This week on Intent, we want to hear your ideas on unplugging and recharging. What can we all do as individuals and families to unplug ourselves from our technological toys and recharge in mind, body and spirit?
Never before has unplugging been so difficult. After all, many of us can now carry all of the world wide web in a single handheld device. How many of us can go through an entire day without making a call on our cell phone, checking our e-mail, browinsg our Facebook or downloading a new iPhone app? How many of us can swear off TV, cut back on YouTube or go through a week without feeling anxious about being out of date with our blog subscriptions? 
Certainly, there is nothing inherently wrong with these technological advances, which gives us the ability to go paperless on bills, Skype with long-distance relatives and learn more about the world we are living in. It becomes a serious problem when we are so plugged in we lose sight of the truly important things in life that happens outside of the computer screen–like face-to-face conversations with your loved ones. Or getting lost in nature. Or actually striking up a friendly conversation with the stranger standing next to you in line.
So what are your ideas for unplugging and recharging? Especially with the madness of the holiday season almost upon us, what are your tips, tricks, advice and action steps for going offline and getting recharged in the non-virtual world? Do you have a specific weekday or hour of the day that’s a no-technology zone? Do you have your own story for how you beat your out-of-control Twitter addiction?
We would especially love to hear if anyone out there had the guts to permanently delete his or her Facebook account. Seriously, is that even possible these days?
Join Intent’s mission this week to inspire others with ideas on unplugging and recharging in the offline world. Tag your blog posts "unplug" and we will be featuring the best weekly content at the end of the week. If you simply want to share a quick idea in the comments below, we want to hear that as well. We can’t wait to read your contributions!
Yumi, I love that you provide us with a "call for content." I don't always post a blog each time, but I enjoy musing about the topic. As a sexuality and intimacy educator, I usually shape your suggestion to fit my field, and this one is a perfect setup. Nothing recharges me more than my daily intimate engagement with my husband. And cell phones are banned during the Intimacy Retreats we lead! Oops, this is meant to be a comment on YOUR post, not a separate one. See what I mean, though, about how you inspire us!? Thanks!
Hi Yumi. Thanks for posting this. As an Integrative Doctor I always advise my patients to "recharge" as it is so essential to restoring the bodies natural balance. Personally, I recharge by walking along the beach, paddle boarding and being close to the ocean. Water and marine life are very calming for me as well. I'm glad there is a post on this, it serves as a reminder for us all to take a moment and unplug every day.
Hey Yumi! unplugging is a daily activity as each day begins with a meditation. I'm still a bit new to it so my longest has been 42 minutes. However no matter the length of time if the quality is deep; then it was time well spent! At this time there are no electrical devices around besides the stop watch. Although my experience with meditation is still new, already it has mad a world of a difference in my life.
As an entrepreneur I feel it is important (also enjoyable) to feed the mind empowering & enlightening material. Yes some is Internet based but I spent time with pencil, paper and books & other "old school" resource and study. Besides the occasional Sunday NFL sport watching or if I'm at a friends house, I don't watch television at all
As for recharging apart from the meditation, I am building the habit of some sort of physical activity in the morning also . Whether is me walking/running a few times around the block or an intense home work out. Not consistent with this yet, but thoroughly enjoy it once completed. Perhaps that should be an intent of mine…consistent workouts. What really recharges me is the afternoons & weekends I spend with my almost 2 year young daughter! I aim for at least 2 hrs m-f and as much as possible on the weekends of uninterrupted time with her! WOW how this time spent make me feel so young and alive again!
I thank you, Yumi for asking this of us! I 110% agree with Susanne; take time daily to unplug and recharge. It has added much more joy to my life!
Delete my Facebook account! Are you serious?! I only ask this because I use my FB account solely for contact with my friends from high school, which we graduated 20 years ago. In fact, I used FB to plan and organize the reunion from Las Vegas to be held in Wisconsin. So, it came in quite handy. But I COULD do without the Vampire Wars game, which has become a bit addictive the last few weeks.
I'll blog on how I like to 'unplug'. Thanks for the topic!
" I aim for at least 2 hrs m-f and as much as possible on the weekends of uninterrupted time with her! WOW how this time spent make me feel so young and alive again!" Great stuff. Thank you Rasheed.
I deleted my Twitter account a few months ago. I DM'd a few of my followers, telling them that it was important for me to log in to my life. I missed it for a couple of days, but now I can't imagine ever going back! It's nice to have an experience and not feel the need to share it. It retains its importance. I also recently cut my friend list in half on Facebook…it felt like the life force was being spread too thin. I still feel that way, but to a lesser degree. I'm sure that at some point I will delete that account, too.
I decided to deactivate my FB account and after the withdrawal symptoms passed I must say it was the best thing I did for myself. For me FB allowed me to reconnect with people that I disconnected with some for must of been good reasons now that I think about it. I could of unfriended many but didn't want to hurt anyones feelings. I was talking to old boyfriends and girls that I used to "party" with and a lot of insecurities crept up. Before FB I was a happy and confident person. Now I need to cut chords night after night. So for me I unplugged in order to recharge.
"UNPLUG". I needed to unplug to renew my spirit. To live in the now allows me to be present and availabe for myself and my loved ones. Is it really necessary to have 120 friends constantly connected to you. That's 120 chords attached to me sapping my lifeforce. So unplug and cut those chords and start anew if you have to. I'm going to keep myself fully charged without the need to constantly recharge myself. Its something I had to do. To each their own. Peace be with you..
This is an amazing, appropriate topic! Thanks for bringing awareness to it. Can't wait to start typing away.
Hi YUMI, I haveunplugged myself from TV for about a year .I have time for myself to realise what i am doing and what I was missing.I got in touch with books to enlighten my self with knowledge.My family was also was involved and they too got something creative to work with life.The diversion was towards sports and mental health.Its not that the idiot box was totaly neglected but restricted to gew hours a week.I was asked that how far I would go without the television .I have no special inclination towards the box!.Visiting relatives became mandatory or a kind of realisation after the electronic media was avoided.The child which I have is used to reading books and not attracted towards the Tv, some 1 hour a week was stipulated and decided by the child .As if the plug was removed from the electronic world and switched to real world!
I only watch TV on Sunday evenings for a few hours with my husband – otherwise no TV. Another thing we do to recharge and unplug is to go for a brisk walk each evening after dinner for three miles. We get in some exercise this way, are outside, and really connect with no distractions.
Love the responses, everyone!