The Digital Detox Diet of 2013 | Health Blog

I have a dear friend and colleague who is available via cell, text, email, Instagram,
Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr nearly 24/7. Regardless of the chosen medium, she?ll literally respond in moments-even if it?s just to say she can?t respond. We come dependent on people like Rae* and her zero digital response time. It?s not uncommon for me to receive emails from her with a 4:00AM timestamp. ?She frequently travels with an organized mess ?cords, batteries, computer/Ipad/Kindle bags, etc. She?s brilliant and funny and an incredible?entrepreneur,?mom, wife and friend. We all know and respect people like Rae.

When I received an email from Rae stating her plan to embark on a low comm (low communications) diet, I was quite shocked. I knew that these last 30 days, she?d been forced to be away from technology more than ever-thanks to a family flu bug, the holidays and finally, a much needed vacation. However, I certainly didn?t think this would result in a self-imposed moratorium on technology! ?She?s the CEO of a communications company! She owns and operates 3 websites! ?Her livelihood depends on all things digital!??How could she possibly stay OFF of her phone?

Once I read her email, I knew.?Here?s an excerpt:

?.I?ve decided [which I already knew] I spend WAY too much time on this computer. I mean WAY. TOO. MUCH. TIME.

The problem is that a lot of it is simply walking over to the computer or picking up my phone, looking at my inbox, looking at my Twitter feed and just nibbling away at work, communications, or just general chatter & gossip (which is invaluable to my sanity, so please don?t stop).

This constant checking email, etc., is not making me any more productive. In fact, I think it?s making me less so b/c during my dedicated work hours, I?m not operating with a sense of urgency b/c I think ?oh, I will get to that in a little bit?. All the little 60 second check ins, I believe, are adding up to hours of non-productive time in front of a screen. And lastly, it?s interrupting my attention to other things that need my attention when I?m not ?supposed? to be working (like cooking something other than oatmeal for the boys or actually sitting down with Gavin to help him with his homework.)

The email goes on to state that she?s unavailable from 3pm-8pm daily.?(she did include guidelines noting that if we needed her, we could call and/or text) I get it completely. In an attempt to be more effective, more efficient, more available and more present to the people and things she truly cares about, she?s chosen to detox from what many of us find ourselves addicted to: technology. It?s a concerted effort to disconnect in order to reconnect. I?ll be supporting Rae 100% in her efforts.

I?d be hard pressed to find someone who wouldn?t benefit from taking part in this diet, myself included. ?And no, I won?t wait until Monday to start. ?Finally, a detox diet I can get behind.

*Names have been changed to protect the innocent?.just in case she falls off the digital detox wagon. We?re rooting for you, Rae!

Source: http://healthblog.dallasnews.com/2013/01/the-digital-detox-diet-of-2013.html/

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