Unplug and Disconnect for a Richer Life

Technology has drawbacks as well as benefits. Seniors Guide writer Terri L. Jones suggests ways we can unplug and disconnect from technology to regain lost advantages of the good ol’ days.

While technology was supposed to make things more convenient for us and free up our time, instead it’s made us busier than ever, reports Scientific American . As a result, three in five Gen Zers , the generation that’s lived with technology all their lives (and even some Millennials), are choosing to be less connected to the digital world. Heck, some of these younger folks even visit the library !

“I’m still reachable, but I live my life in the place where I am at that moment rather than constantly being mentally elsewhere,” explained one Millennial . “I just feel a lot calmer and a lot happier.”

Sometimes we really can learn something from the younger generations!

4 meaningful ways to unplug and disconnect

Check out these alternatives to technology, which allow you to live a simpler and potentially fuller life:

Dumbphones vs. smartphones

How many times have you found yourself mindlessly scrolling on your smartphone when you could be perusing a magazine, pondering an idea, or just resting your brain? Why not purchase a “dumb phone” or a “feature phone,” which looks and operates much like that old-fashioned flip or slide phone you used to have – usually with only call, text, and photo/video functions but sometimes with a few additional features like GPS or access to social media. These phones also have simpler interfaces, so they’re easier to use for the tech-challenged, and are smaller than smartphones. While you probably couldn’t (or wouldn’t want to) completely give up your cellphone, today’s dumb phones keep you connected enough without taking over your life.

Books vs. e-readers

What you’re reading on an e-reader is the same as a physical book, but beyond that, the two methods of reading are worlds apart. To purchase a print book, you may go to a bookstore or library and take the time to browse the shelves. In the process, you may flip through other books, sit down and read a few pages, and maybe even talk to fellow book browsers. It’s an experience that slows you down and makes your choice more deliberate.

Plus, there’s a vastly different feeling holding a physical book in your hands and turning the pages compared to tapping through digital pages. Not to mention, you have a beautiful four-color cover to remind you of what you’re reading every time you pick it up.

Lastly, the book on your bookshelf is a visual reminder of everything you’ve read or haven’t read yet (and is likely to start conversations with visitors).

While we’re on the subject of reading, why not substitute at least a few hours of this pastime for some of your binge TV watching each week?

Calling vs. texting

Texting was intended for quick messages; however, the convenience of this technology has caused most people to rely on it for long, back-and-forth conversations, too, abandoning phone calls almost altogether. While you may think that texting is quicker than a call, the never-ending string of texts that keeps you tethered to your phone and constantly interrupts whatever else you’re doing could ultimately eat up even more of your time.

And with texts, the absence of voice and the tones, pauses, and inflections makes it difficult to convey emotion (short of emojis), which can result in misinterpreted messages. It can also decrease social connection and intimacy, compared to a phone call, according to a study by the American Psychological Association . And if you can manage to talk face-to-face, even better!

Cookbooks and recipe files vs. online recipes

Sure, it’s so easy to pull up an online recipe on your tablet, but have you ever felt a tug of nostalgia or remembered a cherished event or person when you did? Physical cookbooks and handwritten or clipped-out recipes, on the other hand, with splatters of food, dog-eared corners, comments scribbled in the margins, or a family member’s name on the page almost always evoke memories – even if it’s just of the last time you savored the dish!

Related: Engaging with grandkids in the kitchen

And when you’re cooking from a cookbook, you’re completely focused on the process, compared to your computer, tablet, or phone, where you’re likely to be disrupted by texts, emails, and notifications that may destroy your cooking Zen.

On top of that, the taste of familiar dishes can elicit warm memories, too.

Many cooks marry the old with the new , using their cookbooks as a starting point and then consulting online recipes for variations on ingredients and simplifications on process. They then return to their cookbooks, jotting down those changes in the margins to save them for the next time they cook the dish as well as the next generation.

Boardgames vs. video games

Many people are enamored with (dare I say, addicted to!) video games, whether played on a phone or in front of a TV or computer screen. They have their benefits, but they can be so mesmerizing that they can distract you from tasks you need to do and people to whom you should be paying attention. By the same token, video games are also isolating, even if you’re competing against other online players.

Related: Gaming for seniors

The reverse is true of old-fashioned boardgames. They may monopolize your attention, but because you’re playing with people in the real world, you’re interacting and engaging rather than shutting out everything and everyone around you.

There’s also the sentimental value of sitting down with friends and family. You can revisit old familiar games that stir memories or even try something new. In either case, you’re face to face with other people, offering the chance to chat and make new memories.

Related: Unplug and disconnect with multigenerational games

Technology is here to stay. It’s naïve for us to think we could live without it. However, if we unplug and disconnect from some of the most disruptive technologies, we’ll keep it from monopolizing our time and attention. We’ll be more present with our loved ones, experience less stress and anxiety, and lead richer lives.

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