Thoreau Challenge Day 2

(I started the challenge on Friday, 11 February. This should've been posted Saturday, 12 February. Oops)

This is hard. I’ve gone a week without my cell phone before, but never a week without my computer or music . I feel like I lost a part of me…and it’s only day 2.

I started this challenge yesterday, and it’s been pretty rough. I’ve just been studying and writing papers; you know, the stuff I’m actually supposed to be doing in college.

Yesterday I made a few adjustments to keep myself from doing my usual “bad” technological habits. I had to take my shortcut bar off of my Firefox browser to prevent myself from automatically clicking to Facebook, Pandora, or YouTube. My TV is currently packed under my bed (thank God my roommate doesn’t mind not having a TV). My cell phone is on silent, and I have been getting in the habit of throwing it in my underwear drawer when I get in. To be honest, I don’t even know where I hid my mp3 player.

 So far I’ve been a lot more efficient at studying and getting my work done, and I feel like it’s much easier to really focus on what I’m learning. I’m hoping that I’ll keep getting better at doing my work, and hopefully I’ll keep these “new” skills.

When I talked to my friends and family about doing this challenge, they all thought I was totally nuts. They didn’t understand why I would even consider living without technology for a week (until I told them it was extra credit), and wondered how I would adjust. I don't know how exactly I'll adjust to it, but I think this is going to be a great experience for me. While I don't think I'll be able to fully cut everything out of my life (the guys down the hallway insist on blasting their music), I'm going to try. I want to live without the distractions to see if somehow I can better myself. Be that my study habits, my social life, or just my personal values.