Monday, September 21, 2026: 8:48 AM: Somehow, attempting to limit my computer access always seems to end up shooting me in the foot. I give up where that is concerned. Tech for blind people is like PB&J. There’s no getting around it and it’s not like I use my stuff for playing games all day or mindless Facebook scrolling. So, computer schedules be damned. They limit my ability to function efficiently and cause more aggravation than they are worth.
I use my computer for reading as well as writing. In short, I use the damn thing to see. There’s nothing wrong with that.
I was thinking that perhaps using the machine too late into the evening was interfering with my sleep cycle. However, that doesn’t seem to matter.
Is taking a break from technology a good idea? Yes. I can and do. But implementing a hard-and-fast rule to limit its usage pushes me backward in certain areas of my life rather than forward. It’s like limiting someone with a prosthetic arm or leg, telling them, “Hey! Don’t use that after 5:00 PM.”
I need certain things when I need them, like everyone else. Would I like to be less dependent on tech for some things? Yes. But that’s just not reality if I want my life to flow smoothly.
I’ve actually been pretty good about checking my email and stuff like that, diving into messages and things only when warranted. In fact, I’ve done a pretty good job with my phone, watch, and computer with regard to deciding which device will handle what.
My phone actually does a better job of reading email than my PC does. So, my Outlook Classic app on Windows doesn’t get used much these days, other than when I need to fix calendar entries or back up email accounts.
Word works way better on Windows, so that’s where the real journaling, note-taking, and other writing gets done. My phone is great for reading labels, printed documentation, and signage, as well as describing my environment. If I need to make note of something, I can do it with my watch or phone via Outlook or Voice Memos.
Both the phone and watch are a huge help to me when traveling. GPS is a beautiful thing and takes a huge mental load off. It serves as a verification tool when I’m not sure of my location or whether I’ve gotten myself jacked around on a route. AI coupled with a camera is a beautiful thing in some mobility and orientation situations, too.
It’s nice to be able to read what’s in your cabinets, too. It’s also nice to know what is written on the T-shirt I’m wearing out the door.
This stuff has come a long way. So, why would I be so stupid as to limit my access to it? There’s nothing wrong with using it. It’s how it’s used that could be problematic. But in my particular case, the only real problem is me.
I don’t know how to stop in the middle of projects. I tend to keep going on something, no matter how many hours it takes. I never seem to have the ability to determine accurately how long something is going to take, even if technology isn’t involved.
Housekeeping goes pretty fast some days and slower than molasses on others. I just never know what to expect and it’s frustrating. Maybe that’s why I don’t sleep right? “I don’t know!”
But blaming the tech tools that I have around me for it is stupid. Sighted people wear glasses to see; I use my iPhone’s camera with the appropriate app for that. Sighted people use pen and paper to write things down or journal; I use a PC. “Sue me!”
So, screw limiting tech usage around here. As long as I’m not being an asshole in my usage of it like most people I know, I will use it when and where I need to.