Unwire and Disconnect: Phone addiction detected

One day, I'll turn off all my gadgets, disconnect from the online world and just disappear.  I've had this on my mind awhile now, but its easier said than done.  If I'm not on the phone checking my email, updating my facebook, writing out a "To Do" list, making notes on thoughts that cross my mind, checking the news or messaging a friend; I find myself on the computer or in front of the television.   I'm perpetually connected. 

You can find me easily just like that.  Send me a message or an email.

With my first advent into the world of connectivity with first the symbian Nokia E71 and now the iPhone, I have become addicted to this world of "accessibility."  Everything is available at the touch of my fingertips, whether it's checking out the latest news, my portable notepad, my emails, photographs and of course facebook.  Whenever I get tired or distracted, I end up picking up the phone and go through the motions of checking my emails, messages and seeing what I have to do next.  On the airplane,  it becomes my game station with a number of games and books to help pass away the hours.

Even though all this technology is supposed to help "save" you time and make you more efficient, I wonder if the long run effects of forever feeling "connected" and "accessible" can be detrimental to your health.    I feel somewhat enslaved my my phone.  It's the first thing I look at when I wake up, and the last thing I look at before I sleep.  I've only turned it off to restart.

I read an article recently in the NY Times about how people, even while running were switching between their ipods and checking their emails. We don't get the "down" time that is needed for our brains to relax and recharge. 

In my attempt to have some "down" time I've turned off my iphone while writing this post and already I'm feeling some anxiety.  I feel like I should turn it back on in case I need to be contacted.   Not that I am expecting anything urgent or that I need to contact anyone.  I keep touching and looking at it as if it were calling out my name. My heart starts beating faster.   I realize I am truly "addicted" to this world of constant connectivity.

I promise I'll leave it turned-off for the rest of the night.

Once in awhile, lets all get together and have some "down" time.  Turn off your phones, your television and your computer for a few hours or a day.  Perhaps we'll rediscover the joys of living life without having to be forever connected with our heads bent down towards the phone.   We'll get to talk a little more to the person sitting besides us and see the rainbow that just appeared across the sky.  It'd make us all a little more personal and more attentive.  Perhaps that's a good thing.  Let's get more of the "human" touch.

Until the next post, I wish you all well. :) Disconnect. Recharge. Rejunevate. Get some quality "Me" time. :D

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