Anxiety and disorientation are the main two words to describe an electronic media fast. I recently undertook this adventure for my New Media Theory course. How did I ever live without a cell phone? How did I ever live without a computer? Have I ever been able to live without a television? It becomes abundantly clear that electronic media shape every part of our lives.
Electronic media is almost like an addiction. Like an addiction, there is withdrawal when it is taken away. There are the sudden urges to plug in and get connected. It is difficult to figure out what to do without some sort of electronic media. I’m not even used to reading a book without Pandora playing in the background.
I found that introspection is the first benefit from being unplugged. Without any distractions there is much more time to focus on your own thoughts. There is a certain level of meta-analysis that happens very quickly. That’s the only way to describe it. Reading is easier and engaging. Not just because there isn’t music in the background, but because there are no other distractions. I know that I can’t just go turn on the TV. The book is my only escape from boredom.
I would recommend this type of fast for anyone. As much as I hate having a cell phone, I also realized how dependent on it I am. When I am bored, the television is always there for company or distraction. Email keeps me connected to friends and family. Without these distractions, a person is able to just be. The simplest verb but the hardest to do.
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