I love technology. I love it because it usually represents the latest and greatest and because it oftentimes makes our lives easier. Now, I wouldn't necessarily call myself a full-fledged tech junkie, but I definitely lean that way. For example, for TV and movies, I don't have cable or a DVD player, I have an Apple TV and a Roku. For reading, I have an original Nook and a Nook color. For internet access I prefer to use my iPad or my iPhone. I also love web-based technology like social media. I'll try any social networking service at least once or twice to see if I like it.
However, about a month ago I deactivated the mother of all social media sites, my Facebook account. It had started to take over my life and not in a good way. My online self needed a break from all the trolling, the political discourse, the humblebrags, the complainers, the 'woe is me' attention seekers and the constant need to interact with as many people just so you can keep your news feed diverse. And you know what? It feels like a huge weight has been lifted. I'm no longer obsessively checking my phone to see what everyone else is up to. By disconnecting or unplugging, I feel like I have more time for myself to do whatever I want.
Funnily enough, according to everything I've been reading lately, this is the new cool thing to do. I first heard about unplugging at an ARF Young Pros event where MTV Insights presented their study on younger Millennials (14-17 year olds). They noted that, "young Millennials have a unique relationship with technology. Unlike older Millennials who were pioneers in the “Wild West” of social media, today’s young Millennials are “tech homesteaders” – savvier about how to use technology, interested in building “gated” groups, curating, filtering and choosing to selectively unplug."
This isn't something that only younger generations are doing either. Ariana Huffington (Huffington Post) and Mika Bzrezinski (Morning Joe) have been talking about unplugging to achieve living a fuller life by redefining success through their 3rd Metric campaign and events. Mika actually admitted to working on her smartphone and taking phone calls while running a half marathon. Wow! And I recently learned that the need to unplug has been given it's own day of recognition called the National Day of Unplugging, of which the Huffington Post is a media sponsor. Every year, from sundown to sundown on the first Friday in March pledges will be made to unplug.
And just this morning as I was reading my March 2014 issue of Quirks, I came across takeaways from Mintel's 2014 Consumer Trends Report where they gathered that consumers will become conscious "of the need to unplug, simplify and reconnect with the world around them."
So, do you unplug? Think you might start? While I love the idea of unplugging for a whole day, I'm not sure I'd be able to unless it became a real National Holiday where I wouldn't have to go to work. But, just like deactivating Facebook, there are other ways I choose to unplug like phone stacking. If I'm at a restaurant with my husband or friends, we stack our phones so that we aren't constantly checking them. Are there ways that you choose to digitally detox? I'd love to hear how, comment below.
