We live in this world with an abundance of easy to access information. We’re connected all the time, and most of us probably aren’t volunteering to disconnect any time soon.
Don’t get me wrong, I think there’s tremendous value in our ability to connect – it’s changed the world beyond measure and it seems like everyone is getting brought up to speed quicker than ever before. The barrier to entry isn’t as high as it used to be. Technology has created massive amounts of opportunity for those who were not born winners of the ‘ovarian lottery’ as Warren Buffett would say.
With all the value this connection brings, I think a lot of us forget that there’s value in being disconnected too. I think we’re losing touch with our ability to detach from the noise. I think we’re losing our comfortability in being alone. We’re leaving value on the table.
I try to step away from the noise on an intermittent-basis throughout the day and on a more prolonged-basis at least a few times a year. I leverage these withdrawals as a tool that allows me to digest the information and experiences I’ve been exposing myself to.
I refuse to check my phone, email, or social media first thing in the morning – the longer I can put these things off the better I feel and the more focused I am. I try to give myself the time to create something before checking in on any of these platforms.
I used to squeeze in podcasts or audiobooks whenever I could find the time throughout the day – during my commute, walks, mobility work, whenever I had a spare moment. While I still expose myself to these resources, I also make time to enjoy the empty space when I have a free moment. I had to convince myself that it’s not necessary to fill every void with something, that I’m not missing out.
When I’m getting ready for bed, I give myself some time and space to wind down, whether that’s mobility work, reading, whatever – I text my family to tell them goodnight and send them some love, then I put my phone down to charge on the coffee table in my living room and I leave it there.
As far as the more prolonged fasts go, I wish I could incorporate these more often but hey you’ve got to make do with what you’ve got. Over the past few years, some of these escapes include a solo backpacking trip throughout Europe, a group trip to Acadia National Park in Maine with a handful of my closest friends, and a solo trip to the Origin Immersion Camp in the woods of Maine.
By retreating and going on recess from the constant connection, we give ourselves the space to reflect, to listen, and to tune in to ourselves. Our bodies and minds are always, always, trying to tell us things, but most of the time this voice gets drowned out by the surrounding noise. By fasting from the noise, we can grow closer to ourselves, and as a result, closer to our friends, family, and communities.
When we refuse to listen to ourselves, we become unhappy and fractured. Our outward display doesn’t match how we feel and think on the inside, there’s a disconnect. It’s called being inauthentic, ingenuine, fake. It’s called being dishonest with yourself.
Now I’m not saying you need to be a recluse, or that there’s anything wrong with feeling a strong sense of connection to society. I’m not saying technology is the enemy or anything like that. What I am saying is that you need to be able to find yourself in all this noise, and that’s much easier to do if you make an effort to detach once in a while.
I’d love to get your feedback on this. How have you dealt with the bottomless vault of information, the addictive nature of technology, the increased difficulty in building a relationship with yourself? What do you do to get away from all the noise? What are you tuning into, and what are you tuning out of?
