Life, Unplugged

In this fast-paced world, we’re all connected 24/7/365. We have Google, iPhones, Skype and many other devices that make our lives easier. But, do they really make things easier or is all this connectivity causing more complexity in our lives? This Sunday, my wife and I attended church service while we were home visiting family. The pastor asked the very question above. Is technology causing us more complexity than we care to admit?

Maybe we should call it “simplexity...”

So, what happens when these things don’t work? What happens when the power goes out, the batteries go dead, and we’re faced to live in the so-called Stone Age? (Read how you can manage when platforms like Twitter are down here.) Can you handle being off the grid? I remember (it wasn’t THAT long ago) when I was a kid…when a guy was smitten by a girl, he had to have the guts to do one of two things: Approach the girl and ask her out (GUTS, I tell you…) or carefully craft the most beautiful love letter since Shakespearean times. If you had a good friend, they could sometimes help with an introduction, but you were mostly thrown into the moment, whether you liked it or not. There was no texting. There was no email. It was all you.

There’s a lesson here…

Courage. Confidence. Communication. GUTS. It comes down to what we’ve been taught throughout our lives. Take a step back, unplug for a little while, and refocus. Ever heard the phrase, “there can never be too much of a good thing?” You’ll know when it’s too much. If you don’t, ask your friends, family or co-workers.

Before you write this off as a silly article, I want you to know that I’m just as guilty as anyone. I’ve felt the “phantom buzz” of my Blackberry, have the irresistible urge to check email every 5 minutes, and am plugged in like nobody’s business. Take the time to appreciate the simple things in life and communicate with your family, with your friends. Appreciate nature and take a deep breath for a moment. Even if it’s just an hour that you can take away from it all, you’ll be glad you took it.

This relates to your career, your life, just about anything. What do you do when you unplug? Please feel free to share your ideas with everyone! As always, thanks for reading.

Comment by Carolyn Marotta on June 8, 2011 at 3:01pm: I can't agree with you more, Kirk.

I will put my cell in my bag in the back seat or trunk just so I'm not tempted to call someone on my way to/from work. Two reasons I do this -

1. On my way home I pick my baby up from daycare and don't want any distractions while I'm driving around my precious cargo.

And 2. I've come to realize I don't need to multi-task EVERYTHING. I don't need to drive while catching up with old friends, scheduling appointments, checking email or Facebook, Tweeting, whatever. It is unecessary. If it is important I'll make time for it when I'm home or during the day at work, on my lunch break.

What I do need to do on my way home is crank up Lady Gaga, dance in my seat, and sing out loud (without the baby in the car of course). It makes me feel good.

Oh, and sometimes I leave my personal phone at home, just for fun (or because I'm a spaz in the morning and if its not already in my bag I will forget it). I tell my husband to call my work number if there is an emergency. You should try it one day, it is liberating. :)

Comment by Kirk Baumann on June 8, 2011 at 4:53pm: Good idea, Carolyn. There is such thing as too much multitasking. Science even shows that the very idea of multitasking is impossible. :)

Thanks for sharing!

Comment by Sylvia Dahlby on June 9, 2011 at 12:23am: What do I do to unplug? Jump into the sea - can't bring your electronics into the water!

And yes, I agree with the comments about multi-tasking, it's the devil.

Comment by Kirk Baumann on June 9, 2011 at 2:50pm: Ha! Thanks for the comment, Sylvia. You're right - you pretty much have to jump in water in order to unplug these days. Remember the times when a cell phone was limited to use in the car? I mean, it was a huge bag that weighed 10lbs. The "mobile" meant it was "car phone". :)

Comment by Sylvia Dahlby on June 9, 2011 at 9:40pm: LOL - my first car phone was like a brick - and as heavy as one. It terrified me every time it rang while I was driving on the LA freeway and in the middle of a critical lane change or something...

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