Why Unplug? by Ernesto Chavezvaldivia
Three Different Views
“Being connected to everything has disconnected us from ourselves and the preciousness of this present moment.” - L.M. Browning, Vagabonds and Sundries
Being “too connected” is the reality of life now but there are ways to ensure time for others, and most importantly, time for yourself. Today, we’re sharing three different views on how to unplug as well as a few challenges we’re encouraging you to accept.
Suzanne
When I think of unplugging, the movie Eat, Pray, Love comes to mind. Our heroine reaches out to strangers who become good friends while absorbing the culture and enjoying memorable meals in romantic Rome, she learns mindfulness and the power of stillness in an aswarm in India, and she discovers the joy of truly being in the moment with a loved one in Bali. Our heroine does all this without a cellphone or a laptop. The Italians have a phrase for this – “the art of doing nothing”.
We are proud of being multitaskers but there is something that resonates deep within when you really take in and enjoy the moment instead of capturing it in a selfie or sharing via a tweet or a post on Facebook. We do not realize it, but our electronic devices tether us to a world we know very well. When you unplug, you give yourself permission to explore or connect. You don’t have to travel far to have an adventure – it could be as close as just going outside. When I unplug, I often sit in my backyard. Sometimes, I close my eyes and ask myself “How many different sounds do I hear?” and then I listen to the sound of the wind, the chirping of the birds, the bark of a dog, and children’s laughter. Other times, I watch the hummingbirds buzz to and from my feeders. Watching these feathered jewels of the garden clears my mind and lifts my spirit.
When I feel especially tired and drained, another approach I use to unplug is to practice clearing my mind of all thoughts and then focus on one positive affirmation. In theory, this sounds easy. The reality is that it can be challenging and takes practice. I laugh every time when our heroine in Eat, Pray, Love tries for the first time to clear her mind in India. She barely lasts 2 minutes. For this habit, two minutes is a good goal to start with and then build from there. If you are like me, sometimes the worries and thoughts will try and overtake the peace that silence brings. A trick I’ve learned that works is to visualize writing each trouble or worry on a balloon and then releasing the balloon into the sky.
There are many ways to unplug. Experiment! Explore! Observe! Learn! Enjoy!
Suzanne’s Challenge: Keep a journal for the next two weeks on how many times you check your telephone versus how many minutes you spend per day “unplugged” and how you spend your “unplugged” time.
Diana
How do you disconnect when being connected is “what’s in”? As a recent retiree, new businesswoman, community advocate, and collaborator, I do my best to contribute to the world mostly by sharing words of inspiration on my social media. I use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. During this pandemic my connection to the world is through my FB feed, catching up with friends on a post, messenger, or via text.
I take pride in being the last of the baby boomers to have been able to easily hop on the technology train. I went as far as investing in a device that I use as a virtual office. I can update a spreadsheet, write an email, make a phone call, read a book, or listen to music. Smartphones are truly smart but do we need to have them glued to our hands?
With the recent presidential election, the economic downturn and the hardships of those being affected by Covid-19, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and realized I needed to unplug. For 24 hours I did not post anything on FB. Did I sneak a peek? Yes, and for me, these are my baby steps. What I learned is the world didn’t change when I unplugged. The disconnection from FB and other social media was good for my soul and spirit. It also made me realize that too much news, social media or negativity can sometimes bring us down and when that happens it’s time to unplug or disconnect. Disconnecting and unplugging has a different meaning to everyone. For me it was about giving myself permission to escape into la-la land with holiday Lifetime movies. It was watching movies while lying on the sofa with a blanket for some “me” time.
I really don’t think we are meant to be plugged in 24/7. So give yourself permission to take a time-out. Start with baby steps like 24 hours, then a week or longer. Go cold turkey and include the TV and other media. Turn to music. Think about all the things you haven’t done because you’re too busy being plugged in. Sharpen the mind and spirit by doing what makes you feel good. It’s all about perspective, and you get to define how to unplug.
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamott
Diana’s Challenge: Take time out to disconnect and unplug. Start with an hour, then try two or three. Step it up with a 24-hour disconnect or unplug and move forward as you need to do what gives you peace of mind, body and spirit. Remember, the challenge is different for everyone so don't beat yourself up if you sneak a peek.
Ernesto
I’ve incorporated walks into my life this year and I couldn’t be happier. Initially, it was my way of stepping away from my quarantine-imposed home office. (Home office is loosely used here instead of kitchen table.) As I started taking walks for mental breaks and post-lunch daydreaming, I realized I was taking time to notice unique features about my neighborhood, new cars my neighbors had purchased, and just how many creatures crawl around on the ground as the morning mist dissipates. My walks turned into something I looked forward to when I woke up, and never consisted of any social media check-ins, opting instead for a podcast or movie score. (The Social Network being my go-to score whenever I’m feeling creative.)
My daily walks also coincided with a newsletter I’d just subscribed to called The Art of Noticing which encourages its readers to take time out to notice mundane things about everyday life, which would hopefully make you appreciate it all just a bit more. It seemed romantic, this idea of looking up and engaging with the world instead of with the device in your pocket, and it turned out to be one of the reasons I didn’t go nuts while I was working from home. My relationships improved. Specifically, my relationships with my immediate family, which to be honest had been simply existing rather than thriving. My desire to scroll through my Instagram feed vanished due to the fact that I was aware of everyone’s similar situations. I used the time I’d normally spend on my phone to get creative. I made a short film with my family. I took pictures of plants. I changed my bike’s tire. I continued living but with more appreciation.
It’s been a few months since I decided to tone down my electronic usage, and I’ve continued my daily walks, (I’ve since added hikes to my weekend activities), with the sole purpose of unplugging just a bit. While I don’t envision myself committing to a device-free life, I can sincerely share that I look forward to those moments when I’m able to put my phone away, and enjoy the walk ahead.
Ernesto’s Challenge: Take a walk. Try to do it with as little interaction with a phone as possible, and see what new things you notice!
We encourage you to choose a challenge (or all three) and let us know if it helps you unplug. Comment down below and use the hashtag #UnpluggingChallenge to share your experience with us!
We look forward to reading all of your feedback. Talk to you soon.
