HealthyFish: Unplug

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It is easy to lose yourself in a world where everybody is constantly connected and on-the-go. I often find myself scrambling for any reason to update my Facebook status, or racking my brain for a witty Twitter post so I can fill my quota of at least one purposeless update per hour. This is obviously a gross over-exaggeration for me, but is unfortunately not for some of my "friends".

Some people are like spam, and I thank Mark Zuckerberg every day for the option to "block" people from my News Feed. No, I don't need to know what toothpaste you recently switched to. No, I don't need to know what you made for dinner tonight. No, I don't need to give my opinion on a new bikini to the girl I only know from my freshman dorm. By the way, it looked horrible.

Beyond social media, our biggest issue is also our constant connection to others via our phones. It is like an addiction. If I had a penny for every time I got a "???" text because I did not respond within ten minutes after I was asked a question....well let's just say I could afford a new car.

This need for immediacy and being connected is like an itch. You just cannot resist scratching it. But here's my challenge: don't scratch it.

Sometimes I have days when I want to chuck my laptop/iPhone/iPad/tablet, and even my TV, out the window. Today was one of those days for me - I felt like I just could not keep up with all of the commotion. Instead, I went for a calmer alternative and "unplugged" - I turned my phone off for an hour and took a much-needed nap. I woke up calmer and less overwhelmed.

Think about this: what's really going to happen if you don't respond to that text within the next three seconds...? Even if you don't "unplug" today, express some self-control and try waiting ten minutes before you look at that text again, you might see it in a different light.

Things you could do instead:
- Read a physical book or newspaper
- Take a nap
- Go on a jog or a bike ride
- Grab coffee with a friend or neighbor
- People-watch at a local park
- Play a board game
- Re-organize your fridge, pantry, closet, desk
- Try yoga or meditate
- Cook a big dinner
- Paint your nails
- Write a letter (snail-mail) to a family member or loved one

And the list goes on...

I think that it is healthy to "unplug" from all of our technology devices every once in a while, if not on a regular basis. Yes, it's challenging, but try it some time.

-B