DIGITAL DETOX

DIGITAL DETOXIFICATION

For long I contemplated how much time I spent on Social media (SM) and internet doing all things that are of no concern to me. First thing at the dawn and last thing I do before I sleep is indulge in unproductive SM. Watching tons of idle chat conversations in multiple groups though I don’t participate in, watch photos of people whom I ve no idea of, read news and gossip which are in consequential. All this net addiction multiplied with introduction of Reliance Jio free data. Though not in this backdrop, but one fine day I just deleted all my SM; multiple whatsapp and multiple fb accounts on smartphone, movies and junk on laptop.

See the techno-obsessive-addicts around you. Ear plugs to ears have become extension of human body, people always walking with heads bowed looking into phones, sitting in parks/benches/McD/airports etc all time drowned into their electronic gadgets or Selfie obsessed humanity. First it’s just cell phone, later came ear plugs, soon dual sims and secondary phones , then power banks. Other day I almost crashed into IDIOT who was crossing the road with earplugs and gazing into his smartphone.

Now with phone internet data switched off I switched to basic analog Samsung guru phone. These following are my observations or self discoveries.

1)   Now all in a sudden your pockets become lighter with one basic model puny phone. And smart phone loses its smartness. Like fangless cobra, it becomes your servant, no longer your master. And what more, Phone battery lasts for full day.

2)   Before going to bed I used to tuck  phone under my pillow lest I missed something in my virtual world as I sleep. My smart phone functions now as smart alarm. So almost each and every day for last 30 days I woke up between 4am-5am.

3)   With no constant tiny beeps assaulting you dangerously all time reminding some update on SM, you find lot of time at your disposal. With continuous data streaming comes with stress of mood swings. Now my pal puts something on military-spy-foreign affair I tend to get excited, if its Modi vs Manmohan, Sanghis vs Congis, Army vs anti national politics; all ends up in anger, some lovely face generating love and passion. Looking into other people lives, wondering how many liked or disliked my upload or whom I wanna like etc etc clogging my own mind. No matter what reaction my mind generated, be it good or bad, it made me compulsively to react or respond. Either way mind went for a toss. Whatever, with no nonstop stimuli, I found so much space and serenity.

4)   I belong to probably last generation who existed before technology took over our lives. I belong to that generation who lived while planet earth was in transition from Analogue to Digital. When humans spent more in Real world than virtual. With absence of smart phone, I magically rediscovered lots of empty space around me as if I deleted tons of clutter from my mind. It gave me clutter free mind by not involving in instant news and constant drama around the world.

5)    I loved every moment though initially mind rebelled and suffered withdrawal symptoms. Compulsively I used to check my phone or switch on the data but to no avail as I already deleted (not deactivated) the entire SM connectivity. Mind came up with many excuses like what about official communication? What about important messages? What about other useful things that I derive from SM. Well, first thing I brought entire official communications into basic model phone and logged on that number from Tablet which I never carry. In my line of work, we seldom use SM for communication, hence the very rare occasional message comes through texts. And I wondered how many of my so called loved ones would notice my absence. Unfortunately none! Great realization, thinking I used to spend so much time in pampering, praising, pleasing my so called loved ones.

6)   What did I do with new found mental freedom and clutter/stress free time? Well, first clutter free mind was so peaceful that I believe I spent last 30 days very productively. I woke up almost every day at 4 -5am, was able to improve my yoga, concentration and meditation greatly (Remember now my mind is clutter free), read tons of books. Earlier for every one page I read, I would spend 10minutes on whatsapp which eventually eat away hours in a day. I bought many books, downloaded almost every week a new book on kindle. The best book I read was on Russian Propaganda techniques (I would definitely dedicate one full blog on this mind blowing book.), Biographies of Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw (all valour of old soldier),Director Ramgopal varma (really interesting philosophies’),Kishanji (Naxal), Hitler body guard stories, The Seige (26/11 terror attacks), ,Buddha in brothel (only fiction book I bought) and other spiritual books..phew, some still going on.

7)   Now after 30 day period, I reactivated my whatsapp and fb. Suddenly there was flood on whatsapp and fb msgs over missed bdays and updates. I found I hardly missed anything important. But whats the first whatsapp message I find? RGV with Mia Malkova…hahaha