SWITCH OFF WORK
We’ve just spent this whole week working on work. Granted, it was focused on beautiful work. But it was still a lot of work! Last week, we paid attention to rest, on some levels, but we realized, there’s another kind of rest from work that we’d like to delve into. That is: unplugging.
As we don’t need to tell you, we’ve gotten lulled into complacency in being constantly connected to our electronic digital devices, because, at first blush, and maybe even second blush, it doesn’t feel like work when we are on them. They give us pleasure. They’re quick. We can do things in little bits here and there. We can dip in and out rather easily.
But the problem is, we end up dipping in more than we dip out. Our devices, and our minds, end up always being “on.”
Photo: Courtesy of Rejuvenate Space.
An ancient concept has been getting new play recently. Tiffany Shlain, award-winning filmmaker, founder of the Webby Awards, and one of the top thinkers in digital spaces, calls it “tech shabbat.” Shlain takes a page from traditional shabbat, or sabbath rituals, as practiced in Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and in many faiths, as a time, each week, when everyone stops work, slows down, rests, and contemplates other important parts of life. And she applies it to technology. She unplugs. For 24 hours.
Every Friday night, at sundown, when the sabbath begins for many religious people, Shlain disconnects from every digital connection. She prepares a home-cooked meal with her family, and, together they focus on each other, their friends, and their community.
Photo: Courtesy of Athabasca Country.
A recent post on GOOD, advises that you try it. “From sundown Friday night to sundown Saturday night shut down every cell phone, iPad, TV, and computer in the house. Reset your mind each week, connect with family and friends in real time, and allow yourself to appreciate technology when you're able to use it again.”
But you have to be dedicated. Otherwise, you’ll probably cheat. But it’s a slippery slope.
Scott Belsky, Adobe's Vice President of Products-Community, Head of Behance, and publisher of 99u blog, asks “Why do we crave distraction over downtime?” And -- we do. Belsky thinks it is because “space is scary.” Often, when things are too quiet, or we are alone, our minds start to wobble into self doubt, uncertainty, and with those, fear. We need reassurance. And the easiest way to get it is to reconnect digitally with someone or something again.
Photo: Courtesy of Civiwise
Shlain resists. And she prepares. “I've printed out the next day's schedule, along with maps and phone numbers that live on my cell phone,” Shlain explains. “Most people in our lives know they will not be able to text, tweet, email, Facebook, chat, or Skype with us for 24 hours. If they want to reach us, they call our landline. Or they come over.”
Photo: Courtesy of WonderHowTo. iPhone Battery
Although we recharge every night when we sleep, and we can sometimes grab weeks at a time for a vacation once in a while, taking a mini-vacation, once a week has another kind of benefit. It’s a creative pause. After you’ve done a sprint for 5 or 6 days, take a total pause for one full day.”Every week we remember the most important thing about technology” Shlain says, “It has an off switch.”
Photo: Wm. Li. Apple Power Button
While Shlain was one of the first digital gurus to ritually unplug, the concept has begun to mainstream. Check out the National Day of Unplugging and the Sabbath Manifesto. The Manifesto was developed in the same spirit as the Slow Movement, slow food, and slow living. A gentle backlash to the increasingly “on” world.
Originally conceived by RecordSetter.com CEO, Dan Rollman, the Sabbath Manifesto attracted a small group of artists, writers, filmmakers and media professionals, including Shlain. The group, known as Reboot, considers the Sabbath time as a time for creative renewal. It’s not about religion. It’s about reconnection with your own life and your own ideas.
The Manifesto lays out 10 ground rules for the Sabbath:
Shlain admits, after 24 hours, she’s had enough. “By sundown on Saturday, we can't wait to get back online. We're hungry for connection.” But she knows she gets another pause in just six more days.
Watch YELP: With Apologies to Alan Ginsberg’s Howl, a short film by Tiffany Shlain and Ken Goldberg, which rallies you, to untether, unplug, and be here now.
Video: Connected the Film
Matthew Sleeth, author of 24/6: A Prescription for a Healthier, Happier Life
Photo: Courtesy of Redmondpie
If committing to a 24-hour work and digital moratorium every week makes you break out in a sweat, Sleeth suggests that you ease on into it and try it on for size: Commit to a trial period for at least a month. He also suggests that you plan ahead. Map out your schedule and don’t leave things undone that will stress you out.
Who has time for this? What about everything we still have to do? Or think we want to do. What about our endless craving to cross things off our endless lists? What about all the “fun” things we do electronically?
Photo: Alex George
If you are still not ready to take the weekly 24-hour plunge, or maybe in addition to it, Belsky recommends a daily minibreak. He calls it “sacred space.” A walk, a read, a nap, an in-person chat. Belsky savors this time as a time for deep thinking. Borrowing from Eastern traditions, Belsky advocates protecting the “state of no-intent.” Don’t fill your brain. Don’t direct your thoughts. Let your mind wander.
Taking a break is an important part of beautiful work. Although deep in my heart I know it is not an easy. In fact I’m writing this post after midnight. But it’s an idea worth taking seriously. What do you think?
Check out stories about Beautiful Work all this week on BeautifulNow, including New Spaces for Beautiful Work, The Beautiful Impact of Work, Beautiful Wild Work, Working It: Beautiful Lunches, and Exquisite Tools = Beautiful Work.
Get busy and enter the BN Competitions, Our theme this week is Beautiful Work. Send in your images and ideas, for beauty in work. Deadline is 9/08/13.
