Does the mere mention of unplugging from technology cause your heart to race, your breathing to increase, and you begin to panic? Let me guess you are frantically reaching for your phone about now? If so, maybe it is time to consider what a tech break might do for you?
But Wait – Is Technology All That Bad?
Don’t you love what technology can offer? When we don’t know how to use the new appliance, can’t understand a word, need information, or see a fascinating story on TV and want to dive further – it isn’t a problem. In mere seconds with a touch of the keys, we have it all available to us.
Heck, we can even add fuel to the fire when in the middle of a heated discussion. A quick search and we have data to prove our point. Of course, be careful on this one because the opposing opponent can look too.
Then move on to friendships. Wow, we can now make friends with people all over the world. We can see their babies growing up, their families changing, and of course, their perfect world on screen.
No, I don’t think technology is all bad but how we use it can leave us unrested, grumpy, feeling worthless, and a fragmented mess. Haven't you experienced some of this? Share on XWhat Happens When We Allow Technology to Interrupt Us Constantly?
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- Our thoughts become fragmented.
- Creativity is stifled.
- Addiction to our phones become evident.
- We miss out on what is right before us. At dinner the other night, I observed a couple on a date who rarely spoke or looked up from their phones. Have you ever done this?
- Peace becomes harder to attain.
- We feel UNRESTED.
- Frustration rises. I once threw my phone at my husband in the middle of the lake because he wanted to give up on finding reception.
- Helps us enter the arena of comparing ourselves to others and coming up short. After all, don’t people show lives online which appear perfect?
- We lack freedom and begin feeling trapped or chained to something.
No wonder we feel tired all of the time. All of that jabbing, poking, comparing, disrupting, and beckoning us to come away from the present moment will leave one exhausted.
Why Not Consider Taking a Tech Break?
Let me start with a few questions. When was the last time you felt rested? Are you worn out right now? Do you think maybe technology is a contributing factor to the tired out stage?
Well, I believe there is only one way to find out if a tech break would benefit you. Try fasting from technology devices and see how you feel.
What Prompted Me?
So in the summer of 2017, I saw my favorite bloggers taking time away from their computer screen to rest and restore. I found myself in a quandary. It seemed like an excellent idea. It even made sense. However, the excuses were many.
I was perplexed and frankly a little tired, so I decided an experiment or a trial run so to speak might be a good idea. After all, who doesn’t want to feel more rested, more creative, and more at peace?
My Experiment with a Tech Break
So I set out to take an entire week away from technology. Wish I could lie right here and say, “I did it 100%.” As the week approached, my anxiety rose, and I couldn’t quite do it, but I came pretty darn close, and the results were unbelievable and unexpected.
The Value in Unplugging
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- It is a fabulous feeling to own your time.
- Sleeping at night comes easier and in abundance.
- The colors around us come alive with excitement.
- Connections with others become more enjoyable and meaningful.
- Our relationship with God deepens.
- The small things in life became the big stuff.
- You will feel freedom.
- Peace permeates our souls.
- Thankfulness flows from our heart.
- We begin noticing the need for more uninterrupted time.
- Living in the present moment is spectacular.
- We are rested and at peace.
On an annual basis, I still try to unplug for a week here and there. However, my favorite day to unplug is on Sunday. I give it a valiant attempt to try and stay away from all of my electronic during the day. Perfection is never attained, but I sure do feel rested and more at peace when I try. Do you take a day to refrain from your electronics? Will you try it with me this week?
Let's face it - we are inundated with information coming at us at rapid speed. We have constant interruptions in our work, play, relationships, and rest. It has to be taking a toll on us but don't let me tell you - try your own… Share on XThen he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27
Find What Works for You
Maybe a full-on unplugging is not in the cards but how about an altered plan you might be willing to try? Try a date out with a friend or a walk and leave your phone at home. Pick one day of the week where you deem it an electronic free day. The ideas are endless.
Please share with us how you manage to take a tech break in your life? What are the benefits?
I love this encouragement, but even more than that your honesty in the process.
I’m trying to learn how to use technology well. And how to turn it off for my well-being. Trusting God’s grace in the process 🙂
Rebecca, I hear you on God’s grace in the process. Maree
I agree, there are so many advantages to taking a tech break! The thought often seems daunting but there are many benefits when you actually do it. I do a lot of camps with teenagers and where their phones are collected in and they only have access for about half an hour a day (plus the wi-fi signal is usually not very good) and while they complain about it for a bit by the end of the week most of them admit that they’ve actually enjoyed the break!
Lesley – I agree the benefits are great, yet it seems so difficult. I love that you collect the phones at camp. What a great experience. Maree
A tech break sounds interesting, and yet challenging, Maree. I took a break from blogging this Summer to give my mind some mental relief from working my next book. I must admit that I’m surprised I made it a month. But now the book is back from my proofreader and I’m energized to finish this labor of love. I’m excited to share with the world and draw people closer to Christ. I hope you and yours have a blessed season of God’s peace as we heads toward Fall.
