Author Topic: No Screen November  (Read 7348 times)

tallen

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No Screen November
« on: October 19, 2015, 11:28:22 AM »
I've been spending way to much time in front of a screen, either tv or computer so I decided to make November "No screen November". No tv, computer, or smartphone (except for essentials like doing online banking and paying bills). Anyone else care to join me?

RetiredAt63

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #1 on: October 20, 2015, 08:57:21 AM »
Hell no - that would mean no MM forum!

I do watch my screen time though, it can be a time-suck. Maybe have a time limit each day?  Say an hour - set a timer or stopwatch that can be paused, run it every time there is a screen being used, when the time runs out you are done for the day.

Years ago at my parents' cottage we had a "no TV before 6 PM" rule.  We started it because the kids would be watching cartoons and the guys would be watching golf on a gorgeous summer day with the lake waiting.  It worked very well.

lizzzi

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #2 on: October 20, 2015, 09:17:31 AM »
I would suggest limiting yourself to no more than an hour in the mornings just for the necessities--check emails, news and weather--maybe do the financial errands if any. Then no more screen time until after 8pm, and that for only one TV or Netflix show. Use the Smartphone only as a telephone, for making or receiving necessary calls.

I think you'll isolate yourself too much if you try to eliminate all screen time. And believe me, I can relate 100%. I feel much better in general when I limit my screen time. No eyestrain ...sleep better...more of a feeling that life is "real"...more tactile...that I'm actually more connected to the real world when I unplug from the virtual and electronic world.

velocistar237

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #3 on: October 20, 2015, 09:21:06 AM »
A full day before your first reply. Perhaps this challenge is too hard for most people.

They say that 100% is easier than 99% if you're giving something up, but I'm never going to give up the internet. Figuring out how to create and stick to healthy screen habits is what I want, and going cold turkey for a month is not a long-term solution.

I like the time-of-day rule.

tallen

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #4 on: October 20, 2015, 11:59:13 AM »
Yeah, I guess it is to hard for most people, which if you think about it is a little sad. I'm talking about a month without tv and internet, things that didn't even exist 100 years ago!! I think that anyone who believes a month with no internet and tv would be to difficult to accomplish NEEDS to take a break from them for a bit!

I need to break my routines which is why I'm doing it, I spend most of day before work sitting in front of the computer (I work 2nd shift), and then come home from work and plop in front of the tv. Once the month of "no screens" is over I'll work on developing healthier screen habits, but that will be easier if I break the bad habits first!

Edit-spelling
« Last Edit: October 20, 2015, 01:23:29 PM by tallen »

randommadness

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #5 on: October 20, 2015, 01:25:16 PM »
I had eye strain last week from some excessive screen time I think.

I'm in front of one (actually 2) screen for 9 hours a day at work, and then one of my main hobbies is gaming... OOPS.

RetiredAt63

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #6 on: October 20, 2015, 02:24:33 PM »
People had newspapers - one in the morning, one in the afternoon.  They wrote letters.  Most lived on farms.  And of course 100 years ago they were in the middle of a world war.

I see it more as a "cut down on brainless wasted time activities".  I spent 4 hours in front of the computer last night, watching election returns, and do not regret a minute of it.  Tonight I will have about 10 minutes in front of the computer (right now).  I spent the afternoon in the garden, and will shower, eat, and go out to a fun meeting.

Yeah, I guess it is to hard for most people, which if you think about it is a little sad. I'm talking about a month without tv and internet, things that didn't even exist 100 years ago!! I think that anyone who believes a month with no internet and tv would be to difficult to accomplish NEEDS to take a break from them for a bit!

lizzzi

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #7 on: October 20, 2015, 09:33:38 PM »
It's not that it's too hard. But I don't get a hardcopy newspaper, and I don't want to wait for hardcopy (pen and paper) letters to go back and forth to my disabled daughter out of state. She's very isolated due to her disability...has just had a major loss of a cat...and I feel that she needs my support per email and smartphone phone calls. In spirit, I am very much like the OP,  but for me, being strict about screen time limitation solves the issue.

I much prefer "real life" activities. Coffee with a friend at home or a local diner, playing solitaire with a real deck of playing cards, playing my harp or piano instead of listening and watching music on Youtube or iTunes...reading a hardcopy book instead of the Kindle...the list goes on and on. OP is on the right track, IMO. I just can't be quite that extreme right now.

tallen

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #8 on: October 21, 2015, 01:45:48 AM »
People had newspapers - one in the morning, one in the afternoon.  They wrote letters.  Most lived on farms.  And of course 100 years ago they were in the middle of a world war.

