Already a member?
Welcome to Brazen Careerist!
Emily Ma is using Brazen Careerist to share ideas. Join now to become a member and start networking with Emily Ma and other professionals just like you. Learn more.
Brazen careerist
Where ambitious young professionals connect and grow
Email
Print
This blog post came about because I just got back from the beach. A much-needed vacation, with some of my best girlfriends. Before I left, my co-worker dared me to completely unplug and to not open a computer the entire trip. I didn’t. It felt good.
I think Y Pulse said it best: “There’s No Clocking Out When You’re Always Plugged In.” Sometimes I’m not even sure if I know when the work ends and life offline resumes.
Chances are if you’re reading this, you’re pretty plugged in to the online world. I work at an online company, circled around blogging and social media so it’s part of my everyday life. I rarely turn my phone off, I receive my e-mails, Twitter and Facebook notifications on my Blackberry (which is almost always on me) not to mention the texts that come through. I’m always thinking about my next blog post, I can learn about most of my friends’ every move on Facebook, we upload photos and write status updates about our lives. We live in a digital age and especially if you’re Generation Y, you know what I’m talking about. We grew up online.
How does this affect our daily life? Our health? Our personal relationships? Although it doesn’t have to be negative, I can’t help but think about the downfalls. These are some of the steps I take to ensure that I have some peace of mind.
1) Once a week (usually Saturday) I plug out. I wrote this as a New Year’s Resolution this year and about 80% of the time, I do it. I don’t open my computer, I don’t go on Twitter, I don’t get on Facebook. If my phone is on me, it’s for the phone calls I need to make that day. Most importantly, I am active and doing something that doesn’t involve technology. You have NO idea how good this feels, by plugging out I am recharged.
2) If you’re out at night or eating dinner with friends, set your phone in your purse or pocket. I can’t tell you how many times I go out and see a group of girls, all sitting together but holding their phones texting away. Personal interaction is important. I understand using your phones while you’re out, but sometimes, leave them be for a bit. Concentrate on what is physically present.
3) Find time with your friends that aren’t technologically savvy. This means the conversation doesn’t involve phrases like, “DM” “Tweet” or “trackback link for my blog.”
4) Finally, if you’re going (or planning) a vacation concentrate on leaving some work behind, or at least leaving your computer and e-mailing for only one of the days. Remember it’s a vacation for a reason.
I think it’s important to recognize that when we’re plugged in, we’re somewhere else. I firmly believe in staying present to where you are but being able to balance the online world that we so often find ourselves consumed with.
Do you feel it necessary to plug out from the online world? It worries me, because I think it’s a practice that will not sustain, as the online world grows. Thoughts?
For more timely, relevant, and engaging articles,
subscribe to Brazen Careerist.
- How To Find a Writing Partner Who Can Help You Achieve Your Goals and Make More Money
- Continuing Education: Extending Learning Beyond Your Campus Years
- Why You Might Be Better Off Without a Job After College
- The Anti-Stalker’s Guide for Converting Online Contact into Real World Collaboration
- A New Kind of Business Mover and Shaker
Comments
05.27.09
Very good post Grace and I agree with you on all your points.
There's a recent article in the NY Times ( http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/health/26teen.html?_r=1&8dpc ) regarding texting and the toll it is taking on the health of teens. They are obsessed according to this article and the effects are evident. A quote from the article - "The phenomenon is beginning to worry physicians and psychologists, who say it is leading to anxiety, distraction in school, falling grades, repetitive stress injury and sleep deprivation." The article goes on to say - "The rise in texting is too recent to have produced any conclusive data on health effects." - but the examples given in the article are definitely cause for concern. The kicker is the kids see their parents constantly using their cellphone so there is an element of hypocrisy as the article points out.
05.27.09
@Mark Thanks for sharing that link, it's really interesting and just what I was worried about. I think besides me taking a small vacation and unplugging, I was also moved to write this post because I myself am so consumed by the online world.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and the article. I will definitely mull over it (then I want to find a solution) :) What do you think?
05.27.09
Great post, Grace!
I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who plugs out.
For the days that I need to be on the computer, I usually switch off at a certain time and that's it for the day for me, unless something rather emergent comes along.
It's great to make time to meet with people face to face and interact (like the old days) :)
05.27.09
@Mehnaz I totally know what you're talking about. What ever happened to good ol' face-to-face interaction. What about writing letters? I am a firm believer in the lost art of letter writing, it's so personal and thoughtful. I can shoot off an e-mail in less than a minute, but it's not the same. It's good to hear you're also plugging out, I like to hear that from our generation. Because I know many who hardly do.
