When this list was first posted, the major communication device was the computer. People wrote on the computer, they sent emails on the computer, they surfed the net on the computer. Before that, we might have said the typewriter was the main communication device - you know, the keyboard that was a direct output to paper (of course, there was no email or net surfing back then). Today, it’s the smartphone that so many people use for communication, and herein lies the truly modern challenge for this technique.
I call this “Real World Solutions” because it is all about getting away from the digital world and experiencing the real world around you. It sounds so easy, but that little handheld device we all seem to carry (and focus on) can often get in the way. But first, let’s talk about the actual technique.
From my perspective, the proper way to do this right is to find a place you enjoy and try to immerse yourself there. Getting away from the computer is relatively doable, laptops and notebooks notwithstanding. If you can walk out the door and leave the aforementioned gadgets on your desk, then that satisfies the computer element. The bigger challenge is that little mini-computer in your pocket/purse/backpack. Smartphones have made keeping connected ridiculously easy and cutting the virtual cord amazingly difficult. But if you are determined, you can make it happen. Shut your phone off completely and slip it into a less-accessible pocket - maybe inside a backpack or other bag. Try your best to ignore that nagging itch to check your social media every few minutes...or to post about where you are.
So, you manage to tear yourself away from technology, what next? Well, as I mentioned, you should try to immerse yourself in wherever you go. A wise person once said that to make a relationship work, you need to “be there” with your partner. Similarly, to really make this technique work you should “be there” in your special place. Whether that is the beach, the mountains, the desert, or maybe someplace more urban. Yes, you can immerse yourself in the city as well. It’s all about getting out of yourself and being aware of what is going on around. Safety experts call this “situational awareness,” and it doesn’t have to be only for self-protection. Be aware of your surroundings - the sights, the sounds, the aromas.
This is a good time to make use of one of our previous techniques - writing in your notebook or journal. Try just writing what you observe around you. In the past I have used a similar technique in my classroom. I would take my students outside, have them sit on the ground with their composition books, and then just write down everything they could see, hear, feel and smell (I would tell them not to taste, but some would). Then I would have them write a descriptive observation essay based on these observations. You could do the same.
What are the downsides or negatives of this technique? Well, for some people just the thought of not checking their phones every few minutes can be anxiety-inducing (all the more reason to try this method). Others may not feel they can go someplace that they can immerse themselves in because “nothing around me is interesting.” To those folks I say, do it anyway. Go to a park, go to a coffee shop and just watch the people. Try to forget about your daily “musts” and experience. And don’t let the weather be an excuse to stay inside. As they say, learn to dance (or experience) in the rain.
What do you have to lose?
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