Turn Off, Tune Out, Unplug
Like any other muscle, sometimes our brains just need a break, but in this modern world of constant interconnections it can seem difficult to give our brains that break.
Though modern conveniences such as email, computers, and cell phones were originally meant to make our lives easier, sometimes they only succeed in contributing more to our stress levels. We’re so bombarded by the constant stream of info from news and social media that our brains start to react to it the same way they do to caffeine. For some people it’s even become a true internet addiction, where some people actually go into withdrawal-like symptoms if they’re cut off from technology for too long. They develop a “fear of missing out” that keeps them checking their emails, social media, and news frequently and getting lost in the info stream, often for much longer than they realize.
On top of addiction, the information overload can also leave a person in constant fight-or-flight syndrome. Despite the news, emails, and social media generally giving us an initial rush, the constant checking and info bombardment takes its toll can leave us very drained and stressed out in the long run. The solution? Take a break.
Pick one day a week (best if it’s not a work day) and give yourself an unplug day. Don’t check your email, don’t check the news, don’t check your social media. Initially you’ll probably experience feelings similar to caffeine users going through withdrawal. You’ll be worried that you can’t afford a whole day without getting back to someone, or you might miss something important (for a few people, this might be true, but for the general population, it’s not. It only seems that way).
After a little bit, the feelings of dread will start to dissipate. You might notice how much more time you seem to have; the day might seem to go by a gentler pace instead of whizzing by like rush hour. And most importantly, you’ll drop your stress levels and feel a lot more relaxed and refreshed when it’s time to go back to world of tech the next day.
For years I’ve used Saturday as my unplug day. I don’t turn on my computer the entire day (and since I’ve still got a flip phone, no worries about cheating, by sneaking a glance there). I avoid social media, news, and emails all of Saturday (so if you’ve ever sent me an email on Saturday and didn’t get a response until Sunday, that’s why), and just let my head unwind.
Thus far the world hasn’t ended because of anything I didn’t check on Saturday, so I’ll keep on with it. It leaves me refreshed and ready to get back to the world and answer those emails on Sunday. Give it a try for a few weeks and see if you find yourself looking forward to your own unplug day. Copyright © Amber Reifsteck ~ The Woodland Elf
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