To improve creativity and well-being, unplug from technology. Recognize the value of downtime.
What internet activity take up the most of your time? Maybe you’re working on a project or working on a design while also sending emails, playing games, pinning. Reading, talking to people, browsing the web, watching videos, or writing reviews. We frequently have a phone to our ear and a tablet in our hands, even when we’re not sat in front of our desktop or laptop computers.
Consider your daily activities now that you aren’t using the Internet. I’m hoping you don’t just respond in a way that’s polite or socially acceptable. Many of us who rely on the Internet for our day jobs also use it for recreation. These may involve playing video games, interacting with others while lounging in our armchairs, and even monitoring our ex-partners. These are hardly the healthiest activities, as you would have guessed.
Our penchant for technology, text, and photos over in-person relationships may portend more serious problems in the road. We’ll briefly go through a few of the issues that our Internet addiction is producing for us in this piece. We’ll also discuss why it’s crucial to unplug from technology and re-engage with the real world.
Our Welfare
I recently had to deal with a brief case of “computer fatigue.” Although the symptoms are real, they are not severe enough to demand a sick day. You may have had the same symptoms, such as a constant strain between your eyes and across the bridge of your nose. As well as headaches, light vertigo, a metallic taste in your mouth. And impaired vision. Although these symptoms aren’t severe enough to require a doctor’s appointment, they can significantly reduce productivity(Yourself).
I desired to go back to traditional paper-based employment after spending an average of 13 hours a day on the computer. At least until my health got better. After a trying week, I found the solution: a much-needed 12-hour sleep marathon.
The next morning, all of my symptoms were gone. One benefit of having a sympathetic boss, especially in the realm of freelancing, is their tolerance for such little losses. But given how many of us may be able to relate to this circumstance, I believe it’s imperative to promote improved self-care.
Friends and family
The proverb warns against combining work and pleasure, however it’s not apparent how “family” fits into this scenario. Many of us notice that our time with loved ones is getting shorter in the typical 9 to 5 job atmosphere. When we become immersed in the digital world, this problem is made worse.
The time we spend with those around us is being negatively impacted by our growing reliance on the Internet, whether it’s for checking emails, reading blogs, surfing social media, or engaging in hobbies on our PCs, smartphones, or tablets.
How many of our Facebook friends actually join us for a quick drink, despite the fact that we claim to have hundreds or even thousands of them? And how much of that time is actually spent with them when we do? The majority of the time, when you sit down and place your order, you might both grab for your smartphones and look through messages, tweets, and daily updates before coming up with a topic to talk about.
Ironically, we frequently spend more time on our phones chatting with friends than we do with individuals who are physically there in front of us. In essence, we withdraw from reality more quickly the faster we connect to a local Wi-Fi network.
Creativity
Without a question, human ingenuity is the most important resource we have. Without it, advancement would not be possible, and we would be trapped in a never-ending cycle of repetition. Edward de Bono.
Consider this: Ideas are the source of breakthroughs and advancements. The advancement of our civilization is fueled by these technical advances.
As a result, it’s crucial to maintain a steady flow of ideas, which is where creativity comes in. Creative ideas are distinctive; sometimes they provide a fresh spin to an established idea, and other times they are completely novel. Examples include flying, electricity, quantum science, and more recently, the tablet.
When we give an idea the time it needs to develop, the potential of the human mind is remarkable.
Originality and Sharing: A Catch-22
The ease of sharing material in the modern digital era appears to have lessened the need or drive for creative thought. Why fix something isn’t broken, one may ask?
This pattern may be observed in many areas of our lives. Wikipedia is extensively used by researchers and students for research, whereas blogs frequently reuse material from other websites. Memes and rage comics recycle classic jokes that have been around since the internet’s birth, while YouTube is flooded with great young musicians covering well-known tunes(Yourself).
This ‘sharing is caring’ mindset has an influence that goes beyond just these specific instances. The year 2012 was nicknamed the “year of the sequel” in the movie business, with over 95 sequels to existing films and at least 50 remakes planned. The music business, which is known for its profusion of covers and mash-ups, as well as literature, where originality is occasionally questioned (as with the Hunger Games), both display this tendency.
This pattern makes us wonder if we are actually at a loss for fresh concepts, especially given that credit is frequently ignored online. If this is the case, Edward de Bono’s claim regarding the status of creativity in our culture may have some merit.
Leaving the digital world behind
With its seductive charm, technology readily gives us what we want, when we want it. In the modern world. It could be difficult to go a day without checking our cellphones for updates, playing online games, or posting about our most recent meals on social media(Yourself).
But when the weekend arrives, it’s important to step away from the internet. Our physical self, the individuals in our immediate vicinity, and our environment should all be reconnected at this moment.
Take part in activities that don’t call for rapid remarks or input from others. You may try writing for fun, picking up a new instrument to perform. Or choosing a book from your shelf without first reading a review.
Think of taking a road trip with your significant other, kids, or even your mother. As an alternative, you may suggest going camping, fishing, or abseiling with your college mates. Be brave and attempt something novel without registering or checking in to a website.
Leave your electronics at home if at all feasible. Turning off your Wi-Fi can be an option if you are unable to leave your house for a trip. You may reconnect with yourself by doing some meditation, taking a soothing bath, or making a special lunch for yourself.
Conclusion
We humans are innately sociable beings. Despite the fact that social networks have taken on a large role in our lives. Nothing compares to the special pleasure of sipping a cup of coffee with a friend in a warm café while being protected from the elements and listening to upbeat music. This straightforward experience might frequently be more satisfying than we ever anticipated(Yourself).
Another thing that humans can offer that technology cannot is moral and emotional support as well as the will to keep working towards goals. In this area, technology lags behind.
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