disCONNECT: can we really turn everything off?

Last week I week I got an email asking me to be an ambassador for the disCONNECT challenge. In light of my previous post on the all encompassing nature of the online world it was deemed that my readers and I may be up for the challenge to disconnect for 48 hours. My first reaction….”oh no I really don’t think that will be possible”.  This is what it means:

No mobile phones

No Internet

No computers/ipad/laptops

No ipod or head phones

No television

FOR 48 HOURS! Yes a WHOLE weekend!

Even as I write this I am feeling a little nervous about my undertaking. I read on to discover that the date of the challenge is set for this weekend March 23rd to 25th. Mmmmm  the weekend that I am without my husband. The weekend that I have to entertain my 5 children……without electronic devices!

What will we do? (yes it means the kids have to turn off too)

Talk? (fight)  Read?  (whinge)  Play Games? (wrestle)   Connect? (argue)

So…are you with me? Come on….it is sounding so much fun!

Now the fine print says you may change the days if they don’t suit, or just do 24 hours, or just disconnect from a few things…but the important things is to disCONNECT to get back to CONNECTING.  And if you are super keen you can go all out and cut out cars, electricity etc …..but no, I will never be quite so noble.

We are not saying that being online is bad. Afterall you wouldn’t be privy to my weekly rambles if it wasn’t for the Internet.  We are just saying that every now and then, it doesn’t hurt to turn off and get back to some good old fashioned face to face communication.

If you cannot disconnect you can go to this page  and donate for a fabulous cause. All funds raised from the disCONNECT challenge will benefit Edmund Rice Camps, a network of NFP organisations that connect young volunteers to Aussie kids and families living in disadvantaged situations, through camps and recreational activities. What is unique about the camps and relevant to the challenge is that there is an equal ratio of campers to volunteers ensuring that campers receive one-on-one face time with camp counsellors. The camps operate throughout Australia.

Upon discussion with my children, believe it or not they were not entirely enthused by the idea.  But, together we have come to a compromise and will do the challenge during the week rather than on the weekend. It will still be tough…possibly for all of us!

Let me know if you are going to give it a go and disconnect.  I’d love to hear how you survived (or didn’t)!

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This Post Has 13 Comments

  1. Hayley @ HappyHouseWifey

    lol- i hadn’t seen this but have had in my diary for a few weeks that next week i’m going without all Internet next week (mon-fri). I’m a bit scared, but also looking forward to it a bit (just quietly between you & me!)! It’s been on my goals list to-do since last July/Aug, but I use Internet for so much it’s been hard to find a week to do it! All he best with your challenge! Hayleyxx

    1. Martine

      Thanks Hayley, all the best with your challenge too! It is amazing how quickly we become so reliant on things!

  2. kirri

    Oh my Martine. You might find people are a little slow to come forward on this one!
    Because my work is scattered throughout the week, I am connected more often than not but I do insist that I have at least two half days disconnected. We have also been really slow to introduce our girls to technology so that is not a problem. I love to disconnect just to get those impulses back into synch- you know, the compulsion to check this and that 🙂

    1. Martine

      Thanks Kiri, yes you are right, I didn’t expect to have people knocking down the doors to do this….but hey i’m up for a challenge!I am sure there will be some definite positives 🙂

  3. Mum's the Word

    wow big call! I have been thinking I need to start taking a day off from my iphone/laptop/technology.. this may be the push I need… but can I do it?

    I can try 24hrs… that I think is my limit lol!!

    1. Martine

      24 hours is ok too! Or anything i think that gets us thinking about how we are spending our time online. Little reminders to reflect on what we are doing can only be a good thing 🙂

  4. TheUrbanMum

    Mmmm – well thanks and all – but I might give this weekend a miss. I just stumbled upon your post, I need a little more time to plan, to panic, to arrange for the kids to be somewhere else so I could do this in peace.
    Oh okay I am chicken. For good reason though. Kids are not allowed to watch TV or use computer (other than for homework), iPad, iPod etc during the week. It works for us…
    The weekend is Carte Blanche, with gentle boundaries for family time. So am very scared a weekend moritorium of electronics could make me extremely unpopular. But great blog, so I shall tune back in for your results.xx

    1. Martine

      lol! Yes I nearly had that same response..which is why I chose to do it during the week. The weekend may not have been so good for my mental health! 🙂

  5. Ema Watson

    I never thought of being disconnected with any technology that I was ever introduced to. I somehow have been disconnected from most of them and didn’t even realize it.
    But it still seems impossible to get disconnected from technologies like mobile phones, computers, internet, TV, etc, that has become a part of our daily lives now.

    Your post has got me thinking now. Do we really need to stay connected with each and every technology that comes our way? I’m still unable to find the answer.

    Thanks.

    -Ema

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