when we own one.
I highly recommend it.
ari
I did that years ago, but it was fairly easy at the time. It was before I spent much time on the web, and I wasn’t watching TV at the time. The only hard part for me was the no reading.
Have a truly peaceful week. Can’t wait to hear how it was. My life is undergoing a lot of change right now and I need to stay at the controls until things settle down. Then I will be unplugging too.
How long is your media fast going to take? Now that you’ve announced it, I’m feeling this surge of longing. Missing you, I guess. I’m weird, huh??
Ok…now I see the answer…it’s going to be one week???!! Come back soon!
Since I don’t have a laptop, when I travel I can at least get away from the computer. Bbut not TV 100%, although I don’t watch much anyway, mostly sports. Being away from the computer has felt very, very good — refreshing and connecting me back to the “real” world in a clear & strong way! (I think we bloggers are tied to our computer even when we’re not in front of one b/c we think about our posts so much before and after we write them.)
Your media fast sounds like something I’d like to do — great idea, and I’m looking forward to hearing all about it, Lori!