I see it more as a "cut down on brainless wasted time activities".  I spent 4 hours in front of the computer last night, watching election returns, and do not regret a minute of it.  Tonight I will have about 10 minutes in front of the computer (right now).  I spent the afternoon in the garden, and will shower, eat, and go out to a fun meeting.


Retiredat63- There are still daily newspapers, the United States Postal Service is still going strong delivering mail (as well as the Canadian equivalent), most land is still farmland, and we're in the middle of several wars right now. Was there a reason you brought all that up or are you just making conversation?

(for everyone)- I just threw this challenge out here to see if anyone else wanted to try it with me. I'm doing it for myself for my own personal reasons whether or not anyone else decides to join me. I don't understand a few of the replies I've gotten, if someone isn't interested in the challenge then why even post in this thread?? I'm not looking for advice on how to reduce my screen time or even trying to convince anyone else that they should reduce theirs. I just thought since I was going to do it, I'd post in this forum and see if anyone else wanted to join me, that's all.
« Last Edit: October 21, 2015, 02:02:43 AM by tallen »

velocistar237

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #9 on: October 21, 2015, 04:39:49 AM »
(for everyone)- I just threw this challenge out here to see if anyone else wanted to try it with me. I'm doing it for myself for my own personal reasons whether or not anyone else decides to join me.

Sounds great. Hopefully someone will still join you.

I don't understand a few of the replies I've gotten, if someone isn't interested in the challenge then why even post in this thread??

This is a discussion forum, and people are free to discuss whatever they want. The discussion has stayed close to the original topic, and even if it hadn't, there are no rules against going off-topic. I've benefited from participating in this thread, even though I won't be taking part in the challenge.

I'm not looking for advice on how to reduce my screen time or even trying to convince anyone else that they should reduce theirs. I just thought since I was going to do it, I'd post in this forum and see if anyone else wanted to join me, that's all.

Sounds good. Other people are looking for advice on healthy screen habits, and they're just posting in this thread and seeing if anyone will interact with their thoughts on the matter, that's all.

lizzzi

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #10 on: October 21, 2015, 09:40:51 AM »
Sorry, Tallen, I didn't realize you just wanted to hear from people who were going to join the challenge. Hope you didn't mind my thoughts too much--and again, I'm pretty much in agreement with you...just can't take the challenge right now.

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #11 on: October 21, 2015, 10:39:11 AM »
I've been spending way to much time in front of a screen, either tv or computer so I decided to make November "No screen November". No tv, computer, or smartphone (except for essentials like doing online banking and paying bills). Anyone else care to join me?

You may have my computer screen when you pry it from my cold, dead, eyeballs.

tallen

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #12 on: October 21, 2015, 12:58:57 PM »

This is a discussion forum, and people are free to discuss whatever they want. The discussion has stayed close to the original topic, and even if it hadn't, there are no rules against going off-topic. I've benefited from participating in this thread, even though I won't be taking part in the challenge.


Thanks Velocistar, I guess I took a couple of the post as people telling me not to go screen free and use time limits instead, when maybe they just wanted to discuss it further and find out why I want to go completely without.

I've tried the time limit thing before, within a week I've always reverted back to my old habits. (let me just check my email real fast, ok, now I'll just see if there's any interesting new posts on the MMM forum, Oh, now to check bank balance, well could have got more email better check again.........) I've found it much easier not to sit down in front of the computer or tv than it is to pry myself away from it, also I've read that it takes about 21 days to form a habit so 30 days should do well to break the screen habit and form new habits in its place.

I've also got several things I want to get done. A garage, basement and spare room full of crap that needs purged/decluttered, several unread books on my bookshelf, a guitar that no matter how long it sits there simply refuses to learn to play itself, and several projects around the house I'd like to tackle. None of it is urgent however, so it's simply not getting done. If I can do away with the huge time suck of "screen time", I'm thinking at least some of this stuff will get some progress made on it.

tallen

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #13 on: October 21, 2015, 01:10:05 PM »
Sorry, Tallen, I didn't realize you just wanted to hear from people who were going to join the challenge. Hope you didn't mind my thoughts too much--and again, I'm pretty much in agreement with you...just can't take the challenge right now.

