Add up the constant barrage of information most of us are bombarded with and is it any wonder that we can’t sleep, we can’t concentrate, we can’t stick with things, we can’t make a choice, we can’t ever be satisfied? That we turn to shopping, consuming, and eating to make us happy? It’s all too much:
Garbage Television
Books
Magazines
Twitter
Facebook
Google +
Computers
iPads
Tumblr
Kindles
Electronic Billboards
Smartphones
Garbage Movies
Talentless Music
RSS Readers
Breaking News
Etc
Etc
Etc
When does it end? Where does it stop? I’m just as guilty as the next guy to get into that “information consumption” race that goes on every hour of every day. Constantly clicking from one link to another to Twitter to email; AHHHHHHHHH
A long while back I wrote about taking a digital sabbatical once in a while, and I wanted to bring that up again. Today I found myself overwhelmed by all the reading, writing, and commenting I was trying to keep up with for hours on end since 9:30 this morning. After reaching 2:30 without stopping for lunch, I realized what I was doing and finally put the computer to sleep, walked over to my Eames lounger, and took a cat nap.
It was a fantastic 25 minutes.
Let’s face it; nothing that most of us are doing all day is life-savingly important. Let’s start treating it that way if we can. Take a break. Go outside for 10 minutes. Read some fiction. Smoke ’em if you got ’em. (OK, don’t do that) Get on your bike. Pour some coffee.
Do something, anything, other than consuming for a few minutes every once in a while. Pull a reality check on yourself and what you are doing.
Your sanity along with your blood pressure will thank you.
Right on! Today I spent time with my sisters and brother in law, made lunch for them, sat and chatted for a while. Yesterday it was a bike ride to a meeting (up hill both ways, I must add), and Sunday it was a whole day in a community of 100+ people having conversations about what it we love about our lives, what motivates us, what stops us, what moves us into conversations we have never before had. I feel so nourished because being in community is how I give meaning to my life.
I know you’re right, and I think it all the time. I’m hard-wired. As Kurzweil says, Singularity is dangerously near. Thank you for reminding me to live.
Well 10 of those aren’t even allowed in my home…. so that is a good head start 🙂 lol !
But to me, books and my e-reader for the large print font I need now, are relaxing and only for pleasure 🙂 …. So that leaves 4 things to whittle out…. lol…
Definitely take major breaks — hours at a time is great 🙂 Enjoy the real life 🙂
This is funny…I was just saying that exact same sentiment this morning.
I told the kids that there was to be no tv, ipod, laptop, etc. this evening when we all get home.
It is way too easy for us all to get sucked in to these things and forget about everything else.
I like to put on some music in the background & get to work! We have many projects & chores that need catching up on due to a busy schedule and it just seems that we don’t make any headway if we don’t shut down the technology.
A few years ago I even did away with the cable over the spring & summer. It saved us a lot of money, and kept us from wasting time. I just can’t stay focused with that thing on all the time.
Hear Hear!!
All this information sharing has been on my mind loads recently. I’m increasingly feeling more and more uncomfortable with the way our society communicates with eachother. Do we have to share everything!? Are we even listening to eachother?
We try and have alternate days as screen free. We’re failing at the moment and i’m missing those screen free times.
Great thoughts. Digital sabbaticals are must-dos for all of us. It’s nice to slow down and reevaluate everything. It also helps me to go through and minimize my information sources. Eliminate various accounts, unsubscribing, etc.