In a previous life I worked in marketing and product development for a credit card and debit card processor. When we were introducing the concept of mobile payments to our clients we often told them that consumers realize they’ve lost their cell phones faster than they realize they’ve lost their credit cards. How true is that?
I think that says a lot about the world today…we are very attached to technology.
Sometimes I think I’m too plugged in.
I Twitter.
I Facebook.
I Blog.
I email.
I text.
I conference call.
I read a lot of online fitness and nutrition articles. A lot.
I Blackberry Messenger.
My Blackberry goes everywhere I go…except to the bathroom. As soon as my Blackberry buzzes, I jump as if the world might stop if I didn’t respond in record time. And, with all of the information I’m presented with, I tend to have analysis paralysis, especially when it comes to workouts and nutrition. I already have a great training plan, why should I question it?
Don’t get me wrong, I love technology, I just need to be a little less obsessed. Here’s what I’m doing to unplug just a little….
- Blogging 5 days a week instead of 6
- Turning off the Crackberry earlier in the evening
- Reducing the amount of time I spend (re)tweeting
- Reading quality online sources instead of quantity
Just think of the improvements I can make in my life! I’ll have more time to:
- Work and workout
- Read and relax
- Write and walk the dog
- Cook and clean kickback
Now I really must go, I’m off to (re)boot camp!
Andrea@WellnessNotes says:
March 24th 2010Unplugging a bit is good! :) Have fun! :)
Jodi (jodiojo) says:
March 24th 2010What’s funny for me is I need to Plug In.lol I will disappear into my world of programming and completely forget about twitter, blogging, facebook, etc. I am still client oriented and process oriented. I am not sure I will ever be a social media addict. This just means I’ll have to call you when I need my Joanna fix…hehe…;o)
Lance says:
March 24th 2010Way to go, Joanna!!!! This will be good….
Jessica@HowSweet says:
March 24th 2010That is great – I am waaaay too connected, too!
MrsFatass says:
March 24th 2010I fully support you in your efforts to unplug. Unless my blog doesn’t make the cut. (yeah, I’m kidding. Sort of.)
Jess (Fit Chick in the City) says:
March 24th 2010Good job on stepping back and cutting back on your “plugged in” in time. I know I need to get on a schedule or set some sort of timer so that I’m limiting my tech time. I miss reading books.
The Candid RD says:
March 24th 2010Joanna, I think this is a fantastic idea. I have been letting go of technology more and more over the past several months. I don’t even open my twitter account on the weekends (or at least not for long). I have been reading less blogs each day, and only blogging if I have the time. I used to think the world would forget about me if that happened, but it’s so not true. I feel much more free, and alive!! Good luck with your goals.
Donna Bush says:
March 24th 2010Have to agree and it’s funny because in the past couple days I’ve really come to basically the same conclusion. Twitter is really not cutting it for me lately. Most mornings I say good morning and it’s like crickets. I respond to other people’s tweets and see that they respond to others but not me. I feel like I’m at a party and everyone’s talking around me but not to me, even when I talk to them. But whatever. I have ‘met’ some nice people there and will continue to visit, it’s just not as important to me as it used to be.
Good for you for cutting back – it’s nice to realize that not only will the world go on without you, but you can go on without it! Wishing you peace and fulfillment in this new approach.
Jody - Fit at 52 says:
March 24th 2010Great message! I don’t do as much as you.. no Twitter or Blackberry or conference calling BUT I still spend a lot of time with technology stuff. I agree, we need to unplug a bit. It is craziness at times! Good for you!
Heather (Wheres the Beach) says:
March 24th 2010Oh I am way too plugged in these days too. I get so caught up in keeping up with so many blogs – just so much good info, recipes, fun reading, then my own blogs. I’m better about Facebook but Twitter is now my problem
Estela - Weekly Bite says:
March 24th 2010Its so important to find some sort of balance! I make it a rule to close my laptop at 7pm so I can spend quality time with my hubby :)
Erin says:
March 24th 2010That is so awesome. I was just thinking of when my baby Sam grows up how far technology will be then. The thought of people having computers “installed” freaks me out but I fear it will be in the future.
I’ve been doing a lot of drawing by hand to get away from the comp.
Marisa (Loser For Life) says:
March 24th 2010I can completely understand how you feel! I do not want to be so “connected”, either. I don’t text often, I don’t tweet from my phone and I try to detach from my computer for long stretches of time during the day. It can become addictive and often competitive. We feel like we have to be EVERYWHERE ALL THE TIME! Too crazy!
Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman says:
March 24th 2010It can be so nice to unplug sometimes. The last few weekends I’ve done that and it’s no nice to just enjoy the moment and not be tied to a computer/cell. My husband much appreciates that, too.
Michelle Rahm says:
March 24th 2010Such a good message for all of us!
Erika @ Dr. TriRunner says:
March 24th 2010Yayy Joanna! I laughed when you said “quality over quantity” – it sounds harsh but I frequently unfriend, unfollow, unsubscribe, delete from my phone book, etc. There are some sites I realize I basically skim every single time, and I just think.. why? Or names in my phone book that I think “Vince WHO..?”
A very good message :)
kalli@fitandfortysomething says:
March 24th 2010oh i love this….i admit i take my iphone into the bathroom! i have to tell myself to stop with the technology or i get burnt out!
april says:
March 24th 2010i’ve tried and tried, but I can’t get away from my laptop or phone! Ugh!!
P.A. says:
March 24th 2010I long for the “good old days” when all I had was a pager.
FatFighterTV says:
March 24th 2010Yes, unplugging is a must! Otherwise, you go nuts. I deliberately do not have my work email go to my iPhone. It’s very nice.
Melissa says:
March 25th 2010Great topic! I try to make Saturday Cyber-free: no facebook, no twitter, no personal email, no blogging, no surfing. But I always have my Crackberry on!
Your Mom says:
March 25th 2010Just remember to call your mother!
Kelly Olexa says:
March 28th 2010I hear you. And I am so with you!
Jenaveve says:
April 6th 2010Oh I’ve unplugged alright… I stopped blogging late last year; I never succumbed to Facebook or Twitter; I turn my Crackberry off before bed; I try not to text as much – and all of this has made a world of difference. I do miss blogging a little lately but I also recall the sheer amount of time spent at the computer after spending a full day… at the computer – and I don’t miss that aspect!
Am curious though, as I’m a certified obsessed reader of fitness/nutrition articles too, what your final list looks like: of quality online sources instead of quantity? (And I hope all the changes are working out for you!)
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Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) says:
April 17th 2010I need to read things like this. Over and over. I am so over committed, and overly plugged in, and feel guilt to think about not blogging. But I need to downramp. Asap. Burnout city. GREAT REMINDER for me, thx for the post!
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