My Technology

I grew up within the 1960's and 70's when there have been no computers, PDA's or cell phones. There have been no microwaves, no DVD's, no MP3 gamers and there have been solely about 7 good stations on television. We did not stay dwelling and play video video games all day because there have been no video games to speak of again then. Instead we performed outside, talked to our friends on the telephone and listened to music.

I was telling this to my two sons the other day and so they sat there surprised as they discovered this idea arduous to wrap their brain around. I suspect that I did the identical as a child when my very own mother and father informed me about their childhood and what the world was like.

At the moment we're informed that know-how is here to make our lives easier. The microwave helps us cook food faster. The web helps us get data quicker and allows us to stay linked with pals, household and business associates. Now we have extra tv stations to present us more choices, we've got cell phones in order that we can stay in contact with one another and we have now laptop computers in order that we will access the internet anyplace within the world.

Ok... let's look at that last paragraph again.

From the place I am sitting, it appears like all our sophisticated modern know-how has achieved the opposite... it has made our lives crazier! It has given us less time as an alternative of more.

If you're in your twenties and thirties, think about your father or mother's childhood and what life was like again then. In case you are in your forties or older (like me... sigh) then think about your personal childhood. What happened to everybody when workplace hours got here to an end? What occurred when folks left work and went home?

What did they do?

They rested.

That they had time to think and mirror and do something very few of us do in immediately's world... they relaxed!

Once I was rising up, we did not have cell telephones and laptop computers so we relaxed, went out to dinner, took walks, watched tv, listened to music and skim a book. We turned our minds off for a while and allowed it to reboot itself.

Trendy technology has taken this away from us. As an alternative of resting when we get dwelling from work, we work on our laptops and continually test our PDA's. We take our cell telephones and answer them wherever we are... in restaurants, airplanes, movie theaters, soccer fields, in our car... in every single place!

When exactly can we rest and allow our minds to turn off for a little while?

Modern expertise has made issues harder. It has unleashed a monster known as stress that's making our world sick and tired. It distracts us. It owns us!

Have you seen the Terminator films? The one where machines rule the earth? Guess what? Machines rule our earth. Not in as nasty a way because the film, however they rule the earth nevertheless. Technology rules.

Stress is a nasty factor that causes some even nastier illnesses, and there aren't any antibiotics you can take for it. Stress kills and there is just one treatment for it.

You must rest.

Not too long ago, Ron and I went to Disneyworld in Florida with our boys. We took our cell telephones and the laptop computer as a result of we wanted to check our electronic mail and voice mail whereas we were there. For some strange purpose although, the cell telephones mostly stayed in the room as a result of we kept forgetting to convey them, and we by no means even turned on the laptop. Before we knew it, we went virtually a whole week without checking any of our messages. I checked them about halfway by way of the week and returned a number of calls, however for probably the most part the whole lot stayed off.

Did the world end? Did we lose our firm? Did shoppers stroll away?

Nope.

We came dwelling with our minds refreshed and returned the calls, answered the email and life rolled on. We were bored with course (have you ever completed 4 theme parks in four days?) however nothing happened. Life as we know it didn't finish!!! Instead we have been in a position to deal with the job at hand as a result of we had been refreshed and relaxed.

Know-how quickens our capability to do things. We can research faster, prepare dinner faster, and keep in touch with different folks faster. However, it additionally causes us to feel the necessity that now we have to keep in touch all the time! We really feel we've got to examine our electronic mail at 10:00 p.m. at evening, we've to reply that phone during dinner, and we have to verify our PDA each hour regardless of the place we are.

When do you relaxation and switch your thoughts off?

I understand that everybody needs to maneuver forward. I totally get that. However, with a view to move forward, you must often take a few steps back with the intention to get a better have a look at where you wish to go.

So what can we do?

We can turn off the pc after dinner and not flip it back on until the morning. We are able to turn our cellular phone off now and again and let the voice mail answer it. We can take a walk. We will go on vacation without the laptop. We are able to even go on vacation and solely examine our voice mail a few times! The world will not cease! Folks may think you have been kidnapped but so what? You'll get back in touch with them.

If you do not relaxation and let your body and brain reboot itself, then your physique will break down. In the end, technology will deprive you of the true quality of life as a result of will probably be sick and you won't have the ability to do what you want to do.

So here's my challenge...

I challenge every one in all you studying this article to lose your mobile phone for a day or two and see what happens. I challenge you to turn off your pc at round 6 p.m. at night time and never turn it again on underneath any circumstances until the following morning for one week. Then watch what happens!

Everyone tells you that it is advisable to eat proper and get loads of exercise. Completely true! However, there's a third much more vital key to life... you'll want to relaxation!

So flip your mind off for a while. Take heed to some music. Learn a book. Discuss to your kids. Go shopping. Go to a comedy present and laugh.

Stop ignoring what your body is telling you! I know that it has been urging you to slow down and take a breath. Hearken to it. It knows what it's doing.

Sufficient said.

Now let's see... I am writing an article concerning the evils of technology on my laptop, my cellphone is ringing subsequent to me and an e mail just arrived.

Hmmm... guess it could be time to take a break!          


MF