Yes, it is challenging for sure to take a tech break but so rewarding. I can’t wait to hear more about your book. Congrats! Maree
I am sort of looking forward to a taking a tech break next month, Maree. My hubby and I will be hiking and I will not have access to my phone or laptop for 2 weeks. It surprises me how nervous I am about my lack of connection, which makes me think I really need this break.
Laurie – Wow, I am impressed two weeks with no access. I can’t wait to hear about it. Please let me know. I hope you have a wonderful time. Maree
This is a great suggestion. My work requires me to be online and connected, but I find myself thinking often about what my days would look like if the internet died. 🙂 I have learned the necessity of a weekly Sabbath from technology. It is so restorative. And it does require a tremendous amount of discipline. But I look forward to it now. I have yet to try it for an extended period of time due to the nature of my work, but I’ve been trying to figure out a way to make it happen next summer. I know it would be very beneficial.
Jana, I hope you can find a way to take an extended break. It is hard when our work is on the computer. I am so glad you take a break on Sunday. Blessings, Maree
I so agree that not only do I feel rested (with less technology time) but peace is much more easily felt. And you are so correct – living in the present moment is spectacular!!
Yes, I love the peace that is found during a tech break. Thank you for stopping by. Blessings, Maree
It may not really count as a break, but I have reduced my tech this week while on vacation and without wifi. 🙂 It did make me feel more present. I need this reminder to take tech breaks more often!
Lisa, Yes, it counts!!!! I am so glad you got to feel more present. Isn’t it amazing? Maree
Maree, thanks for these reminders. We are going on vaca in a few weeks for 2 weeks at the beach and I plan to untether myself from for this device as much as possible. Part of that 2-week vaca will be out of the country so that may be an automatic untethering right there. <— that would be helpful! LOL
Pinned.
Thanks for linking up at InstaEncouragements!
Patsy, I hope you are able to take a break. A year ago, I went on vacation and took two full weeks off. It was amazing. Mine too was out of the county which helped. However, wifi is everywhere. Enjoy your time away. Blessings, Maree
I’ve realized that it can sometimes become my idol. I have to take a good look at what I’m doing and make sure to take breaks from it. I try to stay off completely on Sundays and I try not to look at FaceBook except once a week. I use a scheduler for my posts so that I am not scrolling through the feed.
Yes, you are so right it can become an idol. Thank you for sharing how you manage your tech time. It is beneficial. I might have to try and implement a few of your practices. Blessings, Maree
I am beginning to think it can truly manifest as a form of addiction. It’s so hard to step away but the freedom in it is amazing, isn’t it? I love what you discovered by your tech detox, Maree!! And I’m so thankful for your presence at #MomentsofHope each week! ♥
Blessings and smiles,
Lori
Lori,
I agree it is like an addiction. I am finding ways on a daily basis to keep it in another room. I don’t want to be known as the mom or friend that always has her head down looking at her phone. However, I do love looking things up. You are so sweet with your comment. I am so thankful for your link-up and blog. It adds so much value to my life.
Hi Maree! Taking time away from tech is necessary for self-care these days. I like take an hour a day to unplug from all electronics. I often do media fast where I disengage from all secular media or sometimes none at all. I find that have much more clarity when I’m not overloading myself with information and allowing myself to be distracted. Last month during the hurricane my power was out for a most of the day and I totally enjoyed the quiet… Thanks for this much needed reminder!
Neca,
I hope the hurricane didn’t to do much damage to your property. It sounded awful. So glad you could enjoy the quiet with the power off, I think I might have stressed a bit about it. I like your idea of taking an hour a day to unplug. I think I might just start my hour right now. Thank you for stopping by.
Maree
I unplugged last month and it was heavenly. I definitely want to do it more often.
Heather,
I need to try a month at a time. I keep hearing how wonderful it is. A week was great but a month sounds amazing. THank you for stopping by and sharing.
Maree
I don’t even take a tech break while I watch tv these days. Yikes. It is so engrained in us to check email or social media that we don’t even think about it. Thanks for the push!
Sarah,
I know what you mean about watching tv with technology at your fingertips. I do this frequently. However, I find doing one thing at a time rests the brain. Good luck!
Maree
I so agree. I do an Unplugged Sunday each week, but this fall I am seeing that I need even more time away from tech. I have begun staying off social media each day until noon and it really helps start my day centered, focused, and present.
Aimee,
I like that idea of staying off for a certain amount of time. I do the Sunday tech-free too, but only until five and not 100%. I am working on it.
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Maree
Maree, there is much wisdom in this post. We need to take a break – from technology, from our work, from the routines. And we need to give ourselves time each day away from it all. It can get quite “noisy” in this world. I find myself craving just the quiet – the stillness – in some part of my day. Glad to have stopped here today!
Joanne,
I agree we need to give ourselves time each day for the stillness. I haven’t entirely incorporated that into my day. Thank you for stopping by and sharing a little bit of your wisdom. I would love to hear if you have managed to find time each day and if so what that looks like. I need it. Maree
Hi Marie! I so agree with what you’ve said here. Matter of fact, I took a four month blogging break to plan my daughters wedding (huge undertaking while homeschooling too) and it was completely liberating! I experienced everything that you listed on your value list in spades. Yes, trees really do come in several shades of green! But the biggest benefit was being available to my kids with out them seeing me in a device constantly. Now the wedding is over and I’m back to blogging, but I’ll be sure to plan breaks periodically. Thanks for sharing over at coffee for your heart!
