The Experiment

Readers,

As you might have noticed, I was online less than I normally have been this previous weekend. Well, let me tell you that I made a special effort to not be online at all, but that didn’t work out well! I needed to look some things up and contact some folks, so my no iPhone/online effort failed, and turned into a limited iPhone/online weekend. I don’t really have a definition of “limited” but I did give my phone to Jen and had to ask her to use it. We had an awesome weekend, part of which I might attribute to my limited connectivity.

Why would I choose to do this? I felt that I was becoming more and more distracted by the deluge of information that comes at me every day, between emails, general internet items, and social networking. The urge to check on these notifications and updates can be overwhelming - to the detriment of one’s connection to the “actual” world. I am so connected during the week that having limited connectivity on the weekend is really refreshing, and gives one a chance to reconnect with the world around you.

Interestingly enough, the New York Times published an article today about the very same topic (electronic distraction). First, I’d like to ask the Times to get out of my brains, and second, here is the link if you are interested in reading the article:

Hooked on Gadgets, and Paying a Mental Price, by Matt Richtel.

So, if I didn’t reply to you quickly, or not at all, I apologize. Just know my wife and I were enjoying one of the most awesome weekends we have spent together since, um, ever. It went so well that I imagine I will be doing the same thing over the next few weekends, and so if you want/need to get a hold of me, give me an old fashioned phone call.