It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon, the kind of Sunday made for being unproductive and lazing around in the sunshine. With no pressing obligations for the day, I decided to sit on the back porch and drink coffee.
As I sat there, letting the rays of sun warm my face and listening to the steady panting of my golden retriever, I had an epiphany. I looked down in my right hand to where my cell phone would normally be, and—to my surprise—it wasn’t there. I realized I had not touched my phone once this morning, nor had I gone on the computer, listened to my iPod, or watched television. For me, this realization was both surprising and monumental. Instead of making a mad dash for my phone to see if I had any waiting text messages, I sat back and pondered the rare event.
At that moment, I felt absolutely disconnected from the happenings and gossip of the outside world. I felt as though I had been relieved of some responsibility, and in a sense, I felt rebellious for “neglecting” my social obligations. I decided that for the rest of the day, I would avoid any form of contact with the outer world: no television, iPod, cell phone, or computer for me. (And to think people managed to survive without those things!) That day, I took advantage of the liberation and spent my time outside helping my mom in her garden and sunbathing. I was actually able to read my library book without being interrupted by the constant “buzzing” of my cell phone, and it felt great to actually talk with my family at dinner instead of us eating and staring at the television screen in silence.
After going a whole day (hold the applause) without using some kind of device, I came to the conclusion that more people could use a day of disconnect.
At the age of 23, I’ve had both the advantages and disadvantages of growing up in an era inundated with technology—the advantages being unlimited access to research, music, and Facebook; the disadvantages being moderate social ineptitude, potential blindness at age 30 from staring at a computer screen, and the constant worry that if I fall on my face, it will somehow end up on Youtube.
I’ve seen computers go from bulky, slow pieces of equipment to sleek, formidable pieces of machinery. Cell phones, which used to be the size of a brick, have transformed into miniature hand-held computers with a woman named Siri who can tell me where I left my keys. During the “darker days,” the Internet was slow and frustrating, but the World Wide Web today has become a driving international force in our lives. And lest we forget television; it boasts shows about pretty much anything and everything. Technology is so integrated into our daily operations, I’m fairly positive the world and its inhabitants would collapse without it (and, yes, I know I’m not putting much faith in humanity).
Because I’m a child of the computer generation, my appreciation of technology and its powers cannot be discounted. Technology has provided people with newer ways of staying connected; it has allowed for greater efficiency in the workplace; and it has expanded our research capabilities—just to name a few things. Like a majority of people, I have a cell phone, iPod, television, laptop, and a computer—all of which I use on a daily basis.
While technology and its benefits cannot be underestimated, I think it is safe to say that it should not be abused either. More and more you find children, teens, and adults with their eyes glued to a screen of some sort. I’ll go out with friends who spend the better part of the night scouring Facebook on their phones. It seems as though the art of actual human-to-human interaction is fading, and being able to have a conversation without saying “LOL” out loud is actually a skill. With technology, I think there is a certain decorum and responsibility that must be used, a sense of balance established—something I feel most Americans have yet to achieve.
For example, would you be surprised to know that in this day and age, the average American will spend six or more hours a day watching an electronic device? I personally know people who will come home after work and spend four or more hours on the Internet alone. So where does the time for family or the beautiful outdoors fit in?
I work in a job where, most days, I sit in front of a computer and spend the rest of the time making calls on my cell phone. I compulsively check my Gmail accounts, my Twitter feed, and my Facebook. Lately, I’ve found that when I come home, I don’t want to text anyone, Facebook just sounds annoying, and my eyes will scream if I watch television. As a superstitious gal, I’m taking that as a sign a change needs to be made.
With this realization in mind, I’ve decided to make more of an effort to “unplug” at least once a week, and I encourage everyone else to do the same. Personally, I’ve got an eventful summer planned, and I don’t want to miss a thing because I’m worried about who said what about my Facebook status or because I couldn’t put my phone down.
Therefore, I want to encourage the rest of you to set aside one or two days each week this summer to “power down.” The summer months are slowly rolling in; it’s the perfect time to make a change. We are lucky enough to live in one of the most popular tourist destinations in California. With so much to see and do to stimulate the mind, it seems unappreciative and careless not to take advantage of all this beautiful coast has to offer.
So maybe go for a walk on the beach and listen to the waves; they sound much better without an iPhone jingle in the background. Sit on your porch, or talk with your family—you know, actually talk and don’t text each other from across the house asking what’s for dinner (sadly, families really do this). As cliché and idyllic as these suggestions may seem, their simplicity is what makes engaging in these activities so enjoyable. There are plenty of things to keep your interest outside of a television—and don’t worry, the Cyberworld will still be there when you plug back in.
I challenge you, my friends, to unplug and unwind, because you never know what you’ll see when you actually look up.
Contact Staff Writer Kristina Sewell at ksewell@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in May 24-31, 2012.
