It's Obvious I've Been Eating the 'Shrooms, Isn't It?

I think I may be about to do something outrageous.

I would never in a million years think that someone like me would be able to handle this. But, I think I'm going to go for it.

I'm turning off the world.

No TV.

No Internet (except updating my blogs).

No Tivo.

No movies.

No talk radio.

No newspapers.

No gossip magazines.

Just music, books, and the beating of my wee heart. For a week.

Lately, I've been feeling bombarded. Just completely overwhelmed. A typical day around here starts with my laptop in bed where I have about 400 news and blog feeds. The upstairs TV is on in the background, cartoons are on the one downstairs.

Then the day transitions into errands, which I do while listening to news radio and talking on my cell phone. After, it's back to the office computer in the afternoon, where there's always more emails and news and feeds waiting.

Then at night it's Tivo and a book or magazine (both at the same time) until I go to sleep.

While a little information is helpful, too much is beginning to drive me bat ass crazy. And I need to get a hold of it. I need more time to play, to breathe, to get outside for godssake.

Yesterday I sat in my backyard with Savannah and we drank fresh vegetable juice and chatted. And the entire time we sat there? My leg would not stop shaking back and forth! I was so full of anxiety like I had to be somewhere else, do something else. What, I don't know. Write, check email, read blogs. Be connected.

It's just getting out of hand. I should be able to put the world's noise away and just BE every day. I should be able to just BE with Savannah.

So, I'm starting Monday. No negative outside input. I will pace what I take in. No negativity. No advertising. No fear mongering. Just books and my blogs and music and exercise and hanging out with my daughter. Maybe SeaWorld. (God, I hate SeaWorld...almost as much as I LOVE Tivo!! *cries*).

And I'll keep y'all posted daily on how life is in my little bubble of joy and calmness.

So. Who thinks I'll make it more than a day? Want to join me?

Comments

[Amy H]

I wouldn't keep my sanity if I focused on WORK all day. :)

But good for you. I really need to do this, too, (WHILE I'M AT HOME!). Maybe I will join you...(But ONLY AT HOME). I can tape (OMG, YES! I said "Tape"!!) the one show that will be new next week! And music is okay, right? I listen to my ipod over TV any day. And I already gave up most of the celebrity gossip stuff.

Okay, yes, I will, (Don't you love how it took me rambling on and on in your comments to come to this conculsion!?). Do you have a name for this venture?

I think you'll make it at least past Monday.

[Kim]

I know when I'm beat...there's no way I could do this...then again, I don't want to either!

good luck...I'm sure you'll make it to at least Wednesday ;)

[Kim]

actually, I can almost do it...when I'm camping (but only because I'm forced to...plus my soap records while I'm gone).

[MommasWorld]

I felt that way last summer.

Step 1. Two hours or more commuting in the morning with every radio station news telling me the world is a dangerous place.
Step 2. In my line of work I was receiving daily world news which was a required morning read before starting work. Goodness knows we had to know about all the dangers out there in the world. All the riots, outbreaks and heinous crimes going on in other countries.
Step 3. Repeat step 1 in homeward bound direction.

If I watched the news on TV it was only to find out the weather.

There was a man, a caveman, whom thought women have no brains and he should not be subjected to work with a woman. I had enough of him! I put out my resume and received countless offers within minutes of posting it!

I found a job in another state. The area seemed so serene and peaceful. After the first interview I knew this would be the right choice! Leave all that horrific news, the caveman, and the commuting all behind.

I do not listen to the radio in the car. I would rather hear what my children are saying. If they want to sing, go right ahead. I still dread the news but catch the local news from time to time. I wont watch the full 30 min or hour. I don't watch TV much. I do like Heroes if I remember on Monday nights. Otherwise TV to me means watching a movie when I have an hour to myself (not often when you have 3 children) but There is enough going on in my life without adding to my daily stress. All that negativity really put a strain on my mind and body. You are not alone.

[Amanda]

Good luck Lena!

I've had to pick & choose my days carefully, and realize I don't have to know everything about everything 24/7. My blog feeds are a bit shorter, and I only read the newspaper on Sunday. Watching news in our house is unheard of, unless it's on to catch the weather. Most of the time it's on kid TV anyway.

When I'm driving, my iPod is plugged in to stuff I enjoy. Drives my daughter crazy, but it's MY car, thank you very much. I guess I tune out alot of the "real" world, but I don't care.

You deserve an award for giving up TV though. It's my night time addiction, once the kiddo is in bed. You're brave, very very brave!

[Mia]

I went back to work this work and have not been this relaxed in a long time. While it is very difficult to figure out what's going on with childcare for the day, the lack of news and internet is T-rific.

