Increasing numbers of scientific studies show that we need to spend far less time online and more time offline, preferably outside getting exercise and engaging directly with the world rather than immersed in the Internet and fooling around with our smartphones.
It’s one of my key themes here at Productive Writers. Not only will offline time make you healthier and happier, it will also boost your productivity and your freelance writing income.
This infographic details many of the best reasons why you need to unplug from the Internet more often.
Get Offline — Leave the Internet Behind
Your Take
How good are you at limiting your time on the Internet and your smartphone? What do you like to do during your offline time?
Toasted skin syndrome. Now, there’s something I never heard before. 😀 I have often commented, John, that it bothers me how we spend less and less time actually speaking to each other. You know. Face-to-face. And I don’t mean Skype.
I so enjoy my time when the smartphone and computer are off. Let’s hear it for unplugging. 🙂
Cathy, I’m plugged in this morning because I posted today and I want to stay on top of comments and social media mentions, but I’ll be spending a good chunk of the afternoon offline working on a project, and then the entire evening will be quality time with family.
IUD–a new syndrome, wonderful…. :-/ I’m with Cathy, unplugged time is some of the best. A couple of years ago, hubby and I were on a 2-week sojourn on a tiny island in the Caribbean. Internet connection was spotty *at best*. After an initial ’24-hour withdrawal’ period, I was the happiest and most relaxed that I’ve been in ages. Step. Away. From. The. Screen. 🙂
I agree Lori! I just went backpacking for three glorious days with no connection with the outside world. I loved it!
This is the reminder that I need to get off the computer and to get in touch with my creative side.
Good for you Marcie! I find my creativity is highest when I’m offline and I’m out in nature, which usually means hiking.
John, I get TBS (Toasted Brain Syndrome) from being online too much. I’m grateful that I do work at home, so I get out into the world at mid-day every day for a hike, bike ride or walk, and I very rarely work past the dinner hour.
Added some morning meditation and I’m trying not to peek at the daily horror show of the news either—working on it.
And thank you for your RTs of some of my stuff lately!
Tom, I do follow the news, but I tend to chunk it all at once, usually while I’m eating breakfast. I also have entire days where I don’t pay any attention to what’s happening in the wider world.
Since I create college textbook supplements, including in political science, I do have to keep up with the general course of affairs in the United States and abroad.
Thanks for the cool info graphic. Good stuff there. I think balancing on and offline time is essential to health. We are not adapted to spending long periods of time sitting or looking at glowing screens. In order to be healthy we need more time in the world we were adapted to live in, the physical one, and less time in the virtual one. But I don’t see that happening much, especially with younger people. The virtual is becoming more and more important and where most people’s focus is. And their presence in the physical world is constantly interrupted by things to “check”. My solution is pretty simple. I don’t have a cell phone let a lone a smart one. So when I leave the house, I’m off line. I teach and practice T’ai-Chi, walk and bike around town, go to musical shows, play musical shows, and hang out with my friends. When I’m home, especially at night, that’s when I’m more focused on the virtual world, but even then I take frequent breaks to stretch, do little errands or tasks…I break up my online time often. But I’m pretty rare around here…even hobos have smart phones. ;~) GB
Unfortunately, Gene, you are a rare one. Sounds like you have your life in good balance. And I have also seen a lot of street people with smartphones in our little town of Ashland.
Muscle soreness… that’s me. Have spent most of the morning off line… most of today will be offline.
I go to coffee shops to have coffee and chat with friends – which makes us odd folks out – OFO?
I remember coffee shops were populated primarily by friends visiting and by people reading books. Now it’s mostly people on laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Great post, John. I am so guilty of spending too much time online, though I’m trying to curb it by setting a timer.
The problem is when I start researching a topic online, I eventually move on to email or see something on LinkedIn. By then I’ve lost so much valuable time. I used to love browsing in bookstores, but with so many closing up I’m often suck browsing online, which isn’t nearly as fun. Having a dog to get me out of the house helps, though!
Heather, I make sure I have email and all other notifications turned off. I also make myself work on a specific task for a set amount of time, 30-50 minutes, and then I allow myself a short break.
I do see the importance of just taking a break from the web, it’s all about balance. There are health problems that tend to arise from staring at a computer screen all day- I get headaches, and sometimes feel lethargic.