Tech Challenge

Earlier this year, at our Family Business Meeting, we launched a Tech Challenge open to all our staff and families. In an effort to continue our commitment to what we call tech mindfulness, we encouraged our community to take a break from the technology that so often distracts and enchants us and see what came of it.

We provided families and staff with the following document, told them to discuss it with their families, and commit to it for a week.

Our staff were encouraged to participate alongside our families. A few of them shared their thoughts on the challenges and the fruits of a week of less tech.

“My Tech Challenge: Turn my phone off at 9pm every night, one hour earlier than usual. I have recently started reading books on my phone so I expected this to be a challenge but also an impetus to randomly pick up a book around our house and revisit old books (friends) that I once enjoyed.  Even better, I thought it might encourage me to journal as a last activity before bed as a way to reflect more purposefully on the day.
It partially worked. According to my weekly phone report, my screen time decreased on average 19 mins a day. I learned that I am too dependent on my phone for communication and time management. I will keep trying!”
—SLOCA staff member

“Did you survive the Tech Fast? Yes. In fact, I thrived during Tech Fast because it improved my relationship at home with my lovely wife. For this year’s fast, I decided to not watch my nightly news video on my device after the school day. The reason I selected this was because we had noticed that my habit rendered me “not present” while home after the school day. What was intended as a way to unwind had literally wedged its way between us!
As I quickly began enjoying the feeling of being present at home more often, I began literally leaving my phone at home when we’d go for walks, and turning it off while at home. This did result in me missing a few texts and emails that I probably would have considered “time sensitive” in the past, but in reality didn’t shake things up too much.
Also, I became aware that I have more improvements to make on this digital front than anticipated, both at home and on campus. Finally, I’m using my personal Google Calendar in a more mindful manner, with me running it rather than it running me.”
—SLOCA teacher

“I deleted my Facebook and Instagram on Saturday, 2/4.  Immediately Sunday morning, I felt the pangs of not being able to open Facebook and check what was going on in my Facebook world.  I resisted though.  The first four days, I tried multiple times to go to Facebook on my phone before remembering that I had deleted the app.
By the end of the challenge, I decided that I will not put these apps back on my phone.  I will still use Facebook, but I have decided to make it more difficult to get on the program.  I will check it on my computer if I want to check the groups I follow or check in on family members that live afar.
The other thing that my hubby and I have committed to is not bringing our phones to the table when we eat.  This was hard at first.  But our conversations have started to be more full and wonderful!  Thanks for putting this challenge out there.  I feel like I have more time back!“
—SLOCA staff member

“I fasted from watching TV and online videos. Most of the time it was easy because I was at work or busy with other tasks, but at the end of the day, it was hard to resist and find a different activity. Overall, I’m glad I completed the fast because it helped me see how much time I do spend watching shows and videos. I’m able to get more done because I’m not spending time watching things. I was not as distracted and was able to fully focus on tasks, like eating a meal. I was amazed by how my mind was able to wander as I just sat and imagined in the silence. I also found other beneficial activities to do instead, like exercising outside, working on a puzzle, and reading more books. In the future, I’m thinking of taking a week of silence, meaning I’ll fast from all audio (music, podcasts, and audiobooks).”
—SLOCA teacher

“We had so much fun with this fast! The board games were out and my ability to read books for the joy of it has been so fun. We played buildzi, banana grams, checkers, and aggravation. We went to the park and skated boarded and rode bikes. We generally play board games during the week but we played a considerable amount more. 
For the kids we put their tablets away completely, only allowing screen time on the TV, no you-tube just regular old fashion tv. I set my phone to automatically go into “downtime” from 6PM-6AM my phone can only be used to send text message and receive phone calls. I loved it, and I plan on keeping it set to this.”
—SLOCA staff member