Tiffany, Thank you for sharing your experience. Wow, a more extended break sounds magnificent. I got a hand it to you: blogging, homeschooling, and planning a wedding it a massive undertaking. You are a superstar. I hope the wedding went well. Thank you for stopping by and sharing. Maree
Hey Marie, here are a few pics from the wedding. I love sharing them. Enjoy! http://welcomehomeministry.com/parenting/im-still-barely-ive-got-great-pics/
I loved the pictures. Thank you for sharing. It looks like it was a beautiful event. Your daughter looked gorgeous and so happy. Congratulations!
I try as soon as I get home from work to stay away from all things blogging, email, social media, and to spend an hour uninterrupted with my kids. Helps me to be more present. We also cannot have phones at the dinner table or, of course at church. #babysteps #faithnfriends
I love how you have implemented tech-free time and zones. Thank you for sharing them here. Since I am working at home, I think I might try and to implement a tech-free time when everyone else gets home. Thank you for the ideas.
Such a great post and so true; unplugging is essential for us. Lately I have become ok with not be connected 24/7. Realizing that it will be ok if I miss a day or two with what’s happening on social media. I have even taken it as far as if I don’t respond to every comment on our blog it will be ok. Great post thank you for sharing. Stopping by from Salt and Light Link Up.
It sounds like we could all use some of your tips. Thank you for sharing. You are so right it will be okay if we miss a day or two.
Hope you have a wonderful weekend,
Maree
Oooh, so glad you were able to get some rest, Maree. Great list of benefits you received from your week unplugged. ((Hug))
Brenda,
I love seeing your comment each week. Thank you! Yes, I was amazed by some of the benefits. I hadn’t expected all of them. I had no idea I would feel so rested.
Maree
Maree, guess what?! I have no other choice but to feature you again for next week’s Salt & Light Linkup lol. This past week your post on overwhelm tugged at my heartstrings and now this post is an echo of my sentiments because it so happens I am unplugging all next week while on vacation. Coincidence? I think not! Your writing is spot on! God is good!
Natalie,
Wow, I love hearing when my writing is spot on. God is good! I will be praying for your week of unplugging. I have to admit I almost didn’t write about it because I did a week of unplugging back in July and things went a little haywire after that. I went from so rested to feeling overwhelmed in a matter of weeks. I am a work in progress trying to figure out what works on a daily basis. The good news is I am aware of what it feels like to unplug and pull closer to God, and I want more of it. Hope you have a wonderful vacation.
Blessings,
Maree
THank you!
Maree, yes we need to take tech breaks for all the reasons you said. I try to take most of Saturday and Sunday off, except texting my daughter or sister. We went to two national parks this summer and they do not have TVs, or cell reception in most of the park. I knew this going in, but it was nice to have a forced fast. All of us. Although once we climbed to a mountain top and suddenly all these texts came in. I checked them, but nothing else.
Theresa,
I bet a forced break from tech is good. It must have felt strange when they all came in at once? I take Sunday’s off, but I think I might try for Saturday’s too or a limited day. I like that idea. Thank you for sharing,
Maree
Maree, I enjoyed reading what you noticed and learned when you took your tech break, especially the color part! 🙂 I haven’t ever taken a tech break, per se, but I do have some personal rules about electronics that I stick too. The biggest one is that I don’t ever access the internet on my phone … no twitter, blog, email, instagram, anything. I just use it for texting, calling and writing notes. I spend (waste) enough time on the internet at home, and I just decided when I’m out and about, I want to be engaged in my surroundings and not stuck in my phone. I know this isn’t possible for people who use their phones a lot for work and such, but does help me a lot, I think. I hope you have a restful day, with or without electronics!
Lois,
Thank you for sharing your idea. What a great idea to only use our phones for texting and calling. So true I am on it enough at home. I find when out with a friend or my husband I will keep my phone in my purse, but if they get up to go to the bathroom or take a call, I immediately pull it out and start working instead of just enjoying the moment and my surroundings. Thank you for the tip.
Maree
Such good points, Maree! I’ve got a good long rant typed up about the effects of technology on our culture and lives, but it’s a mess haha. This is fantastic ecnouragement and I’m so glad your experiment was so beneficial. Taking a tech break for long is problematic for me because I work virtually as well. My version of tech breaks is not using social media on Sundays and choosing to leave my phone home or out of use during certain activities on a regular basis. It’s always so peaceful and refreshing!
Great ideas on taking a tech break, thank you for sharing. It ‘s hard to take a tech break when all your work is online. I am still trying to work it out. I keep trying little tricks to get that break.
I too take Sunday’s off from technology, and it is wonderful. I hesitate to say that aloud though because after 5 pm I do go back online and I use my Ipad at church for the Bible.
It is that going back and forth to technology that frazzles me. Designated hours might be worth trying. I like your thought of leaving it at home for certain activities.