Feat
Energy Sabbatical
Turn off all non-essential home electronics, including the lights. Try a candle, and talking. To complete this feat, you must go largely electricity-free at home at least twice over the course of the challenge. No, you do not need to unplug your refigerator; and you can turn on your stove to cook. But scratch the TV, microwave, computer, powermixer, and anything else that is not strictly life-supporting. Think this is crazy, and need inspiration? Check out what Michelle Beavan, wife of No Impact Man, had to say about how the experience changed her life.
Image: Chris Gampat
BONUS: Every challenger that "feat accompli's" Energy Sabbatical will win a free yoga download from Natural Fitness.
Email this pageAchievers
| User | Date & Time |
|---|---|
Powerout2010 |
15:18 12/29/2009 |
Luscious |
11:04 01/12/2010 |
|
joy p. |
16:47 01/13/2010 |
eoz |
08:48 01/14/2010 |
|
KKesquire |
12:18 01/21/2010 |
snowpeach |
14:49 01/21/2010 |
Fraidy |
23:49 01/23/2010 |
sandyliz |
15:20 01/24/2010 |
gleam |
10:12 01/26/2010 |
|
rodrilau |
21:28 01/26/2010 |
rolene |
10:42 01/30/2010 |
|
maxthebd |
14:56 01/30/2010 |
|
@certainDISASTER |
15:00 01/31/2010 |
FrogOmnibus |
14:45 02/01/2010 |
Llaves |
15:34 02/01/2010 |
|
Untrapping Myself |
11:49 02/02/2010 |
hurley13 |
00:41 02/03/2010 |
yeahredgymnast |
07:58 02/03/2010 |
chococat |
12:34 02/03/2010 |
swell1 |
16:12 02/03/2010 |
volcane09 |
06:17 02/05/2010 |
obsoleteforms |
19:38 02/05/2010 |
Butwhatifido |
15:23 02/07/2010 |
|
vcolsen |
17:16 02/08/2010 |
|
emahlee |
00:33 02/09/2010 |
|
liz |
13:14 02/09/2010 |
|
oldbaygirl |
23:23 02/09/2010 |
whatodds |
02:05 02/10/2010 |
|
hktexan |
22:01 02/10/2010 |
artichkme |
12:10 02/11/2010 |
lurtle |
13:11 02/11/2010 |
reganh |
14:07 02/11/2010 |
VeganDiva |
15:22 02/11/2010 |
Khaliah |
18:32 02/11/2010 |
moveyourbootyblog |
01:33 02/12/2010 |
CJ |
10:42 02/12/2010 |
marikorose |
11:39 02/12/2010 |
Seelexfit |
11:59 02/12/2010 |
|
meggiep |
06:19 02/15/2010 |
|
angela paolicelli-ortiz |
20:22 02/15/2010 |
Comments
I am in love with this feat.
Submitted by Butwhatifido on 12.24.09 at 12:03.
Question: if I keep Shabbat every week and not use any electronic devices does that count?
Submitted by Fraidy on 12.24.09 at 09:32.
yes!!! this feat rules!
Submitted by urbansherpa on 12.28.09 at 01:04.
For how long?
Submitted by michlny on 01.08.10 at 12:10.
I'm going to try and do this 2 evenings a week for the challenge period. I'm pretty good in general but I think not having music on will be an interesting experience.
Submitted by Raviahmad on 01.12.10 at 10:57.
I accomplished this last night! Got home and ONLY turned the heat on in my bedroom. Didnt watch tv, and even UNPLUGGED anything not in immediate use! The silence, and the calm and the ability to just "be" was so soothing. I lay in my bed and just reflected. Ended up getting better rest than I have in a long time!
Submitted by Luscious on 01.12.10 at 11:06.
wow i would if i lived alone BELIEVE ME LOL
Submitted by Lela on 01.13.10 at 05:53.
I'm intrigued by this feat. If I spend a large portion of the day somewhere else- say knitting or reading at a coffee shop - am I keeping the spirit of this?
I guess I could be doing this now, if I wasn't on the damn computer :)
Submitted by sandyliz on 01.16.10 at 02:38.
refigerator?
Submitted by @HereNow on 01.16.10 at 04:59.
