When I first read this article - Silence - Unplugging for 19 Days, the first thought that went through my mind was "I'm not sure I could do that." I quickly realized that I have done just that - many times. My unplugged times are not typically planned or scheduled. They just happen.
I love the internet, whether I'm surfing, shopping, playing, reading or interacting with interesting people. I love working on the web as well. The problem is that it is such a time-sucker, literally slurping up minutes and hours like the Grinch slurping up a cup of soup in 0.2 seconds flat. The time is gone, and I'm late for everything else - and sometimes it doesn't get done at all.
My unplugged times come along when I'm just tired. It usually just takes one night of deciding that I'm too tired to get online and going to bed early. I may stay away for two days or two months. Does the fact that I can do this make me any less addicted? Nope. I still have obsessive-compulsive disorder. Does it do me good? Absolutely. It helps me to realize that I do have control. Unplugging has yet to help remove or reduce the biggest obstacle I dealth with though - and that's balancing everything that I want and need to do. For instance, right now I really, really want to make some jewelry. I have so many ideas swirling around in my head and I need to act on them before I lose them. But I have a job, I'm writing part time for the local paper and I want to keep my blogs going. Dreams, Visions and Reality finally has some clear direction and steady visitors. I've realized that I don't have to blog every single day, and that's a good thing. But I still feel very overwhelmed by all that needs to be done if the desires of my heart are to become my living, and I think that's part of what happens when I unplug and disappear for a while.
Technology has given us the wonderful ability to work any time, anywhere, but when it gets out of control it can be harmful. Some people become far too bonded with their laptops and cell phones to the point where they are always working. They're not only missing out on quality time with their families but also depriving themselves of their own rest and relaxation. This is a significant factor in the widespread and increasing use of antidepressant medication, in my opinion.
Working with the elderly has really opened my eyes to many things. When asked if they have any regrets about their lives, most elderly people reply that they don't regret things they've done. They regret the things that they didn't do because they were too busy working and saving. The real kick in the pants is that those savings are now paying for a nursing home and the kids' inheritance is not as much as they'd planned - or gone altogether.
I love the internet, whether I'm surfing, shopping, playing, reading or interacting with interesting people. I love working on the web as well. The problem is that it is such a time-sucker, literally slurping up minutes and hours like the Grinch slurping up a cup of soup in 0.2 seconds flat. The time is gone, and I'm late for everything else - and sometimes it doesn't get done at all.
My unplugged times come along when I'm just tired. It usually just takes one night of deciding that I'm too tired to get online and going to bed early. I may stay away for two days or two months. Does the fact that I can do this make me any less addicted? Nope. I still have obsessive-compulsive disorder. Does it do me good? Absolutely. It helps me to realize that I do have control. Unplugging has yet to help remove or reduce the biggest obstacle I dealth with though - and that's balancing everything that I want and need to do. For instance, right now I really, really want to make some jewelry. I have so many ideas swirling around in my head and I need to act on them before I lose them. But I have a job, I'm writing part time for the local paper and I want to keep my blogs going. Dreams, Visions and Reality finally has some clear direction and steady visitors. I've realized that I don't have to blog every single day, and that's a good thing. But I still feel very overwhelmed by all that needs to be done if the desires of my heart are to become my living, and I think that's part of what happens when I unplug and disappear for a while.
Technology has given us the wonderful ability to work any time, anywhere, but when it gets out of control it can be harmful. Some people become far too bonded with their laptops and cell phones to the point where they are always working. They're not only missing out on quality time with their families but also depriving themselves of their own rest and relaxation. This is a significant factor in the widespread and increasing use of antidepressant medication, in my opinion.
Working with the elderly has really opened my eyes to many things. When asked if they have any regrets about their lives, most elderly people reply that they don't regret things they've done. They regret the things that they didn't do because they were too busy working and saving. The real kick in the pants is that those savings are now paying for a nursing home and the kids' inheritance is not as much as they'd planned - or gone altogether.
Could you unplug for one day a week? How about a whole weekend? Or a whole weekend once per month? Or nearly three weeks like the author? (Who, btw, also has OCD....)
Your life is right now! It's not later! It's not in that time of retirement. It's not when the lover gets here. It's not when you've moved into the new house. It's not when you get the better job. Your life is right now. It will always be right now. You might as well decide to start enjoying your life right now, because it's not ever going to get better than right now--until it gets better right now!
--- Abraham
Author Therese Borchard says that "downtime is critical for recovery. Critical." Recovery doesn't just refer to recovery from an addiction or trauma. We need to recover from life in general, especially as fast-paced as it is these days, even if we love it. Lack of rest, especially quality sleep, are now being linked to weight gain, mental health and emotional issues and impaired functioning. I'm sure that you've heard many times that you can't take care of anyone or anything else unless you take care of yourself first. You may have even taken this to heart, but have you ever practiced it?
Me? Since I turned 50, I have made more of an effort to be gentle with myself. In my younger days, I never missed a day of work no matter how much pain I was in with my chronic back problems. I was there for every single thing my kids did and didn't date for over three years while they were growing up. I pushed myself beyond my limits for many years. It did very little to make me feel good about myself although were rewards like scholarships and the most prestigious award in my graduating class. Instead, it wore me down until I reached a limit in my pain tolerance - and went over the edge for a while. Now I stand up for myself even if it means losing friends. I call in sick and go home early when I need to. I'm gentle with my body and don't beat myself up for my mistakes. Instead, I give these flaws to the Goddess and ask her to help me change them. The Buddhist chant "Om mani padme hum" is helping. I chant out loud when I'm walking my dog in secluded areas and silently anywhere that's not possible. I begin chanting as soon as I recognize issues that need to be addressed and whenever I feel off balance. I immediately feel centered and calm. Things change and then I do get to feel good about myself.
I'm still looking for that balance and ways to stop my subconscious mind from seeing the work involved in achieving my dreams as the bogeyman and allowing him to scare me off. I realize that I probably want to do too much. My ideal life would allow me the time to write, sculpt, make jewelry and teach dance and yoga. It's difficult to pick just one to focus on. I love it all. Thus far, none of it has brought in an income and I have to have a job. I do meaningful work and I'm grateful for that, but even it doesn't pay the bills. Sometimes it just doesn't seem that I can "have it all" but I'm not going to give up. I believe that when we focus on what we want, it does come to pass. I'm doing better with letting go of the how and the when.
I think I'm going to try scheduling an unplugged day every other weekend and see how that works. I hope that the author and I have inspired you to consider some unplugged time for yourself.
Be well and be blessed,
Parthena
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