Electrolicious

Against the Machine (thx, Terra!)

I’ve been getting emails all morning from folks wanting to know how Unplugged Night went, so here you go! This project is an invaluable exercise for me. Last night’s timing couldn’t have been worse, really: I spent most of the day yesterday at work counting down to launching a big project I’ve been working on for weeks, and at a certain point I realized it wasn’t going to happen before 5:30 … ie, the time I was getting home and unplugging. My last half-hour of connectivity was filled with this sense of crazed desperation — OMG! BUT HOW! I CAN’T! THIS IS INSANE!

But I took a deep breath and reminded myself that it could all wait. Launching at 9am Thursday vs. 7pm Wednesday was not going to make a drop of difference to anyone except for me. It was a self-set deadline with absolutely nothing relying on it. It’s funny how much I convince myself of the INCREDIBLE URGENCY of the most ridiculous things.

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What I did last night:
1. Checked email and RSS feeds 500 times
2. Took bath
3. Watched musical numbers from Hairspray and an episode of Buffy

What I want to do tonight:
1. Write letter to Megan
2. Re-pot 2 houseplants
3. Finish downstairs foyer redecorating
4. Play cribbage with Andreas
5. Mending
6. Write in paper journal
7. Stretch
8. Leave all screens in house OFF!

WHO’S WITH ME!?

Yesterday I attended this workshop that was all about finding a balance between technology and soul. For me, that means dealing with my tendency to overuse the internet for all things. Don’t get me wrong: I love the web. It’s given me more amazing things than I could count (quick tally: jobs, friends near and far, book deal, etc) but it’s also taken its toll.

I went into the workshop yesterday saying I’d like to be “More present in the present.” This isn’t just an internet addiction thing. It’s an ADD, monkey-brain, cultural thing too — but the internet sure doesn’t help.

The workshop was definitely more about discussion/exploration than take-away items, but we spent the last hour discussing ways to deal with the frustrations we have with the web, and then making decisions about sustainable ways we could make change.

So, here’s mine: one night a week, I am going to completely unplug from anything with a screen. This means no internet, no sidekick, no watching dvds. I plan to focus instead on the other things I like doing like writing letters, crafting, organizing, dancing, going for walks, cooking and making tea, writing in my paper journal. I might also try picking up some new things to like such as watercolors, scrapbooking, mail art, dance classes, attending lit readings, etc. Regardless, one night a week I’m going to unplug.

Me being me, though … I have to document it. I figure it’s a good way to keep myself on task. Plus, maybe some of my fellow geek/addicts would like to join in? I think I’m going to pick Wednesday night to take off, and then Thursday I’ll share what I did.

Who’s with me?