It’s time to plan your No Tech survival kit

As I was scrolling through my news feed several weeks ago, ironically enough, I came across an article about a “No-Tech” contest. Yes, it’s true. Reviews.com was looking for a lucky “I can’t live without tech” individual to go without technology for 24 hours. That the contest was for 24 hours only was in itself startling to me. They went on to clarify that applicants need not apply unless the thought of no technology for 24 hours induced a panic attack.

To support the contestant, a lock box safe to store each of the tech culprits and a $200 gift card to build a survival kit would be provided.

The contest prompted me to think about our use of, and dependency on, technology over the past year and its influence on every aspect of occupation. The American Occupational Therapy Association identifies 8 areas of occupation.

·       Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

·       Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs)

·       Education

·       Work

·       Play

·       Leisure

·       Social Participation

·       Rest and Sleep

Technology has been interwoven in all 8 occupations of life in one way or another as a result of the global pandemic. Don’t get me wrong, I am thankful for technology. It has helped all of us make it through the past 15 months.

However, as countries shift to less restrictive tiers and we begin to return to a way of lie that is less dependent on technology, can we – especially our students – wean away from screens and willingly engage in daily life activities that do not involve technology?

I decided to find out.

As part of a handwriting exercise for my students (yes, a paper and pencil task), I asked them to respond to the writing prompt, “if I went without tech for 23 hours, I would want/need the following in my No Tech survival kit.” To my surprise (and frankly, relief), the question was not met with gasps or “I don’t know.”

Students listed all that is music to an occupational therapist’s ears. Their lists were rich in areas of play, leisure and socialization. Examples of items in their kits and activities included: Family, friends, pets, reading books. Board and card games, baking supplies, crafts and hobbies, hiking, camping fishing, golf and basketball.

We have not lost them.

So as the school year is quickly coming to an end, now is the time to make plans about the role of technology for the summer and set expectations of screen use. As a family, build your own “No Tech” survival kit. How about a “No Tech Tuesday” for each Tuesday of the summer? A weekend No Tech survival kit? Demonstrate that you too can engage in “occupations of life” without technology.

On a final note, there happened to be one student whose initial response o my assignment of no technology was “this would be impossible for me.” He went on to consider the challenge and came up with the reply, “I would just rest.” How amazingly insightful. So don’t delay. Make your summertime survival kit and enjoy occupations play leisure, social participation and of course, rest and sleep.

Have a wonderful less-tech summer.

Kimberly Bonacum is an occupational therapist for Piedmont Unified School District and owner of Mindful Fidgets, LLC www.mindfulfidgets.com. For additional questions, she can be contacted at mindfulfidgets@gmail.com