No need to apologize, any thoughts you have are welcome. I just got a few "do time limits instead" posts and got a little frustrated. I'm sorry if I made you feel unwelcome.  When I posted it I wasn't expecting many people to join me, but I definitely wasn't expecting any resistance to the idea, but all thoughts on the subject are welcome. So if you have any more thoughts on it post away :)

wintersun

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #14 on: October 21, 2015, 06:02:39 PM »
I will "sort of" join you. I do need to reply to emails daily.  But other than that I am in. I know it will feel amazing.

Thanks for starting this.

needmyfi

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #15 on: October 21, 2015, 06:18:45 PM »
A full day before your first reply. Perhaps this challenge is too hard for most people

Or they jumped the gun and started immediately.

tallen

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #16 on: October 21, 2015, 10:49:25 PM »
I will "sort of" join you. I do need to reply to emails daily.  But other than that I am in. I know it will feel amazing.

Thanks for starting this.

Great! I do all my banking and pay all my bills online too so I won't be 100% offline all month either. My plan is every friday do all my bank transfers and pay any upcoming bills, then scan my email for anything important. I'll do that a half hour before I leave for work, that way I HAVE to get back off and go to work and I don't get sucked back into browsing unnecessary blogs and forums for hours on end like a junkie getting his fix lol. 

My wife watches tv pretty much all day long and I mentioned a few days ago I wanted to do this and surprisingly she is all for it, didn't even hesitate. Only thing she said is maybe every weekend we can watch a family movie with my daughter (we get her weekends) so if that's what it takes to keep her on board I might watch a movie every weekend too, but I'm down for no tv at all so maybe I'll suggest family story night instead where we take turns reading a short book :)

RetiredAt63

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #17 on: October 22, 2015, 02:53:18 PM »
I just like challenge terms to be clear.  Really, you have already done a limited challenge for yourself, not a cold turkey challenge, since you are still doing online banking.  You could write cheques, and go to the teller at the bank to get cash, or use a debit card.  You can get paper statements.  You don't have to do online banking.  Also do you use a computer at work?  If yes, do you use it at all for personal things?  If you do, it isn't cold turkey.

And to add a topic to your challenge, do you have a data plan for your phone?  You can live without it. Double dare you (to use an expression from my youth).  I say this secure in the knowledge that it is doable - since my smart phone has no data plan.  ;-)

You mention screen time - I am assuming that radio is still OK?  Some is great, some is as much drivel as some visual media.

Re your other comments: Most land may still be farmland, but most people are not farmers.  Plus 100 years ago most rural areas did not have access to daily information.  There was a real information shortage.  And it wasn't a "several wars", it was the middle of WWI (July 1914 - November 1918).  Now if you wanted to go back 60 years, to 1953 - there was radio, TV was still in its infancy. People read newspapers and magazines, did their banking in person (and no direct deposit either).  They survived.  Don't do 50 years ago, TV ruled  ;-)

People had newspapers - one in the morning, one in the afternoon.  They wrote letters.  Most lived on farms.  And of course 100 years ago they were in the middle of a world war.

I see it more as a "cut down on brainless wasted time activities".  I spent 4 hours in front of the computer last night, watching election returns, and do not regret a minute of it.  Tonight I will have about 10 minutes in front of the computer (right now).  I spent the afternoon in the garden, and will shower, eat, and go out to a fun meeting.


Retiredat63- There are still daily newspapers, the United States Postal Service is still going strong delivering mail (as well as the Canadian equivalent), most land is still farmland, and we're in the middle of several wars right now. Was there a reason you brought all that up or are you just making conversation?

(for everyone)- I just threw this challenge out here to see if anyone else wanted to try it with me. I'm doing it for myself for my own personal reasons whether or not anyone else decides to join me. I don't understand a few of the replies I've gotten, if someone isn't interested in the challenge then why even post in this thread?? I'm not looking for advice on how to reduce my screen time or even trying to convince anyone else that they should reduce theirs. I just thought since I was going to do it, I'd post in this forum and see if anyone else wanted to join me, that's all.

zephyr911

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #18 on: October 22, 2015, 02:56:24 PM »
Oh, man. I wish I had the strength. Hahaha

TheDude

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #19 on: October 22, 2015, 05:31:58 PM »
I'm on a conference call from 5-8 tonight (right now) I wish I could get of the screen right now let alone the whole month

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votu

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #20 on: October 22, 2015, 10:58:22 PM »
I think I'll join you,  with the following exceptions

