In his Becoming Minimalist email this morning, Joshua Becker encouraged his readers to consider Spring Decluttering instead of simply Spring Cleaning. In his list of tips, he suggested asking yourself questions like “what would I use if I didn’t have this item?”
I asked the same question while evaluating my craft supplies this past week, forcing myself to consider if the item I was looking at was the only way I could accomplish a given task.
Today, I read the question differently.
I had already scheduled technology for my category of the day, and was planning on looking at our devices, electronic games, piles of random cords, etc.
As I pondered “what would I use if I didn’t have this item” in terms of my electronics, the question took on a whole new meaning:
What activity or task would I be able to complete if I wasn’t playing this game?
What interaction would I engage in if I wasn’t interacting with this technology?
Don’t get me wrong, I think there is a place for numerous kinds of technology and screens – including video games. Over the past year, all four of us were able to attend school because we had our devices.
Some video games have been proven to be helpful in fine motor and some gross motor skills. Video games can be great tools to build relationships, especially in otherwise potentially awkward situations.
They have also been linked to all sorts of anti-social and problematic behaviors.
I listened to a Ted Radio Hour about Play a couple years ago and one of the featured speakers shed some light on one possible explanation for the difference between the positive benefits and potentially dangerous outcomes associated with video games. (The entire episode is fabulous, IMO, but if you want to skip to the section where they cover this concept, it starts around 35:15.)
They suggested why you play the game matters. If you approach screen time as entertainment or an interactive group activity, it can be enriching and relaxing. If you approach screen time as an escape, a means to not deal with your emotions, your responsibilities or the world around you, it can lead to unhealthy outcomes. (While I haven’t spent much time researching this, I imagine the same principle holds true for many other activities, not just screens. Books, food, exercise, even relationships approached as a means of escape can also lead to unhealthy outcomes.)
So back to Becker’s question, “What would I use if I didn’t have this item?”
If my children and I didn’t have our laptops, going to class and other tasks would be a lot more difficult, especially during this pandemic season. They’re a keeper. (I meant the laptops, but the kids, too.)
If I didn’t have the game Fishdom on my phone, I’d probably be less tempted to open it up and beat a few levels before starting on dinner. Or I might be more apt to read some of the books that survived the cut yesterday. I’m all for entertainment and times of relaxation, but hundreds of levels in, I think my relationship to Fishdom has breached the line to escapism. Buh-bye.
Note: I am very mindful of the many people who do not have adequate tools (including private spaces) to engage in school, work and other activities well in this current environment. We are extremely grateful for our sufficient technology, housing, food, and other met needs and wants, especially during this pandemic. We have also supported a couple organizations we love who are doing incredible work to lessen the disparity gaps in our culture which COVID-19 has significantly widened. If you’d like to learn more, send me a message or drop a question in the comments.
Uncovering Real 