Sunday, July 25, 2010

We Took a Break

Last week was spent lazing on the beach, eating and drinking too much, swimming in the pool, and all around relaxing.  Tony and I went with my family (10 of us in all, including a baby) to Anna Maria island.  We stayed in the same place as last year, and it was just as relaxing and fun as I had hoped it would be.  Since we just got back, I'm busy cropping my bathing suit clad thighs out of photos soaking up my last day of vacation before back to work on Monday.  

In the meantime, I wanted to write about this:

I decided that I would take a technology break while I was down there. 

I have a Blackberry, and luckily I just have my personal email on there - so I'm definitely not one of those who can't resist "working" all of the time.  However, I do have Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, THE WHOLE INTERNET, etc on there.  And it's turned me into an obsessive freak.  I feel like I have the attention span of a five year old during down time.

I am constantly checking all of these different things multiple times during the day.  Stopped at a redlight?  Check Facebook.  Waiting for the check to come at dinner?  Check Twitter.  


And when that little red light is blinking - it's most likely spam email, but I've gotta check anyway... right away.

Don't get me wrong - I like being able to be connected and it's just for entertainment that I look at all of these.  There's no stress involved at all.  But when it starts to feel like you're chained to your phone... then that's not a good thing.  "Life" isn't happening on my phone.  It's happening all around me - and sometimes, I'm losing sight of that. 



So I took a break.  I didn't check ANYTHING while on vacation (except for a few "hope you're having fun" texts).  And it was GLORIOUS.


I didn't think - oh, I should go make sure no one's emailed me something important (seriously, no one ever does, but I still feel the need to check).  I even turned my phone off completely for a few days.  When we went out, I didn't take it.  I didn't even THINK of it.


On our way back to Georgia, part of me didn't even want to check it at all, ever again.  Is it really so important that I know who posted pictures or who had lunch with so and so?  Nope.


There was something so freeing about not feeling the need to be up-to-the-second updated on everything.  And that should be a sign right there - I felt relief by not checking my phone.  Definitely shows out of whack priorities right there.  I have trouble just relaxing, and always feel the need to be doing something - and my phone addiction plays into this.  


This isn't a post about me quitting all social networking sites or something.  And yes, I get the irony of my blogging about this.. 


I do enjoy being able to stay connected with far away friends, and making new friends altogether through reading other blogs.  It's a great source of entertainment and inspiration.  However, sometimes a break is nice.  And I'm going to make a conscious effort to limit my phone usage to times when I really want/need to look something up - or if I'm super bored.  No more bb while I'm spending time with Tony on the couch, no more while I'm out with friends.  I spend all day at work on the computer - I don't need to extend that to every waking moment via my phone.  


Moderation is key.


That little red light can't control me!

2 comments:

  1. Good for you! I cannot wait to get rid of my blackberry and return to a simpler way of life - it's just that job thing that's keeping me from doing it.

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  2. I hear ya. I'm the same way. On the internet all day at work then I get home and in the interest of de-swellifying my ankles, I put my feet up on the coffee table and hang out with the laptop, when I should be spending QT with the husband. Then there's the phone. It's kinda ridiculous. I figure it's only a matter of time (when baby gets here) before I join you in loosening the internet ties.

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