Thanks for sharing :)
05.27.09
Grace,
I'm so glad you did this and wrote about it! When I go on vacation, I do the same thing -- I never take my laptop. Although I have to say, having an iPhone makes it a bit harder to unplug, as checking my email is a single thumb-tap away...
I find that sometimes when I won't answer my texts right away, people get almost mad at me for it. Then that causes me to have sort of "plugged in anxiety." I think when it comes to friends, it's about setting a precedent of NOT always answering right away, even if you can. And come to think of it, when it comes to work, too -- I don't have a work cell phone and so I refuse to load my work email onto my personal phone, even though I easily could. But I think it might drive me insane. Because then people come to expect you always answering, and you can really stress yourself out that way.
Amy
05.27.09
@Amy You're so right. I did bring my phone with me on vacation but sent all e-mails straight away from my phone so I could check them later. I also found that I would leave my phone while we went out, I didn't need it.
You're very right that we're a society that expects immediate gratification. Text versus voicemail. Email versus letter, etc. I have to learn to let go and unless it's urgent, know that I won't reply right away. Patience is a virtue, right? ;) I like this "plugged in anxiety" that you bring up, I didn't even mention it, but now that it's in the mix it's so damn true!
05.27.09
I was at my uncle's house yesterday with my uncle, his caregiver (Kevin), my brother, and cousin sitting at the dining room table. Kevin was expecting his daughter to arrive soon to pick him up in her car. He was occasionally looking out the window for her but she was able to text him of her arrival before he saw her. He announced his daughter had arrived while looking at his cellphone. I said - huh? He said - Oh, yea, sometimes she texts me while sitting across from me at the same table - as he witnessed my jaw drop some more.
What do I think? I think there's a problem here. I didn't grow up with computers, cellphones, etc. so while I am hooked on them to an extent, it is not to the same extent as today's youth and I'm comfortable with unplugging from them. However these gadgets are still somewhat addicting and time consuming to me.
The solution to the problem - awareness of it; resolution to solve it; and trying different techniques to unplug that eventually work by becoming second nature and part of your lifestyle. The last step - implementation - is the most individualistic, trickiest, and hardest step but I think you're well on your way. :) I think your #1 - set aside time for yourself unplugged - is the most important and effective.
05.27.09
@Mark Thanks for your reply. For Kevin's daughter to text him while he's at the table doesn't surprise me (because I've seen it) although I would NEVER do that because I think it's rude and not personable. That just goes to show how times change.
For each generation, there is a difference but technology is right here, right now. So sometimes I see someone someone older than me attached to their phone, while mine is placed away. However, my parents find it very easy to unplug because they also, never grew up with it around them.
I like your idea of different techniques to unplug: go away into nature, take a small trip away, spend an afternoon with friends without technology, etc. All helpful, all feel good to unplug. Thanks for sharing, they're great ideas!
05.27.09
I literally went into plugged-in withdrawal when my Blackberry was stolen. I've now upgraded to my BlackJack (or as my sister would refer to it, a CrackJack) and it is the most wonderful devil I"ve known in awhile.
One thing I've done is that I have a bajillion ringtones. Partly cause I love music. Partly because I have ringtones for different people and groups of people. It helps be figure out if I need to grab a call from my parents or if it is a person from work without dropping everything to rush to see who it is.
Also, getting away is SUCH a great idea. When I go out running, I make it a point to leave my phone in the car. Otherwise, I'd find myself tempted to "just check Twitter" while resting or something. This gives me spurts of time that I'm totally disconnected and I LOVE it! Sometimes you have to completely remove the temptation to be able to avoid it. :)
05.28.09
@Elisa it's so funny because I know that losing my cell phones would be one of the worst things for me. Not only do I use it so much but it's my life line. We don't know what we're missing until it's gone!
The ringtones is a nice touch. This way you can know when or when not to pick up depending on the appropriateness of the situation. I would even go as far as to say that running without your cell phone (although a short amount of time) can really go a long way. I think that baby steps are important.
Thanks for sharing!
Got Something To Say?
Got Something To Say?
Not a Member? Brazen Careerist is a career management tool for next-generation professionals. Set up a free account today to comment on this post and start sharing your ideas. Learn more.
Login to view your networks!
 |
|
 |
 |
|
