Secular Sabbath - Unplugging Once a Week

I was recently directed to a New York Times article on a new trend: the Secular Sabbath.

The concept: Once a week, the brethren disconnect from technology and allow themselves to enjoy a day free of modern distractions. I began doing this on Sundays a few weeks ago independent of anything I’d read online - but it’s interesting to know that others reached the same need or concept. (Yes, I know it’s a Sunday and I’m online - I count my days from waking up to falling asleep).

I’ve had varying degrees of success so far. Last week I caved late in the evening and checked email. I also reasoned for the past two weeks that using iTunes should be an exception.

Tomorrow, I’ll turn off and keep off the laptop, the iPod and of course the television. The cell phone is my only exception (for now). I don’t have a Crackberry or an iPhone, so there’s no “time sink” aspect built into my phone. I only use it for short conversations to make plans with local friends or longer conversations to keep in touch far away friends, both of which seem aligned with the spirit of the day.

I don’t have interesting stories to report from my Sabbath days yet. I’ve largely spent them sleeping, relaxing, reading, meditating, grocery shopping and socializing. However, I do think it’s helped me rejuvenate and prepare for the impending week.

From the article:

I would no more make a new-agey call to find inner peace than I would encourage a return to the mimeograph. But I do believe that there has to be a way to regularly impose some thoughtfulness, or at least calm, into modern life — or at least my version. Once I moved beyond the fear of being unavailable and what it might cost me, I experienced what, if I wasn’t such a skeptic, I would call a lightness of being. I felt connected to myself rather than my computer. I had time to think, and distance from normal demands. I got to stop.

If anyone is interesting in joining me on Secular Sabbath, send two smoke signals and we’ll rendezvous…three and I’ll know you have other plans.