Screen Free Shabbat? Hear Me Out

posted in: Community, Mindfulness | 0

Well, that was … challenging.

And I love a good challenge, but this one took me by surprise. On the heals of my recent article about multitasking (see “Is it Really Multitasking?”), I decided I wanted to be more fully present in my everyday life. My meditation practice certainly helps, but is there more that I can do?

So as I was going down the internet rabbit hole, researching multitasking, I came across an article about “Screen Free Shabbat.” This idea borrows from the ancient ritual of Shabbat (or Sabbath), the Jewish day of rest that happens every week from sunset on Friday to sunset on Saturday. The idea of a day of rest really appeals to me, and while I don’t want to adhere to all of the practices of the tradition – Shabbat Laws are quite strict, no cooking, gardening or writing for example – I’m all in for some.

I felt like going screen free would be a no brainer. I really don’t use my mobile phone that much (do I?) and we don’t even own a tv. My only trepidation was around my Kindle. I’m an avid reader, and usually borrow through the library app Libby. I am always in the middle of some e-book, but I could skip a day, right? Besides, I had a “real” printed book I’d been wanting to finish. So, win-win!

So at 6:30pm on Friday, I turned off all my devices with a screen. That was a little insurance I wouldn’t absent-mindedly glance at emails, etc. It was easy-peasy. We happen to be eating at a local restaurant that evening, and looking around I saw how many people had their noses to the screen. That wasn’t me – I didn’t even have my phone with me. I was fully present with my husband, with no distractions. Hah! Get a life people!

Oh, this is going to be a breeze, I thought. I don’t need no stinkin’ screen. And I’ve done this before, so no problem. Until …

Until, that night. I often read in bed for a few minutes. Using my Kindle (with blue screen filter on) is part of my bedtime routine, and it allows me to read with out turning any lights on. So I had a bit of time falling asleep. Worse, I had trouble staying asleep. Getting up and reading for a few minutes on my Kindle usually takes care of that, so again my routine was disrupted. There was not much sleep for me that night.

This put me out of sorts in the morning. The morning routine of checking emails, weather and reading a few articles wasn’t going to happen, so that further exacerbated that feeling. And it followed me throughout the day. Just something different, not quite right, a niggling feeling.

But I got through and will make it a weekly part of my practice. I learned a lot in that 24-hour period, much of it very surprising. Before I share with you what I learned, I just want to say that I am in no way opposed to technology. In the early 1980s, in my corporate job, I was the first person at the company to get a PC. Technology has been a part of my professional life ever since. I am able to conduct business and meet with friends through the marvel of technology. But I miss the in person meet ups, the hugs, seeing the whole person, reading body language. So the “Screen Free Shabbat” works for me. You do you.

Here’s what I noticed:

    • I am much more attached to my devices that I realize. I use them absentmindedly, unintentionally and habitually, without much awareness.
    • I can become more aware of my screen use throughout the week and reduce it so that Saturdays are not so icky.
    • No screen time made me more appreciative, and thus more mindful of my screen time at the end of Screen Free Shabbat.
    • Not using my screens frees up time to do other things, like meet a friend for lunch, work in my garden, or bake. All things I’d much rather do than reading the news.
    • I need to find a substitution for those up-in-the-middle-of-the-night nights. Something that doesn’t involve using my Kindle or turning on a light.
    • My routine needs a little shake up. That will make my future Screen Free Shabbat a lot easier.
    • My internet deep dive that brought me here, included two sites that I will return to often.
      • The Green Sabbath Project: Asks the question “Is there nothing you can do about the environment?” Citing statistics such as “when Israeli cities shut down for the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur (the day of atonement), nitrogen oxide pollution in the air decreases for the day by 70-99%” (WOW!) the Green Sabbath says one of the best things we can do for the environment is to take a weekly day of rest from driving, shopping, building once a week, in other words, do nothing. They give you ideas to fit that into your life.
      • Let it Ripple: Oh my gosh, I LOVE this site. This non-profit was co-founded by friends and filmmakers Tiffany Shlain and Sawyer Steele. Their short films inspire audiences to think about what it means to be human in today’s world. I have watched some of the short films (about 10 minutes or less in length) and will continue to re-visit and watch the rest. My favorite so far is “The Making of a Mensch” and they also have a Future Starts Here episode called “Technology Shabbat.’ Check it out!

Yes! I will continue my new tradition of Screen Free Shabbat. So if you’re looking for me from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, you’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way – by knocking on my door. You’re welcome, come on in! And if you want to challenge yourself to a screen free day each week, I highly recommend it.

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