Take the time to reconnect with your family and disconnect from your devices.
Disconnect. A word that’s meaning has changed drastically with our generation. It has become a very scary word to some people. There are so many questions around the action of disconnecting: How will people reach me? How will I know what’s going on in the world? What if something important happens?
We are the digital generation; our devices have become a way that we define ourselves. In a way they have become how we see ourselves as well. We view ourselves through the lenses of our cameras and we soak up information through screens of tablets, computers and phones.
In our free time what are we doing besides uploading, scrolling through posts or “liking” things? Most people document their lives through status updates, tweets or Instagram photos. We feel that posting things will help us connect to people and help them connect to their lives.
But what would happen if we all disconnected? Even for a week? Nothing. You would not die from lack of information. People would still be able to reach you. The world would not end.
When you disconnect from technology it gives you a chance to see your life in a new light. You can’t edit real life, there are no filters to make things seem better. You can always delete or edit posts or pictures on the internet, but in the real world you don’t get those privileges to rewrite and edit what you do or say.
With the holidays coming up what better chance is there to disconnect and reconnect with your family and friends? There is nothing wrong with creating memories with photos or posts, but when you just take a picture to take a picture what substance does that have?
Technology doesn’t hurt us and in so many ways it brings us together and helps us stay close to people. But it also doesn’t hurt to step away and take a break to remind ourselves that life is moving by so quickly–things are happening here and now and we need to pay attention.
Stepping away and disconnecting to reconnect with our family and friends can give you opportunities to create new memories with no filters.
So over this holiday break I challenge you to disconnect from your devices and reconnect with those around you.
