Really – what will happen if you disconnect from technology? Will the world come to an end? Will your clients disappear? I think not. I am so disgusted by all the people who have their phones attached to their ears, having mindless conversations. I have yet to overhear an important conversation. Why do people have to talk so loudly? I watched a young women stumble and fall flat on her face, all the while yapping on her cell phone. She kept yapping while down on the ground, with her conversation switching to, “you won’t believe what just happened, I tripped and fell.”
Okay, rant over. I want to share my very positive experience with turning off technology. Maybe if I had a smartphone, it wouldn’t have been so easy. If you’ve read my previous blog posts, you know that I’m dying to get a smartphone. My unplugged experience was with my computer, but it could also work with cell phones.
The problem:
I wake up early and get in good exercise session. I’m feeling great and ready to take on the day. So far, so good.
I sit down in front of my computer. I check my email. I check my blog statistics. I check the latest news. I get up to pour myself more coffee. I check LinkedIn; I check Facebook. I check some job boards, I write a few networking emails. I check my blog statistics again. I think to myself, “I really need to do more with job search.” I check out local technology events.
Before I know it several hours have passed. I roll my head around, trying to get out the kinks in my neck. I stand up to strecth my back. I feel frustrated and tired.
Is it any wonder that my neck and back hurt? I’ve been hunched over a computer screen for hours. I am sort of using my brain, but staring at a computer screen doesn’t do much for my state of mind.
The solution:
1. Limit computer time to 90 minutes a day.
2. Make a list of what I’m going to do on the computer.
3. No computer time on Sundays.
I wasn’t sure how this would work. What would I do on Sundays during my down time? I now look forward to Sundays. I’m no longer on the computer after about 1 pm on Saturday.
The result:
Funny thing is, with a time limit and a list, I’m much more productive. I get my company and people research done in under 90 minutes.
My Sundays are spent quietly. I’m usually outside, enjoying nature with kayaking or hiking. I spend more time in prayer and reflection. I’m reading more books.
I am feeling more at peace now than I ever have been. Ideas are flowing faster and easier. I’m happier.
Have you ever tried unplugging from technology? If so, what was your result?
Photo courtesy of Roland’s Flickr photo stream.
Nancy Loderick's Blog 
James A. Lamb
June 9, 2011
Hi, Nancy. My son and I were just talking about this yesterday. He had a choice of going to Florida with me or going to the mountains with his mom. His decision was based on which one had an Internet connection. I was making fun of him, until I realized I would probably think the same thing!
Tony
http://tonylamb.wordpress.com
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Nancy Loderick
June 9, 2011
Hi Tony – thanks for your comment. It’s amazing how technology is so much a part of our lives.
Nancy
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broadsideblog
June 9, 2011
Techno-sabbaths are essential for your mental health and that of your relationships face to face.
I managed to leave my cellphone in Toronto a week ago while visiting and won’t see it again for another three or four days. I don’t miss it a bit!
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Nancy Loderick
June 10, 2011
Hi,
Thanks for your comment. Good for you for learning to live without your cell phone. I don’t know how many other people could do what you’re doing.
Nancy
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Sajib
June 10, 2011
For people like me, there’s no much other things to do rather than doing all these on computers when classes are off.
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Nancy Loderick
June 10, 2011
Hi Sajib,
Thanks for your comment. I’m glad to hear you find ways to keep busy other than using a computer. Are you out of school for the summer?
Nancy
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Sajib
June 10, 2011
I’m actually out of school. Spending time running from one college to another because of college admission. 🙂
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Nancy Loderick
June 10, 2011
Hi Sajib,
Good luck with your college search! Let me know where you end up.
Nancy
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JoeS
June 11, 2011
Hi Nancy, Are you afraid of turning off your cellphone is an important conversation. The conversation extends to staying connected through the Network, as well. We are dumbing down and trivializing our real life personae and turning to technology.
Sherry Turkle has been researching and publishing for some years as psychoanalyst, teacher and faculty member at MIT. Her new book, Alone Together – Why we expect more from technology and less from each other, is on the mark. She writes, “Teenagers tell me they sleep with their cellphone and even when it isn’t on their person, when it has been banished to the school locker, for instance, they know when their phone is vibrating. The technology has become like a phantom limb…..”
Connectivity to the cellphone as well as the Network makes us fluent in technology but brings a new set of insecurities. Should new technology move into our own lives, we like our teenage sons/daughters shall nurture business, friendship and even intimacy in 140 byte chunks. We too shall worry those connections are insincere and not real.
Turning off the cellphone and the computer is critical to maintaining sanity. – JoeS
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Nancy Loderick
June 11, 2011
Hi Joe – thanks for your comment. And thanks for mentioning Sherry Turkle; she is doing some important work on technology and how it affects us. I smiled when I read your first sentence about being afraid to turn off your cell phone is an important conversation. I fear the art of conversation is fast being lost – human beings weren’t meant to think in 140 character sound bytes. Think of all the nuances that are missed with the texting etc., things that wouldn’t be missed if we were having face to face conversations.
Nancy
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Nicole Locklear
June 27, 2011
This is a powerful article and a huge topic amoung friends and family right now. We are connected in every way possible with our phones. It gives us access to facebook, internet, e-mail, games, apps and now it is almost undheard of for a company to not have a compatible iphone app to go with its services. It’s not a bad thing unless we can’t put our devices down when we need to (like family vacation!). Leave work at work and don’t forget to spend quality time with friends by putting your phone down when you get a chance to see them face to face.
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Nancy Loderick
June 27, 2011
Hi Nicole,
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts about the ubiquitous cell phone. It’s such a sad commentary on our society today when we see people sitting at a table, sharing a meal, but not even looking at each other. They’re all too busy checking the messages on their cell phones.
Nancy
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