Disengaging from digital interference and being connected 24/7 requires commitment and practice. Going off the communication grid is considered healthy but is not without its challenges.
In a recent blog post, Eric Garcia writes, “. . . in fact, the more I’ve unplugged, the more I’ve come to appreciate boredom.” He writes about the challenges of truly unplugging and allowing our minds reach a state of boredom.
It is tempting to distract ourselves instead of allowing our minds, for even a second, to become bored.” – Eric D. Garcia
In a related article, Matt Richtel shares the secret to not killing your vacation revolves around understanding your motives, plus your brain and the role it plays in undoing your precious time off.
Source: Eric D. Garcia, July 2021. Link. Reflection is part of the unplugged process. Garcia shares his reminders:
- Embrace boredom and the creativity that comes with it.
- Write down my thoughts, no matter how wild they may seem.
- Take the time to integrate them into my schedule.
- Continue to unplug.
Source: Vacation Sabotage: Don’t Let It Happen to You! New York Times, June 29, 2021. Link. Phones and computers fundamentally encourage, even demand, a constant cycle of stimulation and response. Click or swipe, and something happens. And responding to a ping, researchers say, delivers a “dopamine squirt” — a little burst of adrenaline. The brain gets used to this stimulation and then craves it in its absence.
INSIGHTS: There are about six weeks left in the summer. Make the most of plans to be away from work, unplug, plan to not be busy and capture the ideas the float through your mind.