Nothing short of an aggressive action is needed to fundamentally transform your relationship with technology.

I looked for someone among them…

Well, it’s been almost a year since we did Cal Newport’s take on a digital detox, on this past post of ours in March 2019!

And well, it’s that season of the year when you can yet again take up this challenge full-time! With the same zeal, the same enthusiasm and much more vibrancy!

Presenting the Grand Digital Detox Challenge, ladies and gentlemen!

Culled from Cal for y'all, here below, yet again,  yes! with a purpose!

The book is titled, Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World!

And Cal in a nutshell, teaches us to be mindful of the way we use technology!

Minimalism doesn’t necessarily mean being minimal in having clothes, or things or people around us!

Minimalism in essence, would mean, being mindful of what I do! A mindset that would make me choose what I do, what I own, and how they impact me and my way of life!

Minimalism, in other words would possibly mean that,

if I want to add meaning to my life,

I need to subtract the clutter!

I should think of what I want to remove!

And that’s exactly what Digital Minimalism is all about!

In other words, how could I possibly remove the clutter from my life, and do a digital declutter or a digital detox in order to double up on my vibrancy in my kutty-little dwelling-time on this planet!

To Cal Newport, digital minimalism is motivated by the belief that intentionally and aggressively clearing away digital noise, and optimizing your use of the tools that really matter, can significantly improve your life!

In this regard, Cal puts forward the proposition that, nothing short of an aggressive action is needed to fundamentally transform your relationship with technology. The digital declutter or digital detox provides this aggressive action!

With such conviction, he gives us his readers, a call to action!

Are you game for this call to action!? :-)

Now from the blurb to the book for y’all –

Minimalism is the art of knowing how much is just enough. Digital minimalism applies this idea to our personal technology. It's the key to living a focused life in an increasingly noisy world.

In this timely and enlightening book, the bestselling author of Deep Work introduces a philosophy for technology use that has already improved countless lives.

Digital minimalists are all around us. They're the calm, happy people who can hold long conversations without furtive glances at their phones. They can get lost in a good book, a woodworking project, or a leisurely morning run. They can have fun with friends and family without the obsessive urge to document the experience. They stay informed about the news of the day, but don't feel overwhelmed by it. They don't experience ‘fear of missing out’ because they already know which activities provide them meaning and satisfaction.

Technology is intrinsically neither good nor bad. The key is using it to support your goals and values, rather than letting it use you. This book shows the way.

Now for the icing on the cake!

Taking the cue from Cal, I was curious to know if there are people today, in our own localities, particularly youngies in their twenties and thirties who practice digital minimalism!

I was so curious to check it out all by myself! On this ‘philosophy for technology’ that Cal goes gaga about! Especially people from my own vocation – teaching - who are the ‘calm, happy people who can hold long conversations without furtive glances at their phones’?

To my sweet surprise, after some patient labour, I was able to spot and pick out a quite decent ten of them!

Five of the youngy professors are from MCC, yes FIVE! while five others are from other colleges and Universities!

Amazinggg! Ain't it?

And among these five University professors, two are in very senior positions in their respective institutions!

And so proud and happy to tell you that six among these ten are my very good friends! :-)

Will be coming out with a detailed report on them all and their tryst with digital detox quite soon!

The majority of them have not even had a feel of instagrams, facebooks or whatsapps, they confess! So surprising! So astonishing! Ain’t it?

Lemme repeat Cal, again –

Technology is intrinsically neither good nor bad. The key is using it to support your goals and values, rather than letting it use you!

One young lady professor with whom I spoke to, today – at DKM College, Vellore said that, she’s never been in Insta or FB at any point of time! But she’s in Whatsapp she says, but only for her Dept’s official group and for a family group! ‘Apart from these two groups, I don’t spend much time on these time-wasting apps, sir!’, she says with such conviction and such happiness on her! I was all admiration for this young lady who felt that Insta or an FB have nothing much to offer for a person like her! How true!

When I think about it, I felt there’s much truth to her words! To her conviction! To her resolve!

Hats off to you dear ma’am!

You are such a role model for your students, your family and your society!

The world needs more of you!

In this digitally driven world, when everyone goes bonkers about being in these ‘Social Networking’ apps, it feels so good to spot such divine souls, Ain’t it? ;-)

Well, if any of you, dear readers, is practicing this abstinence from many or all of these Social Networking Sites, do email me rightaway at rufusonline@gmail.com

Would so love to be in touch with you.

Two of us professors are working on a book towards that end! Would be so happy to add you to our sweet little volume.

Yup! To showcase proud and bold to the wide world out there, that there are committed souls right here, in our own midst, who treasure and value their personal space in such sacred ways!

Forgive my immodesty, ;-) but a little bit about my resolve too for y’all –

I’m also on digital detox mode right now! I’m never ever on facebook or Insta or Tinder or whatever at any point of time! But yes! I pop up on Whatsapp once in a while to get official news from my workplace! Else, no other group interests me! This way myself too, in my own kutty little way, contribute my sweet might, to cherish my kutty little sacred space, that precious little space entrusted unto me by Him! And as far as I know, students don’t message or text me on Whatsapp everrrr!, since I tell them well in advance on that! Well, yes! as a sweet alternative, they are given the lovely privilege of communicating with me on my email id anytime! This way, I make them write good English – communicative English – email English – formal English – alleyyy! ;-)

So yup! If you’re planning on a digital detox, or planning a total abstinence on the digital arena, please please do ping me! mail me! Would be so delighted to know you and be your invisible friend for always! (the type that Akiko talks about!)

Love,

Rufus

PS: You may want to read a couple of this blogger's past poems written way back, in the year 2006! Might sound a bit anachronistic by today’s techno-leaps! ;-) But still – they’re on a related vein, so! Will help you get a glimpse of my burden and concern on this count!

The Thumb Matters!
The Precious Power Failure!