Practically Unplugged
In our Jan/Feb issue, Sam Duregger wrote a great article about his time living unplugged — read it here. Today, Sam shares some practical steps toward unplugging:
Last month’s article, “Unplug,” was a glimpse into how I found time with God away from technology, but let’s be honest … living in a tent may not be a feasible option for you. So. I wanted to begin a conversation on how we can practically unplug from technology while still being a functioning member of society, below are some starter ideas:
- Set boundaries on smartphone use. When you’re at dinner with your significant other or friends — try to be present, forget about updating your foursquare status with pictures of your veal parmesan.
- Check mail only twice a day, at set times. Tim Ferris, the guy who wrote The 4-hour Work Week, encourages setting times during the day that you check and respond to emails. This allows you to tackle the messages all at once as opposed to being interrupted all day with various emails that may or may not be important. Set a schedule and abide by it — this creates efficiency and margin in your work day.
- Put the TV out of sight. Skye Jethani once told me his family philosophy on television is to, “have it outside the life-flow of the house.” This is a practical and useful strategy, as it’s no longer a peripheral distraction as you walk from your kitchen through the living room to the bedroom. Personally, my TV is in the basement “entertainment room,” and it’s true — out of sight is out of mind. This can be especially useful when kids come in the picture, as the TV can become a binky for the brain.
- Phone fast. Go outside once in a while without your phone, I know this seems unreasonable, but I believe it is important to find time free from the possibility of distraction, as I have found possibility always means inevitability when it comes to technology.
- Intentional time with God. My pastor was telling me about Eugene Peterson, the author and pastor, who every week takes a 3-hour walk with his wife in complete silence! Afterward, they sit and discuss their thoughts and what (if anything) they heard from God. This is an unconfirmed report on Eugene Peterson’s life, but true or not seems to be a great way to be intentional with your life partner and God.
- Begin your day social media-free. Don’t check your email, Facebook, Twitter, or other social media outlets until after breakfast. This one is difficult for me, but seems to be the most beneficial, as it gives me time to sit, eat, and read the Bible before jumping in the furious interaction found within the Internets.
The fact of the matter is, finding margin in your life is ultimately up to you and it is rooted in discipline and intentionality.
I want to hear from you — what other ways can we unplug and create margin?
Thanks for sharing, Sam! By the way, Sam Duregger is a talented writer from Iowa, and he’s getting married on Saturday. Keep up with him at www.duregger.net or on Twitter: @duregger.
I just got home from spending time in another country…. let's just say it was a "3G dead-zone"…so no Twitter, Facebook or email on my phone….plus, phone calls were practically out of the picture b/c of high int'l rates (yeah, i know i could hack my phone and get a different sim card…but why?)
I love taking these opportunities to be unplugged…but let's face it, i was forced to be unplugged. Before, I had taken days here and there where I deleted all the social media apps from my iPhone for a day, even once in a great while I'd leave my iPhone at home and go walk in the woods. I love these times… and this grew my love/hate relationship w/ social media and the "Matrix" of life/work.
As I've come back, I've decided that I am going to be more in control…and not allow all the busy hype of the internet & our christian subculture pester me all day long.
- I have deleted all social media apps from my iPhone…and they are going to stay deleted for as long as I can help it.
- Twitter/Facebook will only happen in short spurts…and only when i'm on my laptop…which honestly isn't that much each day since i'm always on the go and out on the road…
- I'm also not reading as many updates as i normally would (yeah, i'll probably be out of the loop on things…but who cares) … this also has involved deleting a few blogs out of my bookmarks/reader… nothing against those blogs, it's just stuff that's become noise to me and has distracted me from what i need to be focused on…. obviously, this blog is one of a small handful that I kept and check every day.
I find that this is helping me to "react" less and less things (usually somewhat petty things that seem important at the time)…and it's creating more space in my life to see the bigger picture and learn how to "respond" to it.
At lunch the other day, after church, about 20-30 minutes in, I pulled my phone out to check the weather or see who the "ding" sound came from…. my friend (and old roommate) said "so, how's Twitter?" … I just answered back "I deleted twitter from my phone." you could have heard a pin drop.
probably proof that I need to be a little more unplugged these days.
great article…it's very timely and full of wisdom that everyone in this audience needs to hear.
posted at 9:57 pm on February 17th, 2010 by proctor