Last night I was sitting having dinner with my wife at a local restaurant.  We were talking to each other and enjoying our meal when I looked over to the neighboring table.  A child approximately twelve years old, was sitting with her head phones in her ears, and cell phone in hand, oblivious to the family conversations around her.  What a learning experience she was missing as she appeared to be yet another person lost in cyberspace.

Speaking constantly with parents, educators, and business folks, I get the chance to observe and hear about the impact of the constant barrage of emails, text messages, tweets and other tech involvement. It keeps involving us at a dizzying pace, speeding up our nervous systems and driving many of us to distraction; and all for what?

New studies show that our sleep may be suffering from working and playing on our phones, computers, and devices too late into the evening, so that our brains don't get the much needed chance to decompress before we attempt sleep.  The result is that we either cannot get to sleep, or we find ourselves sleeping only for a short period, and then waking up due to the stimulant effects of our late evening tech use.  Late-night usage can disrupt our sleep pattern and stimulates not only our interests but our entire nervous system.  So, you want to sleep better?  Stop using any devices for at least an hour or two before you try to sleep, allowing yourself to digitally detox.  Your brain will thank you!

A new spin for the hotel industry are digital detox vacations. (http://www.holidayspress.com/digital-detox/91394)  This is a highly viable option for many individuals and families today that feel overwhelmed and disconnected due to their overuse of technology for communication.

This does not mean you have to take a packaged deal.  In one instance I interviewed a family that had taken a digital detox extended weekend.  Leaving all of their digital equipment at home (parents included), they went away for a four-day weekend.  The mother reported that the first day was hell.  "Everyone was at each other's throats," she said.  And this continued throughout the second day.  However, she said that by day three they've actually begin talking to each other and seeking alternatives to the usual nonverbal communication, and avoidance of each other.  "It was like we began to rediscover each other," she said.  By the fourth day even the children in the family asked when they could do it again.  This is not an uncommon scenario, but there are several cautions, should you decide to go down this path.

First, recognize that discomfort will generally pass within 2 to 3 days.  It takes time for your body to readjust from the constant stress of multitasking and being constantly on-call.  Secondly, anticipate a reaction to the discontinued use of technology.  Stopping compulsive and addictive behaviors elicits reactions.  Anticipate it.  Whether we want to admit it or not, many of us (myself included) are engaging in technologies at a significant, if not addictive level.  Denying it does not make it go away.  Finally, be open to learning new interactive activities, behaviors, and ways of thinking.  Avoid the desire to digitally reconnect and increase your face to face interactions.  It will be well worth it!

Be well,

John