Since Monday, when I posted about consuming versus creating, I’ve been thinking about boycotting consuming for one day a week. I haven’t actually done anything about it yet, as evidenced by today, which was spent v e r y slowly drafting a hoodie pattern for Ellie while watching my new TV show addiction – Being Erica – back to back.
So I wanted to make it official. That one day a week I would refrain from being a consumerist first. That I’d put me first instead.
My ‘rules’ are as follows:
- The computer stays off.
- TV stays off.
- I don’t go shopping (necessary grocery shops are fine though).
- Listening to audio books while doing stuff is okay (I tend to be really productive this way).
The point of this isn’t that all consuming is bad. I love blogs and films and inspiration. I’ve just become way too attached to them. It’s become so much of a habit that it’s overtaking what makes me happy. This is to help me find a balance, and to get reacquainted with myself outside consuming. I’m going to make a list of things to do for my non-consumerist day.
I’m choosing Mondays because I think it’ll be easiest to stick to. I’m have uni, so I only really have to handle the evening. Starting small. I’ll still post here on Mondays, I’ll just schedule it beforehand so I can stick to my ‘no computer’ commitment.
If you want to join in, feel free to change up the rules to suit you. Maybe you just want to see what happens if you go computer-free for a day. Let me know how it goes if you give it a try, or if this has sparked up some ideas for you.
I like your pledge, especially the idea of starting small. I think this is a really good way to test the water and change habits long-term.
We gave our television the boot about 4 years ago, and have never looked back. I never watched it that much, as we kept it in a cupboard. I had to really want to watch it to get it out, and find good reception.
But there were times when I was so exhausted at the end of the day with a young bub that I would sit and zombie out in front of it.
Now, we’ve another young bub and I’m more tired at the end of the day! Yet the evenings are now our time for digesting the stuff of the day that’s gone – chatting, eating, reading, quiet thinking. In other words, the intimacy of two, rather than two sitting in the reflected glow of the tv.
My latest goal is to only opshop for things that I can’t make myself… I can tell it’s going to be a struggle…
Ah, I do remember zombieing out in front of the TV when Ellie was a baby.
We don’t watch the TV that much, but I do admit to using it as a distraction for Ellie when I want to get something else done. I would like to cut down on that.
I like how you described your evenings. Ours often consist of us in separate rooms on our computers, though we are getting better with that. It’s one of my reasons for wanting to cut down TV use.
I really like the idea Hayley, and I think I too might need to make it official if I am to exercise control, especially over the computer and television. I’ve managed to challenge my consumption in so many areas, but I do tend to love zoning out in front of either ‘box’, and then I wonder why I haven’t been keeping on top of all sorts of practical, relational and creative things!
So I’ll have a think, but I’ll try to choose a day of the week to join in. I also like your tactic of starting small… it’s the best way to make real changes.
In the past I’ve thought that I’m using too much internet and such, but I wasn’t sure what to do about it. And I wasn’t convinced that I should do something about it, because I didn’t think about the consequences. It was kind of out of my control.
But I think that taking some sort of action, no matter how small, will help.
Great pledge, we try really hard to not buy too much stuff for environmental reasons but also because we’re looking at moving overseas in 2011. We’ve been gradually decluttering the house (digitising cds and dvds) and giving away or selling off ‘stuff’. It’s amazing how much we rely on ‘stuff’ to make us happy and it’s not till you start thinking of shipping things overseas that it gives you a jolt! As a crafter (mostly recycled crafts) I also have to be conscious of not buying lots of second hand/vintage materials as in some respects its not any better than shopping at spotlight in terms of sheer consumption…
We actually interviewed a friend of ours for Green Renters on her pledge of A Year Without Spending. You might enjoy reading it:
http://www.greenrenters.org/2010/02/could-you-go-a-year-without-spending/
I thought I’d replied to this! I think it’s because your link took me on a long journey of interesting reading and I got sidetracked.
Thanks for that! Yours and your friend’s blogs are great, as well as those she linked to.
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Hayley, I love this.
I really do.
And as I read, I feel terribly convicted because if anyone is anti-technology (I haven’t had a cell phone for 5 years) and anti-social networking (you couldn’t get me to join twitter if you bought me two tickets to the Caribbean) it’s me but, I have noticed myself attached to my laptop more than ever.
And more than for preoccupation sake–for validation sake! If I was able to, I would check my blog every hour of the day to see if I’ve received any new comments or feedback. I feel relieved when i do and despondent when the comment counter hasn’t ticked upward. Then post-despondency, it turns into a voracious appetite to find what other crafters are blogging about so I can try to do their projects SO I can get comments. It’s sick.
It’s terribly comforting to read your posts on taking time for your own mind and ceasing to “consume” for a day to restore a little bit of balance to everything. I want to think about this more and where it should manifest in my own life. I need a little balance. Thanks for the inspiration!
(feel free not to comment ^_^.)
Hi Roe,
Thanks so much for your comment. I’m glad my ramblings have helped you recognise something about yourself.
There always seems to be one or another excuse to keep turning back to the computer!
I’ve just subscribed to your blog – looks really fun and interesting! – so at some point one of those notches on your comment counter is bound to be me.
Take care & let us know how you go!
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