Corona Virus hit the world in the first quarter of 2020 causing every nation to sit up a respond. A killer virus that will change the way we work, rest and play forever. Our Digital defense has had to lower else we would be left without food, without a social life - completely lost and lonely.
Each country has imposed a different set of rules, the general intention to stop the spread of the disease from person to person, has been driven by the instruction to STAY INDOORS - which of course could cut each and every one of us off from society. Surprisingly, it hasn't done this.
Roads were empty, many work places were closed, restaurants, bars, gyms, shops selling non essential items were all closed - we, in the UK, were only allowed outside to exercise. It was eerily quiet outside - yet indoors, there has been a whir of activity, a closeness of family and friends, some long lost relationships have been rekindled - it has all been happening online.
Most people have quickly adapted and moved their every day life online. Luckily today we have smart phones, tablets, computers, cameras and all the technology to function pretty well without leaving home. This digital existence has been forced upon us, and we, as nations, are coping quite well with it.
There are of course segments of the society who are unable to switch to a digital existence, most are being helped along by others, by carers, food bank deliveries, volunteer groups and the like - these people are very much at risk from being isolated during this time.
For the rest of us, if you haven't heard of ZOOM during the past few months, I am not sure where you have been. ZOOM has taken us by a storm as a fabulous video conferencing software (free for a short period), allowing all kinds of virtual hook ups on the screen.
Traditionally video conferencing has widely been used by international business for serious work meetings - Nowadays, I am hearing of family get togethers, church services, virtual pub quizzes, school lessons, music therapy, yoga, drinking sessions, teen parties, meetings of Alcoholics Anonymous and many other groups. It has allowed us to get together whilst still following the directive to STAY INDOORS.
The use of our digital devices has increased dramatically. I initially started this idea of 'Digital Detox' wanting to help wean us OFF of our devices and take some time out from screens. I hoped to indulge in some valuable detox time myself and to offer others that freedom from the online world. In actual fact, I have spent more time than ever on here in the past two months, interacting with others, learning, teaching, working and training our older generation how to get to grips with ZOOM to meet up and do their online shopping!
I have started giving online YOGA classes - a chance to get away from the monotony of STAYING HOME and a chance to tap into a very special part of our minds by allowing some space for creation, to receive messages of wisdom and hope. This would normally be face to face, but by adapting to the current needs of the nation, more people are at home, they have more time which they wish to fill and therefore are looking for this online. The beauty of this is that I have students logging in who are local and also students from Spain!
I am re-tailoring the way that my offering of 'Digital Detox' will work - it has always been the intention to offer a new DIET for our digital habits not a complete FAST and ABSTINENCE program. Therefore the general solutions don't change - but the delivery becomes a new challenge.
Initially I didn't want to be hypocritical by giving presentations and workshops online, that would obviously require you to be on a device to watch and participate in them. However, it does look like there may be a need for this.... Time will tell!
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