What I Learned From My Media Fast in 140 Characters or Less

I’m baaaaaaack! Back in the glorious world of my online life.

For those of you who don’t know, husband and I have been sustaining from all media for the last two weeks, including TV, radio, blogging, social media, internet, texting (HA!). You can read more about it here.

Here’s a little behind the scenes of the Alderman’s media-less journey in tweet form …

* * *

Day 1: I dreamed about Instagram last night. My body is already fighting this challenge.

Day 2: I.Am.So.Productive.Without.Media.

Day 3: Our life does not revolve around our TV shows and I love it.

Day 4: The “texting only for necessity” rule is very obviously not going to work.

Day 5: This is so easy. I don’t know what I was so worried about.

Day 6: This is so hard. All I want to do is instagram NWA Fashion Week.

Day 7: Again, all I want to do is instagram NWAFW. What’s life if you can’t share it?!

Day 8: No radio in the car = borrrrrring.

Day 9: People keep asking me if I saw _______ on Facebook or _______ on the news. I feel so completely lost.

Day 10: I can’t watch TV, yet I’m filming a TV commercial in Ohio today. #irony

Day 11: Media is one of my idols.

Day 12: I broke. I listened to Taylor Swift and it was GLORIOUS.

Day 13: I had one of the most fun nights with friends & I might not have if I had the option to just laze at home with TV.

Day 14: If I didn’t have to get up so early tomorrow I would definitely stay up until after midnight to watch TV. I have a problem.

* * *

What we didn’t end up doing with all our free time: exercising, cooking more, cleaning, crafting.

What we did end up doing with all our free time: spending more time with friends, reading, relaxing, having in depth conversations at the dinner table, understanding the meaning of peace.

How difficult this challenge was for me was a sign. The first week seemed too easy because we were so busy with work and other things. The second week was so hard. All I wanted to do was share about my travels to Ohio on FB/Twitter/Instagram/Blog. All I wanted to do was watch a really good movie and relax with a good laugh during The Big Bang Theory.

Husband and I both realized how much more we can get done without media. How much time we waste sitting in front of the TV or the internet without even realizing it. How often we say we don’t have time to – work out, have a quiet time, talk to someone on the phone, etc. We’ve decided we’re going to start limiting our TV time during the week to an hour a night.

Except this week. This week we’re immersing ourselves in everything we missed. The Walking Dead, Revenge, Scandal, Nashville, The Big Bang, New Girl, Glee (& more) … we’re coming for you.

xo xo