A Week Without the Internet

Sort of. Kat originally got me thinking about avoiding the internet for a week with this post, and I told you about my decision to give it a try here. No more wasting time on Instagram, news sites, various political sites, looking at yarn I don't need, etc. I began Sunday with the zeal of a convert, proudly proclaiming, "No internet for me!" But several problems quickly became evident. 

I had bills to pay and because I pay most of them online, I had to go online to do that. Then I finished Lady in the Lake. I try to write my reviews on Goodreads soon after completing a book when the details are fresh in my mind, so I was back online to do that. I also placed several holds on books at my libraries via Overdrive, but I think we would all agree that books are a necessity. 

For the rest of the week, I checked fire updates, email, wrote a blog post or two, and read blog posts. But then on Friday evening, Justin's girlfriend (who is constantly on facebook and instagram) told me that Ruth Bader Ginsburg had died and this was the most important reason to turn to the internet. I needed to confirm that this very sad news was true and that the hypocritical Republicans would indeed act as expected. 

What did I learn from my week "without the internet"? Mainly that it's ubiquitous and necessary. It is evident in almost all aspects of my life, from looking for recipes to checking out books to streaming "The Crown". I cannot imagine trying to maintain my sanity during the pandemic without it and am very glad I have not had to. The internet is a tool, and like any other tool, it is up to me to use it wisely. In so many ways, it makes my life easier and more pleasurable. It's my personal responsibility to find the middle ground between being uninformed and wasting precious hours doom-scrolling. I think this week showed me that life without the internet might be possible, but it is so much richer if I use it sparingly and for good.