You don’t have to center your life around technology.
The real world exists outside the internet.
When I use technology less, I feel calmer, more rational, and clearer.
Here’s the low-tech way I start my morning to achieve my goals.
A low-tech morning starts the night before
Every night, I place an inexpensive cover I bought on Amazon over my iMac. I do this to reduce my computer’s temptation in the morning.
I also turn off my phone at least 1-2 hours before bed and store it in a kitchen drawer.
By putting my most-used technology devices away at night, I’m less tempted to habitually fire them up first thing in the morning.
A simple, 3-step low-tech morning routine
First, I make coffee, feed our dog, and do a few minutes of joint mobility exercises to loosen up.
I then sit in the reading chair in my office to do a brief, few-minute positivity practice I call the 3 G’s. I first think of a few things I’m grateful for, then a few things good in my life, and, lastly, the things I get to do (not have to do) today.
I then read something physical, such as a book or printed-out podcast transcripts.
Slowly integrating the internet
I then start working on something on my computer, such as this newsletter article.
I gradually increase my technology use for the first 1-2 hours:
- I work on one thing at a time.
- I don’t start searching on Google if I can avoid it.
- I avoid AI chat tools
- I don’t open any chat messaging tools such as iMessage, Slack, or WhatsApp
- I don’t turn on or unlock my phone
A life with less technology
When I look at a group of teenagers on their phones, I’ll always see at least one so hunched over that I think, “Oh my god…that kid’s posture is going to be horrible when they’re older.”
We’re literally transforming our physical bodies due to technology. Imagine what we’re doing to our minds.
We weren’t meant to spend our entire lives staring at screens.
Our real lives and potential exist outside the internet.
Use technology to achieve your goals.
Don’t make technology the center of your life.
—Matt