A quote by Robin Lee states, “Sometimes you just have to unplug to find yourself again”.
When was the last time you pursued a hobby or engaged in an activity while managing work on a weekend or enjoyed an anti-work call vacation? Sounds alien, right? With the advent of technology and rapid transformation in our social lives, the traditional means of communication and activities have taken a backseat, thanks to the trending T’s today- Time and Technology! Last year, Unpluggd- a Digital Detox workshop came as a wake-up call for me, which instilled the importance of retrospection and the true essence of maintaining a Work Life Balance.
Integrating the art of Unplugging is a journey, which requires sheer dedication and will power to pause. The workshop holds a very special place in my heart both professionally and personally. While ideating and planning for the workshop, the ultimate motto was to diminish the human dependency on technology and rather invest time to know oneself better. It comprised of Indulging in activities less practiced and preached about. A series of non-tech savvy tasks like letter writing, self-introspection and observation led activities were planned to curb the anxieties of staying away from cell phones.
Here’s a sneak peek to my key takeaways from Unpluggd:
1. Take Time to Pause
Pause from the hustle bustle of city life. The traffic, the faces, each crafting a distinct identity and story of its own.
Pause from the mechanical and mundane Mondays. For a change, start looking forward to Tuesday rather than seeking for Fridays.
Pause from the boring train journeys to work. Give yourself the chance to be more than an individual waiting for your destination everyday.
And most importantly pause, to be able to reflect and relish your life.
2. Unlearn and Relearn
To be able to have an open mind and broader perspective towards different phases of life is quintessential. One needs to acquire the skill to be receptive towards continuous learning and improvement. The activity “Talking to the objects,” taught me the significance of unlearning my inhibitions. The interesting aspect is that you act as both the receptor and receiver in this activity. Communicate and most importantly, relearn to hold a conversation with yourself.
3. Retrospect
Take out time for yourself and your loved ones. Are they often seen demanding for your undivided attention?
Do you often laugh whole-heartedly without the fear of people observing and forming opinions about you?
Analyze and rate yourself. Engross yourself in capturing memories in a lens or designing postcards during your free time. Instagram and Snapchat can wait. Stories on social media disappear in 24 hours. Create a memory lane for yourself by expressing and communicating. No Wi-Fi or password needed. Its extremely pocket friendly and can do wonders for your well-being. Go for solo trips. Talk to strangers. Get yourself inked. Listen to what your mind and soul wants to convey.
4. Think and Respond
Have you lately been battling with FOMO? Well, you aren’t alone!
Increasing dependence on technology has led to mental blockage and majority individuals today rely on Google and Siri to get their answers straight. Options like problem solving, applying common sense and understanding human emotions are becoming obsolete. Unpluggd gives you the air to breathe, think and decode answers, without using the Internet! No shortcuts allowed here. Have a query or want to garner more information on a topic? Talk to people around you.
It’s been a year since Unpluggd happened and the entire workshop remains fresh in my mind without any cell phone capturing the moment. There were no Instagram stories. No Facebook updates. No filters. No hashtags. Just sheer experience, enjoyment and enthusiasm.
The thoughts keep reminiscing in my mind, "Today I live hour to hour, one day I will start to live moment to moment.” Life is made up of such minute moments, the time gone by will never be back again. Learn to preserve them. And well it's rightly said, Change is the only constant, and it begins today!
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