Extra Credit - A Day Without Modern Technology - Fatima Paulina Lopez Diaz

 A Day Without Modern Technology

For one of my assignments, I had to spend an entire day without using any technology developed after the year 1900. That meant no phone, no internet, no laptop, no modern appliances—basically, nothing I usually depend on to get through the day. At first, I thought it would just be a fun challenge, maybe a little inconvenient, but nothing too serious. I was wrong. It turned out to be way more difficult—and eye-opening—than I expected.

I started the day by trying to figure out what I was actually allowed to use. The rule was clear: if it was invented after 1900, it was off-limits. That meant no streaming music, no texting, no Naver Map, no electric stove. I ended up using a notebook and pen instead of typing, lighting candles instead of switching on lamps, I even tried to read by daylight instead of turning on a light, just to stay true to the assignment.

At first, I kept reaching for my phone out of habit. I didn’t even realize how often I check the time, respond to messages, or just scroll out of boredom. Without those distractions, the day felt longer—slower—but in a weird way, more peaceful. I wasn’t jumping from one notification to the next. I had to focus on one task at a time, and that made me more aware of what I was actually doing.

One of the hardest parts was communication. I couldn’t text or email anyone, so I ended up writing a short letter to my fiance just for fun. I knew they wouldn’t get it for the day, but it made me realize how patient people used to have to be. Everything moved at a slower pace. And instead of watching a movie or playing a game, I went for a walk and read part of a book I had been putting off.

It was also strange how quiet everything was. No background music, no podcasts, no YouTube playing in the corner. At first, the silence felt uncomfortable. But by the end of the day, it actually felt calming. I was more in tune with my thoughts, more present.

Spending a day without modern technology made me appreciate how much we rely on it—and how quickly we’ve gotten used to it. But it also reminded me that slower, simpler ways of doing things can be valuable too. It wasn’t easy, but it helped me reconnect with things I usually rush past. And maybe that’s something I’ll try to hold onto, even when the tech comes back on.