I have to admit, I am one of the worst Internet-addicts around. I am AWFUL about keeping the laptop on my lap even during family movie time. (We won’t even talk about how much I am online when I should be working–that’s why Bruce has to turn the Internet off when I’m on a really tight deadline!)
Anyway, last week, just as the holidays were about to get underway, I told Bruce and the girls I wanted to just “disconnect” for the holidays. I am sick of trying to spend an evening with my family and ALL of us having laptops on our laps, emailing or IM’ing each other instead of opening our mouths!
So for about a week, I really have been keeping my promise to myself (and to them) to keep the Internet OFF. I have gone into my office once in a while to touch in on a couple of things, but for the most part, huh-uh, nothing, nada! Laptop was put away and I didn’t even know where it was, and Bruce and the girls have done the same.
Wow. What a freeing, uplifting thing! It’s just so nice to give 100% of my focus and attention to my family, and while I did do a little jonesing for my I-fix, for the most part, I didn’t miss it at ALL. (definitely my bad back didn’t!)
I am easing my way back in, but trying really hard to just touch base a couple of times a day and not sit all day with the thing on my lap. I’m curious–anybody else try to just disconnect for a week or so? I don’t mean just “swearing off” the blogs, etc., but putting the computers away–out of sight, out of mind–and going back a decade or so ago when these silly gadgets weren’t such a huge part of our lives?
If so, what do you thinK? If not…I highly recommend it!
Happy holidays, everyone!
PS: I’ll try to post a few pics from our NYC trip next week. We had a GREAT time, followed by a wonderful, quiet holiday once we got home. Hope it was the same for all of you!
Leslie Kelly used to say she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, but then she discovered Nancy Drew books. Being a flashlight-under-the-covers-nose-in-book reader throughout her childhood, she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do as an adult than continue to lose herself in fictional stories. Her real life marriage of 20 years to the man of her dreams is a constant reinforcement that happily-ever-afters really can happen…and that they’re worth writing about. Living in Maryland, Leslie spends her non-writing time laughing a lot with the above-mentioned romance hero and their three daughters. Though an author of more than thirty sexy, contemporary comedies, she has recently branched out to write dark romantic suspense under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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I just know that things are going to get worse when I get my Iphone. As much as I want to be able to get my email at the bus stop, I know I’ll be doing other stuff at the bus stop (like FB or something else). I guess it’s better than just standing there for half an hour.
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I have to totally disconnect the end of January into February for 12 days. I can’t even take my iPhone. I’ll let you know how I am once I get back on. I suspect I’ll be a raving lunatic. Or a puddle of mindless goo.
More snow forecast for today. Oh joy.
:meepcold: 
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When we go on vacation or when I go to National, I am off line totally. I wait until I get home to check e-mail or blogs or anything. And you’re right, it is freeing. The only thing I’m addicted to checking is my personal e-mail. But when I’m zoned into my work I don’t find myself stopping to check e-mail unless I’m expecting something.
Hope everyone has a wonderful day. The last of our company just left. Yay!
Cher :newyear:
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Oh, for some reason yesterday the blog didn’t like me. I couldn’t post a comment…
Cher
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That’s weird, Cher! I just checked Spam and didn’t see it!
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Yeah, it’s happened before…don’t understand why. Very strange indeed.
Oh, well. I was here in spirit anyway.
Cher
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Since, I only have access at work or via the cell phone, I never feel that pressure. I wish I could be online anytime.
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I went out of the country last month and didn’t have Internet access at all. My Blackberry didn’t work and there was no TV or radio in my room.
It was the best. I recommend it to anyone who is weary of technology. Even more, to anyone who is addicted.
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Hey Les and all my jungle buddies. I have disconnected numerous times. I never did put the computer away or anything, but there have been many occasions when I didn’t turn it on at all. The first couple of days are the hardest, because I feel guilty, yep guilty about not checking in on my regular blog stops. I love it though because then I get read more. Everything revolves around reading…that is truly sad. I used to be toooooo cooonnnected. I felt like the Internet and chatting with you guys and my other online friends was my lifeline, so it was very hard to separate myself from it all. I think I got it to a point where I can go a week or two without checking my personal computer. Work, is a totally different sitch since I have to use the Internet for that. I can’t wait to disconnect from that one during the vacations/breaks. Anyway, I commend you on disconnecting, and good luck getting back into the I world. Welcome back Les!!!
Peace and love,
Paula R.
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Since starting my own blog (www.wendymarcus.com) I’ve become a bit of a blog junky. In 2010 I am going to make it a point to write at least 10 solid pages before I go online. Otherwise before I know it it’s noon and I haven’t made any progress on my WIPs. Happy New Year to all!
Wendy
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Oops….that should have been http://www.wendymarcus.blogspot.com.
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I have a hard time not just browsing online. I used to accomplish a lot on the computer when I was playing with websites (making them) now I just find things to keep me occupied. It’s silly actually. At least I have my cross stitching!
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Hi Leslie,
What a great idea to disconnect. As an “older” person that did not even have TV until the age of 13 I think people are to connected. Don’t get me wrong, I love the technology I use. Please do not take away my computer & the Internet but I can walk away from it. My little corner of the world is in northern California Wine Country, people come here to get away but I see people walking down the street ignoring the person they are with because they are talking to someone else on the cell phone. It boggles my mind. There is nothing as good as a phone conversation or a face to face get together with friends or family. I do have a cell phone but rarely turn it on or rarely use it. Only a few even have the number & I never remember what it is!!
Another humble opinon of mine is that people no longer know how to be alone, they are listening to the iPod, texting, talking on their cell or something. It is really sad because I think we each need some alone time daily to keep our thoughts together, appreciate the world (or at least our part of it) and to appreciate being alive. All this being “connected” is adding stress to our lives when we really need to be “chilling” a bit everyday to stay human.
Thanks for the chance to get on my:
Leslie, I just happen to be reading Pitch Black which I can’t wait to get back to!
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I am fine if I don’t have it for a few days. But I like my accessibility to the kids and grandkids, even if it’s just on my crackberry. Sometimes it is the only way any of us connect since we are from coast to coast and all over the state right now.
However, I do have projects here at home I need to do and will set a morning time limit and then push myself away. When we take the RV out, if I have a park with a connection, good. If not, fine. Although I would like to be able to do searches for local stuff in case I don’t have enough AAA books and other crap to use!
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I really only got on-line over Christmas to log in my food on the Weight Watchers site. I saw a couple of blogs, but really didn’t do much until my niece and I were looking for something Saturday night. I’ve been really bad about blogging lately, but hope to do better in the new year. I do have internet access on my phone(just got the hct droid), so I’m never totally off-line.
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I don’t remember the last time I was without internet. I do agree that sometimes people can be too connected with technology these days. However, I find my biggest challenge with the internet is staying focused when I’m online for study (I access the databases from home rather than going to campus) – a lot of the time I’ll get sidetracked to other sites including this one.
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A little unexpected snowfall and some overburdened limbs came crashing down, creating our own little electronics free zone. We were not just unplugged, we were cut off. Ah, the peace and quiet… Then we got out the board games, made a fire in the fire place (okay, so we lit the gas logs with a match instead of the electronic igniter, but you get the picture), heated some water on the BBQ side-burner for hot chocolate, and commenced re-connecting with our girls.
We didn’t even look at the Gameboys, Cell phones and iPods for hours. Not a long time perhaps, but enough to remind us of how much we need that person-to-person contact in order to be healthy and happy. Now the sun is shining and the snow melt is dripping off the roof, but I think we’ll make our lunch and sit down with another game for the afternoon.
Laurel N