The click of computer keys. Shuffling of a mouse.
The push of a lock button.
Eyes always forward, transfixed on the screen in front of us.
Edge that mouse a little closer to the ‘shut down’ button. Hit that lock button and put your phone somewhere it can rest for a while. Avert your eyes from your screen, perhaps to a window or even a colleague… have they dyed their hair?!
It’s the third-ever techtimeout Tuesday, and we’re taking part!
techtimeout Tuesday, what’s that?
First launched in 2020, techtimeout Tuesday is dedicated to having a break from our technology. It always falls on the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday, as it’s likely people’s screen time will have been higher over that weekend and we will need a techtimeout more than ever!
It’s not an excuse to get no work done or a request that you go completely off grid, it would be quite extreme to do either of those things… it’s simply a day to dedicate any length of time to a meaningful, tech-free activity.
What are we doing this year?
We’ve taken part in every techtimeout tuesday since it launched, and this year we’re going bigger and better than ever!
In between getting plenty of work done, we’ll be having a book club meeting where we’re going to be discussing our current book Confident and Killing It by Tiwalola Ogunlesi. Our book club meetings are always tech-free and the club itself promotes techtimeouts.
Our competitive sides will also be coming out as we’ll be enjoying board games throughout the day. Each member of the team has been asked to bring in their favourite board game and we will be playing with no tech whatsoever - let’s just hope no one brings Risk… we might be playing until next year’s techtimeout Tuesday!
Why techtimeout?
Tech is amazing and it’s quite easy to pretend we, as a society, don’t have a huge dependence on it. Not only do most of us rely on technology to get our jobs done, we also rely on it to keep us entertained, stay in touch with our friends, and do vital life admin like our online banking.
However, tech can also have a negative impact on our physical and mental health. From strained necks and “texters’ thumb”, to lower self-esteem and constantly comparing ourselves to those we see through our screens… tech has its ups and its downs.
The purpose of techtimeout is to recognise the downsides of tech usage and learn from them so we can improve our relationships with technology. We can all do our bit to lower our screen time and live happier, healthier lives as a result.
