The Power of Disconnecting

This post is the first installment of Kayla’s Quick Reads, a series of posts designed to be read from top to bottom in 5 minutes or less.  In today’s day and age, it’s hard to find time to eat and sleep, much less read.  So in an effort to educate efficiently, these can be read on the subway, during your lunch break, or even a bathroom break!

So let’s get into the Power of Disconnecting.  In this new year, one of my goals is to disconnect from electronics once a week for 1-3 hours, and hopefully I can work my way up to 24 hours.  That means the phone is on Do Not Disturb, emails are on the back burner, and social media browsing is an absolute no-no.  I know, it can be really daunting for anyone to do.  We don’t want to miss anything, and for some of us social media and technology aren’t just means of being social, but they’re means of learning.  But here are a few things that demonstrate the power of disconnecting and reveal why it is beneficial.

1.     It builds self-control

According to Entrpreneur.com, committing to not using technology takes self-control. No matter what someone is working on, they have to stop and turn everything off at the minute when their 24-hour tech-free period starts.  Strictly adhering to a no-tech schedule forces individuals to work when they have access to their technology, and build the self-control to power down at a specified time.

2.     It gives your brain a break

Contrary to popular belief, our brains cannot function at optimum health and speed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  According to Scientific American, many recent studies have corroborated the idea that our mental resources are continuously depleted throughout the day and that various kinds of rest and downtime can both replenish those reserves and increase their volume.

3.     It allows you to connect with loved ones in real time

Have you ever been to a family event or a social gathering where everyone is off of their phones and genuinely invested in the company of others, so much so that they forget to check their phones?  This is the kind of connection be so often neglect.  These days we spend more time texting, tweeting, and commenting than we do having face-to-face interactions. We spend less and less time actually talking face to face.  We’ve even gone as far as to replace real laughter with “LOL” because let’s be honest, we aren’t always laughing out loud when we type those three letters.  Disconnecting from technology allows us to connect in a more natural and physical way, one that biologists and psychologists have concluded provides biological benefits, as well, and protective barriers against depression and illness (source).

4.     Greater opportunity for deeper, more abstract thinking

The more time we spend on our phones and gadgets, the less time we have to think deeply.  Sure, we can talk to a friend and peruse Instagram simultaneously.  But deeper cognitive engagement requires you to give a little more of your brain power and attention.  Disconnecting from technology allows you to do just that.

I hope you found this ABK Quick Read useful!  Let me know what you think in the comments.  When is the last time you disconnected, and in what small ways can you disconnect from gadgets to reconnect with people?