unplug

This post comes to us from Elfyn, who let it all hang out in our Cell Phone Rant group:

I own a mail and parcel shipping store in Southern California. A customer comes in wanting to make a copy, but the copier doesn't seem to be working. I go to help him and find my copier unplugged and a mysterious charger plugged in in its place. Note, the person who plugged in their charger had to physically move the copier to get to the electrical outlet. I follow the cord to a customer standing near the front of my store yakking away on his cell phone. When I try to ask him about it he holds up his finger to have me wait while he finishes his conversation. After he finishes his phone call, I ask him why he unplugged my copier to plug in his charger. He said, "Oh I didn't know that was your copier." Really? You just walk into a business and unplug their equipment to plug in your charger without even asking?

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The Internet seems to occupy a good chunk of my life. As a writer I'm constantly online, whether it be posting stories, doing research, or chatting with colleagues. And on a personal level I have my vices: Facebook, Twitter, and an RSS feed that seems never ending. But in the last month I've been questioning the amount of time I spend online; I'm starting to show slight signs of carpal tunnel syndrome, and I've been told by numerous friends that I'm on my iPhone way too much — they call it iRude. The point is, I need to slow down.

While staying connected is a good thing, being online isn't the only way to make that happen. Unplugging helps your body recharge, and it lets you reconnect with the world around you. Turning off electronics gives you more time to be active and also gives you more time to focus on the relationships in your life. To make this more of a priority, I have a new rule in my life: when work is over for the day, I turn the computer off. I also leave my phone at home when I'm out with friends for the night. And even though it may sound crazy in this day and age, it's actually liberating. And more importantly, my friends appreciate it because I am completely focused on the present moment.

See if you can challenge yourself to unplug when work is over. Keep your laptop shut off, put your phone away, and go on a walk, take your BFF to dinner, or read a book instead. Let me know how it works for you!

If you're having a tough time stepping away from the Internet, maybe you should partake in Sabbath Manifesto's National Day of Unplugging this Saturday. Taking the tech-free weekend further, spend your evenings dining, talking, and playing board games by the soft light of some clean-burning candles like this romantic D.L. & Co. Black Cassis Candle ($65), made from a blend of soy, maple, and palm waxes.

Here are some pretty, eco-friendly candles to help you unplug and unwind: