Going Off the Grid: Media Detox Week

Hi all!

For my Media Studies course at university this semester I have an assignment called a "Media Detox Project". Basically I've been monitoring my media consumption/usage for the past week, showing how much it is integrated in our lives, and then I will be cutting it all out for the following week.

So, from Sunday, March 10 until Saturday, March 16 I will be removing all excessive media from my life.

And guess what? I challenge you to do it with me! Honestly, I think it's good to step back and remove ourselves from the media saturated world we live in every now and then.

Now I'm not asking you to live like a pioneer with out electricity, but rather just finding alternatives to being constantly 'plugged in' to a digital world.

So, this means no social networking, texting, television, movies, radio, music, etc. I know I'm losing you all already, and you don't have to do it to the same extent as me (you're not being marked on it). But just even try and limit yourself to the minimal amount of usage of these things as you can.

Exempt from this would be use of media for school or work. I don't want to be blamed for you failing a test or getting fired from your job... stay in school kids.

Things you can do instead:

-Use a telephone! Yes, that box thing with the buttons that we use every day for texting... did you know you can also communicate in real time with people you know using your voice?!?! They don't even have to be in the same room! CRAZY TALK.
-Write/send a letter! With a real pen! On real paper! And then a magical mail service will teleport that letter to the person its intended for in 2-5 business days! I'M NOT MAKIN' THIS STUFF UP KIDS.
-Read a book! ON REAL PAPER
-Play a board game! ITS 3D CGI IS SO REAL YOU'LL REALIZE IT'S NOT ACTUALLY CGI
-Exercise! MAYBE...
-Work on Art Projects! MAKE THAT BIRTHDAY PRESENT YOU'VE BEEN PUTTING OFF FOR 8 MONTHS
-Be social! Go out and see some live music, or live theatre, or live sporting event!  YES THESE THINGS HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF A TV SCREEN
-Clean! BECAUSE YOUR ROOM IS A TORNADO
-Bake/Cook! YOU WILL SUDDENLY BE EVERYONE'S BEST FRIEND
-Walk a dog! Don't have one? Steal a friend's! Walk a cat! BEWARE OF ANGRY CAT
- Have a drink! IN MODERATION - REMEMBER: ST. PATRICKS DAY IS SUNDAY

I think it will be a fun experiment and I invite you to join in on the pain fun.
Otherwise I will see you all in a week, if I make it.


"'cause even on a slow day I can have a three way
Chat with two women at one time
I'm so much cooler online
So much cooler online"
-Brad Paisley, Online