Article by Ben Spencer
In Rugby, we find ourselves fortunate enough to live in a perfect example of the beauty that the UK has to offer.
Actually appreciating this beauty in the modern age of fast living and faster tech isn’t always easy, as we so often find ourselves locked to digital systems instead of enjoying the world around us.
For many of us, the solution can be to take some time away, downgrade our tech reliance, and see what a more analogue approach to living can do for our lives.
Keeping the Core Pieces
Before we go into the why and how of minimising your digital reliance, it’s important to remember that going entirely off the grid isn’t really an option.
Basic technology is still a must for safety, and it’s perfectly fine to keep some entertainment elements and systems you enjoy too.
If you’re a fan of casino slots like Big Bass Splash or Buffalo King Megaways, for example, these can still be worked into your schedule.
Playing a few spins on mobiles or computers is just fine, since we’re looking at the big picture.
What we want to do is replace those elements that have digital alternatives with something more physical.
If you’re locked into social media, for example, spending direct time with friends might be a better approach. Instead of doom-scrolling, we could head back to the library and finish off an old series left uncompleted.
You could also simply limit your total screen time a day to a certain number of hours you feel would be more productive, and work out the details from there.
Why Go Offline?
There’s nothing inherently wrong with spending your free time online and with high-tech devices.
These are popular for good reason, delivering us convenience and access to the larger world that previous generations of computer users could only dream of.
The only problem occurs when we get lost in them and lose track of our older hobbies or more physical pursuits.
Today, our population is about 20% less active than we were in the 1960s.
This is where the most profound advantages of going offline occur, in that it can help drive us to a more physically productive and healthier lifestyle.
More than 20 chronic mental and physical conditions are helped through exercise, and the more time you have to plan and commit, the healthier you can be.
That’s not to say that you need to dedicate all your offline time to fitness, but setting a period aside to get active is highly recommended by medical experts.
Simply going out for an hour walk a day in a place like Caldecott Park can produce hugely positive changes, both to your physical health through exercise and your mental wellbeing by being in our beautiful community.
Spending less time on the digital frontier is something we all think about from time to time, but it’s rarely an idea we truly commit to.
Instead of waiting to make a New Year’s resolution, consider making a plan today, and slowly work your way into seeing what it offers to your life in Rugby.
You might struggle at first, but the result is worth the effort, and every failure also serves as another opportunity to learn.