[Tina]

I've been thinking about doing this. Jake will be out of school for the summer soon and I feel like I need to de-program or re-program or something. I don't want Jake going to 2nd grade and writing his "What did you do this summer" essay about begging his mom to get off the computer or away from the DVR. I have to think about it before I commit. Good luck! I give you 36 hours. Ha! Just kidding!

[Tina]

I've been thinking about doing this. Jake will be out of school for the summer soon and I feel like I need to de-program or re-program or something. I don't want Jake going to 2nd grade and writing his "What did you do this summer" essay about begging his mom to get off the computer or away from the DVR. I have to think about it before I commit. Good luck! I give you 36 hours. Ha! Just kidding!

[Melanie]

Good for you - it's hard, but it's actually really great living without TV. Internet, I couldn't give up. But TV I hardly ever miss, and I spend so much time just playing outside and just now, you know? (How lame does that sound?)

[Jenn (BoyOhBoy from CM)]

You can do it!! I did this back in April during 'National TV Turn Off Week.' I meant to only do TV, but it extended to just about everything else with the exception of my journal posting. Good luck!!

[Sarah L]

There's no way. I love my Tivo too much. I am one sick, sick woman.

But you have fun with that.

[des]

Oh my, Lena, I had just decided to do the very same thing last night! I told my hubby that I was becoming so burnt out on all the doom and gloom, even from my faves ( I listen to talk radio almost exclusively)and I had it, at least for now. This morning I got up and turned on the desk fan so I could power up my indoor wind chimes and that was it. I gave T.V. up long ago except for DVDs and felt much better for awhile, but I'm afraid radio (especially the news) is gatting to be almost as bad. I reserve the right to watch my SpongeBob dvds, though!

[Melissa]

Good for you! I recently heard, on NPR, about a guy that declared "email bankruptcy." He had so many emails and was so overwhelmed with trying to reply, he just deleted everything and started fresh. Not a bad idea...

[D]

You can do it! I have--and still am doing it, with the exception of the internet, for the past...wait for it...3 1/2 years. No, for real. We do not own a TV. I do not subscribe to any mags. The most I will do is glance 'em over by the checkout line. I check the news online through one or two sites, and that is plen-ty of negativity for me.

It is hard sometimes...no TV means no cartoons for the kiddie, but I must tell you, it's so worth it. She is two years old, and she has the longest attention span I have ever seen on someone so young. She is extremely aware of her surroundings and we can spent 1/2 an hour just looking out of the window and discussing what she sees. As for me, I have so much more patience and so much less negativity...and I can actually think real thoughts! By myself! In my own head! And have time to *gasp* talk to my husband face-to-face!

I think you'll make it through your week and be glad that you did.

[mamatulip]

When we moved we were offline for about five days and had no television for three. And you know what? I enjoyed it. There was nothing to check, nothing to ingest, nothing blaring at me, no headlines to read...it was refreshing. I've been easing back into it, because I kind of liked being disconnected for a while.

I think you'll last much longer than a day. :)

[Kima-Shai]

Wow, it really sounds like you are on information overload! You do it for as long as you need to/can stand to do it. That's what's important, is recognizing the issue and addressing it! Good for You!
I do not watch the local or national news. I usually check cnn.com at work and skim the headlines. That way, I am in control. If I want to know how many soldiers died in the war over the weekend, or details of 'Six children die in housefire', I'll click on the headline. And, for the record, I usually don't.
I usually have my CDs in the car, the radio annoys me if I listen for too long at a time! As for TV, that's my weakness, but I am careful what I watch there as well. I have a few favorite shows, and then my filler channels are usually Discovery, FitTV, or Food Network. How depressing can that be, right?

[Virenda]

I know we've talked about this and I really do think it's a great idea. I tried it for a while and things were great. I have no idea how I got sucked back into it.

You're going to really enjoy this and I look forward to seeing how the "experiment" went.

[sylvia]

every now and then, i do the same thing. i was just thinking earlier tonite of taking about a week away from people (phone, I-M) to have quiet, reflecting time.

[emily]

Stay strong, girl! It takes some dedication to block out our culture's incessant whining, but I think it's pretty important to practice the old be-here-now.
I look forward to hearing how it goes!

[Shannon - PHAT Mommy]

No way. I would go effing nuts. When I start feeling too overwhelmed by the input I just make sure to take a walk or go to the gym or play outside with the kids for a little while. But a week? Uh uh.

[Becky]

You know that's a great idea..I think I'll join you..a little late but better late than never.

[Hesper]

Sorry. The creative is the place where no one else has ever been. You have to leave the city of your comfort and go into the wilderness of your intuition. What you'll discover will be wonderful. What you'll discover will be yourself. Help me! I find sites on the topic: Central air conditioners. I found only this - line Conditioners. New blue grooming products are the natural way to a fresh, clean coat and healthier skin for your dog. The furman x power conditioner is the perfect low cost ac power solution for any rackmount system. With respect :-(, Hesper from Cyprus.