Event 2: 24 Hour Unplug Challenge

    I’ve just completed the 24 hour unplugged challenge.  I had high hopes going into the challenge and I was met with lots of benefits but arguably more inconveniences.


    I noticed that throughout the day, not having access to devices compelled me to spend more with with my friends.  Instead of sitting in silence in my room, I was more motivated to leave my room.  I ate 2 meals with my peers and snuck in a great workout all while avoiding technology.  I also was able to finally put up happy birthday balloons for my girlfriend’s upcoming birthday.

Girlfriend's Happy Birthday Balloons


    Once I ran out of actual tasks to finish, I found myself really stuck.  It was too early to go to sleep and I no longer had the option to kill time on my phone.  I decided to try doing some meditation.  This meditation was amazing for about 20 minutes.  I aligned my thoughts and got a better sense of direction for the year ahead of me.  I was nice to give myself a break from constant connection.

Notes Taken


    Ultimately, I found that most of the efficiencies in my day are fueled by technology.  I missed out on so many things that would’ve positively benefited my life.  I typically record voice memos to analyze thoughts, I journal digitally every day, I track my health and wellness using AI, and I wear a 24/7 health monitor on my bicep.  I wasn’t able to access any of this information.

Indulging in Tech After the 24 Hours


    If I was able to do it again, I would attempt to set limits on my technology usage rather than cutting it out cold turkey.


Works Cited

(2024) Summacare.com. Available at: https://www.summacare.com/blog/entries/2024/09/the-power-of-unplugging-6-health-benefits-of-spending-time-offline.

Swenson, B. (2020) Technology: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly, University of Arkansas Grantham. University of Arkansas Grantham. Available at: https://www.uagrantham.edu/blog/technology-the-good-the-bad-the-ugly/.

Lianca (2024) Digital Detox: 5 Benefits of Disconnecting from Technology, Raleigh International. Available at: https://raleighinternational.org/blog/benefits-of-disconnecting-from-technology/.

tony (2023) Embrace the Freedom: The Benefits of Unplugging - RYZE Adventure Park, RYZE Adventure Park. Available at: https://ryzeadventure.com/embrace-the-freedom-the-benefits-of-unplugging/.

Miller, Z. (2024) How Constant Connectivity Affects Mental Health, Orlando Treatment Solutions. Available at: https://orlandotreatmentsolutions.com/how-constant-connectivity-affects-mental-health/.

Nguyen, B. (no date) Indulging in Tech After the 24 Hours.

Nguyen, B. (no date) Notes Taken.

Nguyen, B. (no date) Girlfriend's Happy Birthday Balloons.


‌‌

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Week 7 | Neuroscience + Art |

Image
     This week I was able to learn more about neuroscience.  More specifically, neuroscience in the context of art. Neuroscience      To begin, I only ever had a surface level understanding of what neuroscience was.  I only understood it was a type of science that had to do with the mind or brain.  After some research, I was able to understand that neuroscience can be better defined as a study of the nervous system and how it interacts with the brain.      One concept I was able to learn more about is the idea of brainhood.  Brainhood is the idea that our brain is who we are.  It is our personality, our decisions, and an embodiment of our consciousness.  We often see the idea of brainhood being displayed in vectors of art and media.  In “Neuroculture” by Giovanni Franzzetto and Suzanne Anker, I learned about the film “Donovan’s Brain”.  This film is able to build on the idea that you are your brain by t...
Read more

Week 6 | BioTech+Art |

Image
    This week I was able to learn about biotech.  Specifically in relation to art.  Previously to this week, I wasn’t sure what biotech was.  It seemed too daunting to even begin to understand.  After reviewing sources, I can say I have at least a base level understanding of the industry. Biotech      Firstly, I’d like to express my personal beliefs on using life itself as an expressive medium.  I believe that using life as an expressive medium has great potential to unlock boundaries.  In playing with life forms, we can learn more about humans and animals that may lead to life-altering advancements in the future.  One of these potential advancements was the extra ear experiment.  This experiment has the potential to help people with body misconfigurations in the future.  Pursuing these artistic endeavors may allow scientists to explore avenues that would have never been traversed previously. Extra Ear Project ...
Read more

Week 3: Robotics + Art

Image
     In “”, Walter Benjamin discusses how advancements in technology and robotics will make their mark on the world of art.  In my personal experience, robotics has had both the power to improve art, while other types of robotics seem to almost destroy art.      One topic Walter Benjamin emphasized was the “aura” of a work of art.  He states, “One might subsume the eliminated element in the term “aura” and go on to say that which withers in the age of mechanical reproduction is the aura of the work of art” (Benjamin 1).  In this passage, Benjamin tells us that although art can be replicated with new technology, these reprints and copies meant for mass distribution don’t carry the same weight as an original piece of work.  No machine will be able to replicate the hours of precision that come along with creating a work of art, brush stroke by brush stroke. Aura Coming From Art      However, there are a plethora of benefits t...
Read more