Today, I thought it would be appropriate to talk about taking a sabbath... A Digital Sabbath.
I know, "Sabbath" can be a loaded term, but it does not have to be religious in practice. During a Digital Sabbath set down all digital devices for a day (or more if you can); you go 24 hours without texting, checking e-mail, Facebook and Twitter, television, video games, and basically anything else that involves a screen. Not. One. Thing. The sole purpose is to slow down and rest.
It would be difficult to find someone who has a mobile phone who does not feel attached to, or fully distracted, by it. These modern conveniences can bring us a great deal of stress. An e-mail notification interrupting your "flow" during a time of focus can be very distracting and stressful. Many people struggle to keep the pervasiveness of the impulse to check the phone at bay. I am certainly one of these people! I can see my phone's light blinking at me as I write, and I (not so) secretly want to check it. Disconnecting can be a profound experience for people living in the modern world.
The digital sabbath is an increasingly popular practice. I have never taken one myself, but it is a popular topic when talking about Internet Addiction in our culture.
In writing this article, I found the National Day of Unplugging. A day I will be observing! On March 1-2, 2013, people around the world will be putting down distracting and stress-causing technologies, gather together, and be with each other instead of being so disconnected. I will be turning everything off Friday at sunset, and it won't be on until Saturday at sunset. I honestly can't wait!
The parent of this project (Sabbath Manifesto) has a few good ideas for how to spend your sabbath, Avoiding technology and commerce, getting outside, and find silence. What a wonderful way to slow down. I think I will be doing some meditation and reading during my day.
I ask you to consider joining me next Friday. When the sun sets, so does your phone's screen (you know what I mean, just turn it off). Everyone could use a little time to rest.
UPADATE: Also please let me know if you plan to take the Pledge at National Day of Unplugging!
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