I participated in the Butler Catholic Community‘s technology fast last Thursday-Friday. (Catch up on the details here.) Now, three days afterward on Monday, I’m still more conscious of my tech use.

The main difference between a world with computer/cell phone/iPod and a world without was planning. I rarely watch TV, and I don’t automatically put on music. I also have dance academic or dance movement classes from 10 am to 4:50 pm on Friday, so I don’t have a lot of down time to fritter away online.

I let my family know I would be unreachable. I made plans to meet friends instead of using text devices to do it on the spot. I didn’t worry about getting just a little more work done on my English papers before I went to bed on Thursday. I didn’t worry about checking my email on my iPod during my lunch break on Friday. I received a letter and slipped an answer into my boyfriend’s bass locker. After the fast was officially over Friday evening, I went to watch the JCFA showcase with just my key and ID to get back into my apartment, since my phone had no charge. I didn’t have to carry a purse, and it was wonderful. The birds were singing in the suddenly green trees.

I’m back online, obviously. Papers won’t wait forever, and professors often communicate through email. Still, the fast was not as difficult as I thought it would be, once I had curbed the initial impulse to check my email every few hours. Really, I just had to make sure to plan ahead to meet up with friends for rehearsals and dates and so on. As a Lenten practice, it worked wonderfully. As a general practice, wonderful again.

What do you think? Have you ever done a technology fast?