I was thinking tonight about technology, how it was to provide us freedom, less stress, and all in all make life easier. I suppose to some extent that is true, but overall, is it? I suppose I’m too young to know what life was like without alot of the technologies we take for granite today. I can hardly imagine what it would be like to take a drive without the need to fill the time with a call you’ve been meaning to make or a business associate you need to catch up with simply because by not having a cell phone. That is a great reason to get a motorcycle or convertible!
Social Technologies are not slowing this process down at all, it’s pulling us into texting on the road, always being “ON” and increasingly connected with everyone and anyone. I have found for myself, my clients, my family and others that setting rules and boundaries is very important. So I turn off on the weekends as much as possible and on Sundays I pretty much don’t do anything with technology, ie computers and cell phones. I am working on doing this for a whole day in the work week as well to improve my creativity.
What is it you do each week or month to find real freedom? I would love to hear what you do and suggest!
We’re far less free today than we used to be even 15 years ago. Constantly “harassed” by various pings and buzzes of our phones, email, social networks, that’s no freedom. And actually, very few people complain about it, or if they do, they still check on their electronic device of choice as soon as they hear a familiar sound coming out of it.
What’s real freedom for me? The simplest things. Sitting down, watching a movie, no phone in the proximity to disturb you. That’s a lil bit of freedom for 2 hours, one I indulge in every time I have the chance.
When I start feeling overwhelmed, or stressed, I will either switch to my entertainment online, or step away from the computer to do some exercise or other things around the house that I also want/need to do. I also try to see and talk to the important people in my life every so often (even if just on FB), especially if they are in need of a friend. I require occasional time to reconnect with nature as well from time to time. I find some time here and there to step outside, go to a park or take a camping trip when I can.
I think the assumption was made by a lot of people that technology would make us want to have more free time. However, for people who are already driven in their business and professional goals, we feel a propensity to have that time filled up when technology gives us opportunities to be even more productive than ever before. The other side is the expectations our business and colleagues have on use because they know how accessible we can be made with technology. So it’s not just our own issue with setting boundaries, but the pressure on having our peers understand those boundaries as well.
I make a point of allowing myself one day of the week for not being accessible online or phone, except in emergencies. (This is usually on a weekend, but it can depend on my work schedule). Like Rachelle says, it’s the time we allow ourselves to be away from our computer, away from our mobile phone, and just simply “off the grid” that let’s us feel refreshed, refueled, and gives us creative ideas and inspirations, and feel like a healthy, whole human being.
I golf Nate!
Running and P90X do it for me. Lots of sweat–and a guaranteed hour of being off the grid.
Greetings! I take Sundays off too! FREEDOM! It’s great to live in REAL WORLD with REAL PEOPLE! Then there’s holidays…I take those off too! I also get up and exercise a little bit every hour or two, too!
As our world continues to speed up, there are exciting benefits to us in many ways. One thing I learned to do is find what grounds me, what helps me slow down so I can “restart”. I was subscribing to information from lots of experts – there is such an abundance of not only information but the passion to provide it. It’s a great blessing to the world, but it was leaving me always feeling behind, always feeling like I should be doing more. I made a list of my priorities, my goals, the things I wanted to do most in my life, the things that bring me the most happiness, and the ways I want to be able to give back. Based on that, I have scaled back my focus, knowing more is available when I have more capacity, but at the end of the day, I review each day and ask if I feel good about who I am and what I did. Afterall, we only have today.