I recently heard about a college professor that tried an experiment with a college group of students. For one week of time, the students had to completely unplug, disconnect, power down and let go of all their technology.
This meant, NO:
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cell phones,
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computer,
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Internet,
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TV,
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radio,
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iPod,
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iPhone,
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video games,
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etc.
NO ONE COULD DO IT! In fact, most were distressed at the thought and wouldn't even try it.
Our lives / my life is in constant motion from the time the eyes open in the morning. We plunge into the world at full throttle. We plug in, get wired, and upload giga-bytes of stimulation almost 24/7/365. We think nothing of multi-tasking having a variety of stimulations assaulting our senses. (And lots of good coffee helps.)
Busy, noisy, distracted, in a hurry, feeling behind, pushed, pulled, prodded, buzzed, beeped, emailed, text-ed . . . It never stops. (I need to go drink some more coffee... be right back.)
It will take a major and sustained effort to (even partially) unplug, disconnect, power down and let go. For we are deeply addicted to these stimulations.
Leaders - we know how low our tanks get. Spiritual, emotional, intellectual, physical depletion is a constant. And it is a bit ironic that all of the above stimulations, instead of filling and renewing us, often are draining the soul.
Burnout, for some of us, is only a few short weeks away.
Crash, explode, implode . . . closer than we think.
Back to the Sabbath, back to rest, back to renewal, back to delight, back to slowing down, back to silence. Back to all these very un-American things.
Brian Rice
Leadership ConneXtions International
I decided to leave my laptop at work one night. The next morning, when i couldn't get on line until I went to work . . .
Not good . . .
