Day 3 of the Media Fast

So when I decided that 2016’s unofficial motto would be Create More Than You Consume, I had visions of a glorious 366 day-year, full to the brim of arting the crap out of every day. Of honing my nonexistent photography skills. Of finishing the various unfinished paintings I have floating about, or even starting new ones. Of filling a sketch diary. Of finally taking the plunge with digital art. Of finally learning to knit. Of sewing a pillowcase or something. Of blogging about all the wonderfully creative things I was doing. I was armed with 366 blank days and feeling pretty good about it.

Then January happened. Between illness, my convalesence, and some craziness with both jobs, the month slipped by pretty quietly. While I was sitting in the hospital bed waiting to be released, I realized my month hadn’t been completely soaked up with the normal adulthood drudgery. I’d had plenty of moments, of tiny opportunities spread throughout even the busiest days, and I hadn’t even seen them. Part of this is because my day job is the definition of soul-crushing, and by the time I escaped back to my home, I was so emotionally and physically exhausted, it was all I could do to eat something vaguely nutritious before falling into a recliner to prop up my swollen legs. I’d tell myself I’d watch an episode of something on Netflix, and then get around to my ever-growing To Do list. Before I knew it, it was bedtime, and the cycle would begin again.

That’s when I decided that I should try a Media Fast. For the entire month of February, I would give up watching TV, Netflix, Prime, DVDs, etc. Not because I don’t love these things, but because I do. There is nothing wrong with watching these things, but I feel, much like physical things, they’re currently taking up too much of my life. So it made sense to see if I can abstain for a measly 29 days. If I can’t, perhaps I have bigger problems.

Here’s what it isn’t:

• A screen fast. I have to use computers at both of my jobs, and I use my phone to communicate with all my loved ones. Plus, screen fasts just sound generally pompous.
• An internet fast. Part of the creating equation is my blogging, and I can’t do that without the internet. Also, I haven’t completely eschewed social media for this particular fast, but in the spirit of this fast, I have greatly cut down on my useage.
• A music fast. Apparently I’ve confused people because don’t I know music is a type of media? But as music doesn’t hinder me from creating (in fact, it usually has the opposite effect!), I’m not banishing it for a month. Especially given the fact that upbeat tunes are the only way the toilet gets cleaned, let’s be honest. Personal dance parties are my preferred method of housework.
• A book fast. I’m trying to read 52 books this year. November & December are going to be absolute minefields in terms of carving out time to read, I’m not cutting another month out of my year. Besides, reading is a healing balm.
• Early Lent. I’m not Catholic, so no, this challenge isn’t related to Lent. It’s established that I’m the world’s worst Baptist, so I don’t want to add bad Catholic to the list as well.

Here are the exceptions:

• The Walking Dead. This doesn’t comeback until two weeks in anyway, so it’s barely an exception. This makes the short list because it’s something I do with my family. It’s not just me marathoning Firefly for the eighteenth time, it’s the only show my entire family watches together. Plus, this is one of the only shows I actually care about getting spoiled.
• Deadpool. This is an exception because I don’t see many movies while they’re in theater. Not because I’m a hipster or a curmudgeon, but for the simple fact I don’t have $10-$12 for every movie that interests me. So there. Ha!

So here I am, three days in. I’ve already read two books, blogged twice, and even started a short story. If I keep this up, I’ll be published by Christmas, haha.

I’m not saying I haven’t been tempted. There’s four people in this house with very different schedules, so there’s someone constantly watching something, and right now one of those somethings is Stargate: Atlantis, and honestly even just hearing it makes me remember how great that show was. I even snuck a couple peeks at Sheppard and Ronon. But mostly, I’m pretty okay with it so far.