So I decided that keeping Shabbat counts for this feat since we go 25 hours without electrical devices and without cooking etc. and two weeks went by so I've done it twice.
Submitted by Fraidy on 01.23.10 at 11:50.
spent the second day mostly outside, not using anything that wasn't being used anyway, and then read by candlelight.
frankly, I'm glad its over because this was tough! but I love the spirit, and am going to invest in more candles. I'll just keep the music on nexy time.
Submitted by sandyliz on 01.24.10 at 03:21.
My husband is not a willing participant, so last night I went upstairs (while he played PS3 downstairs) and cleaned out my closet by candlelight. Then I went for a walk and came back and worked out in the dark. I made my lunch for today and read for a while. I hope that is OK, even though Arkham Asylum was blaring the whole time.
Submitted by whatodds on 01.27.10 at 03:14.
Amazing! Thought this would be annoying, but it was wonderful. Brought me back to the magical nights of big snowstorms of my childhood when the electricity would get knocked out. A very different sense of peace. ... second night...not so successful. Upstairs neighbor blasting his radio killed the tranquility.
Submitted by @certainDISASTER on 01.31.10 at 03:00.
I went all weekend with out the tech. I read two books and got a decent way thru making a scarf. It really was different and nice not being bombarded with stuff for awhile.
Submitted by FrogOmnibus on 02.01.10 at 02:46.
I love my life via Mac Light
Submitted by Llaves on 02.01.10 at 03:35.
I actually did this 5 times so far, but I kind of feel 3 of these times were too short of a period of time to count. While I took my bath (3 times) for the "Take A Bath' Feat, I went electricity free and just lay in the tub for half an hour with a candle going. Very relaxing. The other two "legit" times I accomplished this feat, were for 2 hours and 2 1/2 hours. I also unplugged everything I possibly could, and covered all digital clocks so I couldn't even see them. The first time I did this feat, it was nice. I got a LOT accomplished. I wrote thank you notes for engagement gifts, did lesson planning, and browsed through wedding magazines (because I really need a dress!). I was really impressed with how productive I was. The second time I did it I was also productive. I ate, showered, read some magazines again, and lesson planned again. While it was nice to not be bombarded with internet distractions, I found myself getting bored the second time around. I'm really glad I took this feat on, and it taught me I need to spend more time without electricity in order to simplify, but I discovered I am a long way from actually having a simpler life.
Submitted by yeahredgymnast on 02.03.10 at 07:58.
feb.4 - journal entry
in a desperate attempt to complete 10 feats by the end of the challenge, today i went "off the grid."
harder than i thought, especially since i don't live alone and mother (age 83) is alternately amused and dejected/feeling rejected.
reading by flashlight
eating by candlelight
allowing myself limited cell phone access and ipod shuffling music, as long as they'll go without recharging.
bored - but certainly acutely conscious of how much time i spend on computer or watching tv. thought i'd practice instruments a lot, but don't feel like it.
Submitted by shawninchgo on 02.06.10 at 09:30.
Day 2 was much more succesful. I cooked by candlelight, we ate by candlelight, I went for a walk, I took a bath by candlelight (thus completing the take a bath feat), we got it on by candlight, and I tried to do a crossword puzzle by candlelight but was unsuccesful so we just went to bed then. My husband cheated and went online a few times, but it wasn't as bad as Arkham and it was peaceful at least. I'm glad it's over, though.
Submitted by whatodds on 02.10.10 at 02:10.
honestly blizzard helped with this by knocking out the power. but that was only for a day - decided to do two in a row just to see if i could without my fiance and i killing one another with cabin fever and boredom. i cant suggest you try it.
Submitted by artichkme on 02.11.10 at 12:11.
This was a bit of a challenge since we are so used to flipping switches all the time.
Luckily my apartment is never in total darkness since I get light coming in my livingroom from the streetlight out front. So I didn't bump into things on my way in.
It was very peaceful being in a quiet home, except for the ambulence siren that wailed for a minute.
These were the days I took my bubble/mineral baths since I usually take them by candlelight anyway.
Instead of watching TV or listening to the radio I read and did crossword and sudoku puzzles. Then I went to sleep early so I could get the requisite number of sleep hours for the sleep challenge.
Submitted by VeganDiva on 02.12.10 at 01:58.