1. Weekly update for my other challenge
2. No screen is only limited to non work hours

Several years ago,  I had to spend around 4 months without internet, except at work, and it was bliss.  I got proper sleep and was extremely productive. Would love to get back to that state.

tallen

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #21 on: October 23, 2015, 12:12:21 PM »
I just like challenge terms to be clear.  Really, you have already done a limited challenge for yourself, not a cold turkey challenge, since you are still doing online banking.  You could write cheques, and go to the teller at the bank to get cash, or use a debit card.  You can get paper statements.  You don't have to do online banking.  Also do you use a computer at work?  If yes, do you use it at all for personal things?  If you do, it isn't cold turkey.

And to add a topic to your challenge, do you have a data plan for your phone?  You can live without it. Double dare you (to use an expression from my youth).  I say this secure in the knowledge that it is doable - since my smart phone has no data plan.  ;-)

You mention screen time - I am assuming that radio is still OK?  Some is great, some is as much drivel as some visual media.

I've had paperless statements and online billpay so long it would be too much of a hassle to to try to change everything so that I could do it all offline for just a month. If I was swearing off internet long term then I might make the changes necessary to do it all offline (or I might just go use the library computers every couple weeks since I'd be going there more anyway to borrow books) but not for just a month. Oh, and I don't use a computer at work, all my screen time is at home.

I have pageplus for my cell which includes a gig of data included, but the most I've used is about 50 megs. I might check my email or if I'm expecting a package check to see if it's been delivered, or us google maps to find an address but that's not very often. During the challenge I won't be using my phone for internet usage or entertainment (which I rarely do now so that part shouldn't be to tough.) I'll even go into my settings and disable wifi and data for the month.

Radio is fine, I'll probably be listening to it almost daily.

tallen

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #22 on: October 23, 2015, 12:27:33 PM »
I think I'll join you,  with the following exceptions

1. Weekly update for my other challenge
2. No screen is only limited to non work hours

Several years ago,  I had to spend around 4 months without internet, except at work, and it was bliss.  I got proper sleep and was extremely productive. Would love to get back to that state.

Great! Whatever tweaks you need to make it doable are fine. The happiest and most memorable times of my life where definitely not spent sitting in front of a tv or computer, so I know what your saying. I need to get away from the "screens" to have more of those happy memorable times.

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #23 on: October 26, 2015, 09:17:07 AM »
I'm doing something similar. No noise. I'm cutting out any radio while in the car, no podcasts, and no audio books. It's refreshing to enjoy the quiet sometimes and it makes you appreciate what you're listening to when you've gone without it for a bit!

The Little Whisker

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #24 on: October 27, 2015, 02:04:29 PM »
Tallen, I'm down to join you!  I don't spend much time in front of a screen, but still more than I'd like to.  Watching TV/surfing the internet is a good option if I have nothing better to do, and 99.9% of the time I have something better to do.

Excluding work and some of the essentials you mentioned, I'll go screen free in November.

One question, did you want to touch base on this blog to see how things are going?  Sort of breaks the rule, but it might be a good way to stay on track.  Thoughts?

Cookie78

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #25 on: October 27, 2015, 02:29:22 PM »
I want to do this in some form or another, but it's SCARY! There are so many other things I'm working towards that require some screen time (online courses, skype, language learning courses, etc). But I certainly could limit my wasted screen time a LOT more.

The Little Whisker

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #26 on: October 27, 2015, 02:35:11 PM »
I just extended the No Screen November challenge to a friend of mine, and he responded a bit mechanically to it.  What are the "rules"?  Cans I use my phone?  Etc.  My response seemed to sum up what the nature of this challenge is for at least me, so I thought I'd share it here in because I like clarity (and sharing it ;) ).

Inherent in this challenge is the recognition that I sometimes spend time in front of a screen for the entertainment it provides in order to medicate myself.  After 11 or so hours away from home (at work), I'll regularly tell myself some version of "I'm too tired" to do anything useful and sitting down on the couch to watch 30 minutes or so of television sounds like a welcome diversion.  What I've found is that when I push through that thought and do one of the many other things I wanted to get done, I wasn't too tired after all.  It was just an attitude I've adopted in order to avoid the discomfort of pushing myself.  It's almost always becomes a more satisfying day when I do push myself, however.  So, this is a challenge that recognizes that weakness in myself and commits a month to strengthening it.

What fun.

