A Low(er) Tech Summer

What I'm Doing

This is a follow-up to last week’s post on summer planning.

Because I’ve had my first week of “summer-ish” summerness, even though it is still spring and, up where I live, we haven’t had near the kind of temps other places have already felt.

In the past week, I’ve done all my usual stuff, and I’ve also started three projects that line up with exactly what I wrote about last week.

And that’s gotten me thinking: what all these have in common is that they are lower tech, or slower tech, or just don’t include my phone or social media.

What have I been up to?

🪡 I started a little embroidery project that’s been on the back burner for over a year. I sat on the porch and went for it. It was so peaceful; everything is green and sunny this week, and I felt so calm and creative afterwards. I have so many creative projects that involve needle and thread planned, and it felt great to start one!

🎨 The four-week class on Swedish artist Hilma af Klint I’m taking, hosted by Morbid Anatomy, started. Now, technically (pun intended, hardy har), this does involve tech, as it’s being hosted on Zoom. This feels like “slower tech” to me. It’s a class, so think slides, lecture, and discussion. Lifelong learning is a big value for me, and it ticks a lot of boxes: abstract art, women artists, art history, spirituality.

🌱 I got most of our garden planted: peas, beans, radishes, cubanelle and habanero peppers, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme (🎶), tarragon, marjoram, cumin, basil, an entire bed of different salad greens, and cucumbers. I spent several hours in the yard, in the dirt, planning what goes where and what I want to change from last year.

I wrote a bit about the garden on my other blog last year. You’ll note it was also the last time I wrote over there (LOL). It’s on the summer list, held loosely. You’re welcome to follow me there if you want. Please don’t expect too much!

None of this is to say technology is bad or you shouldn’t do stuff on your phone or your computer or whatever.

We live in a modern, tech-driven world. That wouldn’t be realistic for most of us.

And yes, “technology” isn’t limited to electronics. But that’s what I’m talking about here.

And this is really about a little bit of space for getting a little more picky about how, when, and how much we use all these devices.

Not because it means we stop.

But because it means we get to decide what we want out of each time we plug ourselves into the gadgets.

Because we are, in a sense, plugging our attention in. But what I hear from clients, and experience myself, is that sometimes, we plug in, but instead of leaving feeling recharged, we feel drained.

It’s important to be informed. It’s important to use the tools we have to advocate for positive change.

And it’s important to remember to make space to recharge for ourselves.

That’s what’s on my mind this week: things I’m carving out time for to help me hit reset, recharge myself, things that feel generative, and help remind me of the person I want to be.

So I can show up for others as that person.

So if full-on summer planning isn’t for you, and my ideas about it aren’t cutting it (totally fine!), here’s another suggestion: make a list of the stuff you want to do or engage with that isn’t quite so tech- or phone-driven.

Put that list somewhere you will see it. Somewhere that will interrupt your habits. Maybe a Post-it note on the back of your phone.

That way, the next time you reach for your phone without thinking, you’ll see that list.

And then you’ll have the space to decide: to tech or not to tech? To phone or not to phone?

And you’ll create a little opening for something creative, generative, or inspiring to take hold.

I’d love to know what’s on your list!

I’m cheering you on.

If you’re not on the Aligned Insight Email Community mailing list, please hop over to the website and sign up there. I send out opportunities for groups, events, and special offers only to that email list, so don’t miss out!