7: Media

Okay friends, it’s about that time. Time for our media blackout. As part of our 7 challenge, for two weeks we will be giving up:

• TV/Movies
• Social Media (for personal use, since it’s my job I can’t necessarily give it up all together)
• Blogging
• Video Games
• Radio
• Texting (only texting out of necessity is allowed, no texting conversations)
• Internet (except what’s needed for daily life for bills, etc.)

What will we be doing with our time, you ask? Good question. I keep asking myself the same thing. Here’s the typical night in the Alderman household: come home from work, take Olli out, turn on the TV for background noise, cook dinner, eat dinner in front of the TV, watch TV, go to bed.

Yes we watch too much TV, I know that. Yes we shouldn’t eat dinner in front of the TV, I know that too.

In the same vein, here’s my typical day in social media consumption: wake up – check FB/Instagram, head to work & while sitting at a traffic light – check Twitter for morning’s news, periodically throughout the day – check all three (most of the time Instagram, over and over and over), get frustrated because people aren’t updating their lives regularly enough on social media, get back to my job (about social media), heading home from work while sitting at a traffic light – check Twitter for evening news, periodically throughout the night – check all three. repeat.

It sounds exhausting, doesn’t it? But I have a feeling I’m not the only millennial with those consumption habits.

All that to say, this is going to be a really tough two weeks for us. If husband wrote this blog he would talk about how hard giving up video gaming is going to be for him. He has replaced Saturday morning cartoons with Saturday morning video games while I sleep. Video games are his stress reliever, as blogging is mine.

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Here’s the plan to combat media withdrawals:

Read. Read. Read. – I have at least two books I want to finish, but I’m shooting for three.

Take Olli on long walks every night after dinner.

Enjoy more quiet time with God.

Deep clean the apartment.

Invite people over and spend quality time together.

Do a DIY/Craft project together.

Attempt more complex recipes.

Games! – We are officially kicking off our media sabbatical by hosting a game night for our community group Sunday night.

Start a workout routine. – Insanity or P90X does not count as TV, per the council’s decision.

* * *

Next time you’ll hear from me will be March 24. I plan on journaling our process (in a REAL journal, not a blog) and sharing some of our insights, pains, joys and photos from our weeks apart. If you need me, call me, or just stop by our apartment. I’m sure we will be happy for the company.

xo xo

You might also enjoy: 7: Possessions // Week 1, 7 : Waste