There’s cell phones, email, Tweets and the power of social networking. Do you ever want to just disconnect from it all? What’s it like to be disconnected?
Last Thursday, I was in a snowstorm in Boulder, Colorado. I was driving a rental car with strange and different compartments to hold cups and other items from my car at home. I set my cell phone down into what would have been where I keep my cell phone in my Rav 4, but in this case it was where I had just placed a cup of hot tea.
Last night on a call with Gay Hendricks, Gay asked me what I was really committed to when I did that. At first that may sound like a strange question. Yet at some level I was committed to at least temporarily destroying my cell phone because that is exactly what I did. We always do what we are committed to. This may (and frequently does differ from what we say we are committed to.
In my case I was on vacation and had received more business calls that I wanted to deal with. I literally had wanted to disconnect from the business world and just relax and enjoy myself without outside interruption.
I had just completed a delightful dinner with a group of close friends at a wonderful Thai restaurant. I wanted to play without the intrusion of the outside world. After dropping my cell phone in the hot tea I quite literally became “cut off”
At first I was frustrated with myself for such a stupid action but then I enjoyed my days of disconnection. For me there was something quite powerful about being disconnected. I enjoyed the uninterrupted spaciousness of just having time for me. As a result I felt more energized and enthusiastic about reconnecting with my work and the world.
Next time I need a break, I’ll just remember to turn off my cell phone and my computer first. I look forward to making regular times for me to be disconnected and to recharge my batteries.
When do you take the time for yourself?
How do you disconnect from the demands and pressures of your everyday life?
Amy Barnes