Hughs Blog

Turn it off!

Do you need to go cold turkey and turn off your electronic vice? I just returned from our Dare2Dream youth leadership sea kayaking camp (see www.followyourdreams.ca). At the Dare2Dream camp we have very few rules, but one that we never deviate from is: no cell phones, no ipods, no video games – nada, nothing.

Being with 10 kids (15-18 years old) that are completely unplugged for six days is pretty unique. On top of that we are living at a wilderness camp, in tents, on an island, surrounded by some of the more beautiful coastal scenery in the world!

As a mentor I was able to watch the transformation that happens when kids leave the city and enter the outdoors. It’s magical. kids that didn’t know each other just hours before were hanging out like long-lost friends. I could talk with anyone of the kids and have their full attention (it really does help that there are no little white plugs hanging out of their ears). And everyday just got better; the depth of conversations improved and their appreciation of our special island camp increased.

I am convinced that being unplugged is one of the key ingredients to our camp’s success. Of course we have the curriculum, amazing location, talented leaders; but taking away the electronic distractions immediately changes the tone and quality of every conversation and everyday we have together.

How about you? When was the last time you were completely unplugged? No news in your car as you commuted to work, no music during your workout, no cell phone clipped to your belt and no emails interrupting your morning thinking.

I, of course, was also unplugged at the camp. And I was reminded of how wonderful and unusual an experience this had become for me. It seems that it wasn’t that long ago (in my faulty memory) that I didn’t own a cell phone, ipod, laptop, or Blackberry. I can still remember that if you wanted to get a hold of someone you looked for a phone!

Being unplugged also cleared the cobwebs out of my brain and I found that journaling was easier and being present in conversations was both easier and more enjoyable. Do you want to go unplugged? Here are some quick ideas to try out:

• Protect your morning time for thinking, planning and doing the hardest work of the day.
• Record a new voice mail message that lets callers know that you will be unavailable until 10:30 (or whenever) in the morning.
• When you are working on a project, or are going to have a meeting in your office, turn Outlook off.
• Drive to work in silence. This is a wonderful time to envision the day and prepare yourself mentally for the energy you will need to be successful. Don’t let the radio station’s goals distract you from your goals.
• If you are exercising this week go unplugged. If you can skip the music and instead focus on enjoying the experience of the workout and simply let you thoughts wander to wherever they want to go (if I am using a gym for my workout I will typically bring some paper and a pen to capture the ideas that float up when my mind is less distracted).
• Unless your work requires that you respond immediately to your phone calls, take the phone off your belt, put it on vibrate and check messages on your schedule.

Who knows what will happen if you go on a couple of vacations from the electronic interruptions. It could be the best thing you do for yourself!

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