As a writer, I try to keep one room in my flat free of technology (so far as that is possible in today’s increasingly connected world). The majority of my writing occurs in my spare room which, when guests come to stay reverts to it’s original purpose as a place where the weary may lay their sleeping heads. The room contains 2 large bookcases, a desk, bed and a wardrobe. On my desk sits a laptop.
I rarely move the laptop into either the master bedroom or the living room as I believe it is important to separate my relaxation time from that spent writing. While the living room contains a television and a hi-fi system, my bedroom has no technology other than a rather ancient talking alarm clock. Apart from the furniture one would expect to see in any bedroom, my place of rest also contains a tall bookcase containing my favourite books. Apart from it’s obvious function as a place for me to sleep, the bedroom is, in many ways my sanctum, the spot where I can relax away from technology, read and, of course “wrap up the ravelled sleeve of care”.
While I do often read in the comfort of my living room, the presence of the television can act as a distraction, hence my liking for the bedroom where technology rarely enters. Our heads are so full of information (much of it fed into it by technology in it’s various forms) that having a retreat where one can be apart from the distractions of the online world and television is, in my view vital to a balanced life. Do I always achieve this balance? The honest answer is no. However having a place where I can recharge my batteries (oops one can not escape from technology) undoubtedly helps me to relax and switch off (so far as that is possible) from my writing.