What would happen if we had no smartphones, tablets, or laptops–no portable Internet?

I know that seems like a silly question, given that we used to live this way less than 20 years ago. But Internet and technology have become so embedded in our lifestyle that we literally don’t know what to do with ourselves when we lose access to that link with the world.

I faced this in 2011 personally, with the damage to and ultimate loss of my laptop–suddenly, I didn’t have that portable entertainment, that mobile Internet, that convenient writing and publishing device at my side anymore. It was a mental challenge…and yet, more and more, people are going on “diets” from their smartphones and laptops (and even computers in general). Either that, or they’ve lost their access to said devices and have to figure out how to live life without them (temporarily or permanently). (See: articles from Business Insider, Fast Company, Huffington Post, 43 Folders, Mens’ XP, and even WikiHow!)

My point: sometimes you NEED a break from technology. Sometimes you NEED to stop staring at a computer screen. Here’s what I learned as a result of losing access to my laptop for several months:

• I didn’t have as much neck and shoulder tension because I wasn’t hunched over the keyboard
• I started practicing my handwriting again because I had to–I had gotten so out of practice that even signing my own name felt odd
• I started spending more face-to-face time with my boyfriend, family, and friends
• I learned to stop depending on Internet access quite so much for answers/entertainment
• I found out that my personal work could wait a little while, or could be done in other, less digital ways

This Isn’t EASY, but It’s NECESSARY

The palpable loss of technology can set us on our ears, figuratively speaking, but every once in a while we need to be reminded that we can be functioning humans without having little screens to accompany us everywhere. It’s a struggle at first, but it can be done, as the above referenced articles and my own personal experience prove. “Staying connected” is one thing, but Internet addiction is real (and I’m still having to break myself free of it)!