Tech Tip Tuesday: TechFree Time

There is no denying I love technology.  I spend a good portion of my day connected somehow.  However, much as I love technology, disconnecting from technology is probably more important than ever.   March 4 is National Unplugging Day, conceived by Reboot.  I know, it’s May, the middle of May, in fact, but unplugging and being tech free is not something we should do just one day a year.  I firmly believe that it is in everyone’s best interest to carve out some time each and every day being tech free.

Start small.  You can even use technology to help you.  Here is a website, aptly named Do Nothing for 2 Minutes, that makes you do nothing for 2 minutes.  Okay, it’s not entirely tech free, but I know for some people, this in itself will be a big step.  Once you can master this and do nothing for 2 whole minutes, you can move on to more tech free time.

Reboot gives us 10 principles to use in their Sabbath Manifesto:

1. Avoid Technology
2. Connect with Loved Ones
3. Nurture your Health
4. Get Outside
5. Avoid Commerce
6. Light Candles
7. Drink Wine
8. Eat Bread
9. Find Silence
10. Give Back

I love those principles.  They are something to strive for, at least a few days a year.  But in the meantime, take some small technology breaks.   Here are some simple ways to incorporate some tech free time into your busy life:

• read a book
• do some yoga
• take a walk
• take a nap
• eat dinner with friends or family (no cell phones, no TV, but some music in the background is okay)
• go for a hike
• take a bike ride
• stretch for 5 minutes
• lie in the grass and watch the clouds
• swing high on the playground swings
• write something, like a letter to someone, especially someone who misses getting letters in the mail
• stop and smell the flowers
• find constellations in the night sky
• do something you’ve never done before
• dance (like nobody’s watching)

Most importantly, have some fun.  Be tech free and recharge yourself.