Monthly No Tech Day: Revisiting An Old Article

A Day Without Technology

Back in 2019, I wrote an article titled “National No Phone Day: Why Unplugging One Day A Week Is Great For You.”

The article still rings true three years later:

Think about it in your own life. What would you do with a full day of your life unplugged? No phone. No TV. Rule out the computer, internet, and social media too. No modern tech. Just you, your thoughts, your loved ones, and whatever the hell you want to do.
It seems as the weeks, months, and years go by I always find a reason why I just can’t read that book, paint that canvas, or practice my aim at the range. There’s always an excuse or some reason I have to be busy. This one day there are no excuses left. The seething boredom and general relaxation take over enough to make all of my favorite hobbies seem so much more enjoyable again. The peaceful serenity of the national unplugging day permeates through the entire next week, leaving me refreshed and content. It’s just a bonus I get to spend more time on my hobbies or with my significant other.
And really, we need this right now with our current generations. Now more than ever we are so ingrained in our internet presence that we ignore the beauty and adventure around us. When you no longer have the technology to give you that constant dopamine rush, you return to that state where humans are at their peak. Instead of more vanity and degeneracy that bleeds us dry while making us feel worthless, we can reconnect with others.
This dependency on technology is a growing epidemic. We see similar trends nearly everywhere: heightened stress, anxiety, and disconnection with the real world. Technology has come into our laps so rapid and so ferociously that we have accepted it without reservation for any setbacks it may have. We, as a species, need to take back our humanity and place technology firmly under our control. Instead of becoming a casualty of it.
I talk about a lot of random lifestyle topics on this website like intermittent fasting, weight loss, and even obstacle races. This is no different. Unplugging becomes a sort of “lifestyle”. A lifestyle where you anticipate and look forward to the day where you get to just be free from everything for a bit. The stress that engulfs and destroys so many of us is removed simply by hitting the power button.
So wherever you are in life, give an unplugging day a try. You don’t have to start out with a hands-off all technology. Just turn off the phone. See how you feel, everything you accomplish, the introspection that occurs, and all the revitalization of your hobbies. Once you truly give it a go and see the benefits, you’ll probably start going down the rabbit hole like I did and make this a lifestyle choice.
Social media and technological addiction have been dragging us down for so long. It warps your mind, your feelings, and your free time to suit the dopamine-hit-reup cycle. Take a single day off. See the benefits. You won’t regret it.

I still do this, but now with two differences: the “No Phone Day” has become a general “No Tech Day” and I now unplug at least twice a month. I prefer weekly, if I am able.

This practice is probably the only reason I still have my sanity.

It is also a blessing because of how much more stuff I get done on those days, compared to the tech days. You get so much more done when you have no computer, television, phone, or other tech involved in your day.

You also get bored. Which is immensely helpful—It gives you time to meditate, to think, to be with and get to know yourself. This is essential for proper character building and self-reflection. Through this habit, I now understand why most social medialites avoid any tech downtime like the plague, because I too would not want to get to myself either if I was a vapid lunatic.

This may be an old article, but it is not outdated. Whether it is to read a book, to learn a new skill, to spend time with your family, or to just explore outside, I still immensely support a no tech day.