The non-digital trend is growing stronger by the day, and in all honesty, I’m not surprised, and I’m all for it. I try to disconnect as much as I can, which at times is very difficult. But since calculated how much of my creative energy and precious time I devoted to being forever digitally present and available I knew I needed to disconnect from feeding the digital beast.
In the past couple of years, I left FB, Twitter, and deleted my Instagram content, only a few days ago. I still have the account as I follow a few creators and communicate with one of my friends via Instagram. But who knows what’s gonna happen in a year as my resistance to the tech world is increasing each day.
In defence of still keeping my Instagram account, I do tend to take my sweet time to decide, which is part of my commitment to slow creativity and to building a long term sustainable creative art practice. In the past I used to make a lot of spare of a moment decisions, which often backfired adding stress and pressure to my already over productive, creative art practice.
If you are one of those individuals who is trying to disconnect more from the digital overlords and re-engage with the physical elements of life (I know how strange it might sound but here we are, re-learning slowing down, simplicity and how to live in the physical world) my suggestion and a creative prompt for this week is to go out into nature as often as you can. I know and realise that not everyone is as privileged to have access to nature but for those who do have access to nature, GO OUTSIDE!!!
When I’m in London I walk at least once a day (school run) and try to choose a path that has gardens, trees or any other type of greenery. (I usually have long walks in the park at the weekend.)
When I’m in the countryside, I reconnect with nature through:
- picking wildflowers,
- picking wild fruits, even in London I’m able to find wild cherries, apples or blackcurrants,
- making a seasonal nature table. For that, I pick whatever nature presents me with that season (winter is a difficult season for collecting nature’s treasures for obvious reasons but during the fall there are plenty of nature’s gifts),
- picking sticks and stones (my daughter absolutely loves them and always gives me a lot of those I have pockets and bags full of sticks and stones),
- walking and admiring what’s around me without disturbing the natural environment and the animals that live in that environment,
- having a hot drink early in the morning while watching the world wake up.
I would classify all those activities as slow activities, as I don’t treat them as performative but rather as reflective and contemplative. Even one reflective or contemplative activity done on a regular basis in nature makes me calmer, more giving, sparks creative solutions and ideas and for sure makes me a better writer as I can clearly hear the words in my head.
I know that nature is a soothing alternative to digital domination because of her healing, giving and forgiving character.
This week I propose a very practical summer prompt; Go out into nature and do nothing just be, observe pick wildflowers or fruits, touch the trees or grass. Leave your headphones behind (I would suggest leaving your phone behind, but I understand that at times the phone is needed for safety). Undisturbed walking, even in the city can be a reflective and contemplative making a way for thriving creative communication.
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