Recover some peace and tranquility in your life

 This is how I came to co-exist with time, TV, computers and cell phones to lead a less hectic life. My advice: Use technology, don't let it own you.

First went the watch. 
This was the first and best tech-no-longer decision I ever made. I was studying electronics technology at a local technical college and regulating my homework to an hour per course per night. When the alarm on my digital watch would beep I switched from circuit theory to calculus, to physics, to technical writing. Simple and ineffective. The semesters went by and my marks kept dropping. I had set a time schedule, not an accomplishment guide. I flunked out of electronics in the 70's but, ten years later when I returned, I was an A student.

For twenty years I have rarely considered putting on a watch. No, I am not usually late for appointments or work. There are so many clocks, in kitchens, on computers, highway signs and other peoples wrists, it would be a real effort to NOT know what time it is. Establishing a relationship with time was difficult at first. I had to learn how to regard time, and not be a slave to it, by weaning myself from meaningless glances at clocks.

Next, the TV. 
I began selling TV's, after flunking out of technical college. The constant noise, visual and audible, from a wall of TV's, all day long, caused me to seek TV less evenings at home. A towel over top of our TV turned it into an acceptable table. After two years of no use, we gave it to a repair shop for parts.

People ask if we miss the TV and hardly believe that we don't. We hear about other peoples efforts to stop watching TV. They usually try replacing the TV with cards or board games and the family usually revolts. TV is visual junk food and, like fad diets, you may be successful restricting intake for a day, week or month but real change comes with lifestyle. TV is hyper, colourful and fast paced. If you need to relax, you don't need a TV. In my opinion, cards or board games are the same as TV.

Then the car. 
Certainly a lot of people stop driving their cars for economic reasons. We used to drive to work together everyday by car. My wife dropped me off and picked me up at the same place each day. When I began riding my bike to work, there was no economic advantage because she continued to drive. Eventually she found taking the bus and train less stressful because of traffic congestion. Bikes are simple vehicles of fitness and transportation with many health benefits. Car use is an addiction that, like other bad habits, requires a change of lifestyle to break from.

The computer. 
I often work from home so we bought a home computer for word processing, email and homework. We don't have a game stick, nor have we purchased any games or extra RAM or upgrade peripherals. As consumers, we are doing pretty poorly but the computer doesn't dominate our life, it isn't a shrine in the household nor is it an entertainment source (i.e. and isn't a replacement for TV) it is an appliance.

My bike computer was the next to go. I kept a meticulous log of the distances I travelled for my first five years of commuter cycling. It was a great way to measure improvement and commitment to cycling. In my fifth year of tracking cycling distances I found myself riding around the block to accomplish cycling milestones. Meaningless kilometers to establish bragging rights. I decided to remove the bike computer and go for the quality distances instead of quantity.

Finally, the cell phone. 
We never did take the cell phone seriously. I bought a used cell phone a few years back, and signed up for a $10 a month safety program. We didn't have an extra $30 a month for another phone and at $1 a minute for use, the emergency plan didn't encourage a lot of chatting. After a few years of little or no use, we converted the phone to pay as you go - and away it went. When the battery died and the replacement battery (special order only) was valued at $50, a.k.a. the price of a new phone, we decided to get out of the cell phone market

A Technological reprieve.
We recently and reluctantly  made a commitment to our communication culture by adding voice mail to our phone line. I say reluctantly because I am sure we are all getting busier because we are all making each other busier.

Use technology, don't let it own you.
Try to remember you do not absolutely need your watch, your car, your cell and your computer.  Reduce your stress, avoid trying to be everything and everywhere for everybody. Only crazy people respond to their email, on their cell phone, driving, caught in traffic, late for an appointment. BUT, if you are one of those crazy people, don't worry about retirement, you won't make it.

The best thing about taking off the watch; getting rid of the TV; riding a bike; resisting the lure of cell phones, home and bike computers; is having a less stressful better quality of our life. My wife and I read, we talk, we look at each other and we listen. It's peaceful. It's free marriage maintenance, no hype, no monthly fees, just friendship.