Cookie78

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #27 on: October 27, 2015, 02:46:59 PM »
I just extended the No Screen November challenge to a friend of mine, and he responded a bit mechanically to it.  What are the "rules"?  Cans I use my phone?  Etc.  My response seemed to sum up what the nature of this challenge is for at least me, so I thought I'd share it here in because I like clarity (and sharing it ;) ).

Inherent in this challenge is the recognition that I sometimes spend time in front of a screen for the entertainment it provides in order to medicate myself.  After 11 or so hours away from home (at work), I'll regularly tell myself some version of "I'm too tired" to do anything useful and sitting down on the couch to watch 30 minutes or so of television sounds like a welcome diversion.  What I've found is that when I push through that thought and do one of the many other things I wanted to get done, I wasn't too tired after all. It was just an attitude I've adopted in order to avoid the discomfort of pushing myself.  It's almost always becomes a more satisfying day when I do push myself, however.  So, this is a challenge that recognizes that weakness in myself and commits a month to strengthening it.

What fun.

Great point. If I'm honest with myself I know when I'm being productive with screen time (courses) and when I'm just avoiding pushing myself (Facebook).

The Little Whisker

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #28 on: October 27, 2015, 02:58:26 PM »
Agreed, Cookie!  As you can see from my post above, the challenge (for me, at least) isn't so much about not using the screen at all (although that is almost entirely what I will be doing).  It's about not wasting time using the screen.  And as an American, I feel pretty comfortable saying that about 98% of the time Americans use is a screen is wasted time.

If you want to join, just define the parameters of your own challenge, eliminating all of the self-medicating, screen-staring time-wasters, while keeping any other useful and necessary activities you perform in front of a screen.  You'll likely be left with 2% of your screen-watching time. ;)

tallen

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #29 on: October 28, 2015, 10:15:53 AM »
Tallen, I'm down to join you!  I don't spend much time in front of a screen, but still more than I'd like to.  Watching TV/surfing the internet is a good option if I have nothing better to do, and 99.9% of the time I have something better to do.

Excluding work and some of the essentials you mentioned, I'll go screen free in November.

One question, did you want to touch base on this blog to see how things are going?  Sort of breaks the rule, but it might be a good way to stay on track.  Thoughts?

Glad you decided to join us! If I come here and update I'd probably end up spending an hour or more reading posts so I don't plan on it, but if it would help keep you on track then feel free to do it. I think that it's best that everyone set their own parameters for the challenge since a "one size fits all" approach wouldn't work.

tallen

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #30 on: October 28, 2015, 10:29:26 AM »
I want to do this in some form or another, but it's SCARY! There are so many other things I'm working towards that require some screen time (online courses, skype, language learning courses, etc). But I certainly could limit my wasted screen time a LOT more.

I agree. There are a few productive online things I want to do too and was thinking of making exceptions, but decided to go a full month to break my screen habits and then when it's over to limit my nonproductive screen time and do those things then.

My exceptions are my online banking and bills (once weekly) followed by a quick email check (and follow up on anything that needs my attention before December). Also, I have 2 apps on my phone. A guided meditation app that I know uses data and a fitness app that I'm not sure if it does or not (Simplefit). I plan on using both so I'll include them on the exception list (I've been slacking with both of them but will have more free time to use them now and neither of them require more than about 30 seconds or so of actually looking at the screen)
« Last Edit: October 28, 2015, 10:32:13 AM by tallen »

Cookie78

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Re: No Screen November
« Reply #31 on: October 28, 2015, 10:40:52 AM »
Agreed, Cookie!  As you can see from my post above, the challenge (for me, at least) isn't so much about not using the screen at all (although that is almost entirely what I will be doing).  It's about not wasting time using the screen.  And as an American, I feel pretty comfortable saying that about 98% of the time Americans use is a screen is wasted time.

If you want to join, just define the parameters of your own challenge, eliminating all of the self-medicating, screen-staring time-wasters, while keeping any other useful and necessary activities you perform in front of a screen.  You'll likely be left with 2% of your screen-watching time. ;)

I practiced a bit last night. I wasn't 100% successful, but close. :) I also managed to get a lot more done than I usually do in an evening. :)

Personally I'm going to limit the challenge to non-working hours. I can do all my banking/emailing/etc during working hours. Texting is allowed, as are video calls. All other screen time must be directly related to productive activities (like the course I'm currently working on, Spanish lessons which are audio but on my laptop, direct research for projects I'm currently working on).