I always used to find it funny when people would give up on their technology. I don’t mean when people get frustrated with something their tech has done and take a break to get a coffee or something; I mean, just walk away from technology. Moreover, I have a really hard time understanding why people would want to walk away from technology entirely. The whole point of technology is to make your life better, so why would anyone want to walk away from it entirely? I do understand the need for a break from the techno-hustle-and-bustle, so if that is your goal, I have a few recommendations you can use while you’re checking out from the rest of your technology.

1) e-books – To be honest, I love my e-reader. Part of the reason I like my e-reader is that if I want to take a couple of books on vacation, I can take as many as I want without the bulk of dealing with multiple books. Another reason I like it is that when you get into a good series of books, the next one is just a few clicks away. I will admit that over the past few years, I have been converted to the cult of the bibliophile, and so sometimes having a proper hard-copy book in my hand is nice, but I do still love my e-reader. There have been times when my wife and I go on book dates to the bookstore, and I’m torn between actually buying a book right then and there, making a quick note for the title and author and buying it on my e-reader later. It’s been a 50/50 split so far if I’m being totally honest.

2) Noise-cancelling headphones/earplugs – I don’t know about you, but I have issues with too much ambient noise. Usually, it affects me in crowded rooms where everyone is talking, but sometimes I just need noise in my ears to keep myself balanced. Even when I’m moving away from all the technology that I typically use throughout the day, I like to be able to listen to something. I’m one of those people who likes having noise in my ears whenever possible (which doesn’t make sense with the “Ambient noise is bad” thing, but there it is), so having my headphones on at all times is a must.

3) Portable power – I’ll be honest, whether or not you need some sort of power will depend on how far you plan on walking away from Technology. Personally, even when I’m taking a break from the technology I normally use, I like to be able to power some of the smaller things I take with me. Sometimes it’s as easy as plugging into a wall outlet; sometimes I need to carry an actual power bank so I can charge the devices I take with me. It can also depend on the power requirements of your device. Sometimes when I’m travelling, the USB port where I am doesn’t have enough power to charge what I need, so having an easy-to-use power bank with me can be a real plus.

Stepping away from the norm is actually a good thing. I encourage it. As a guy who works in IT, one of my great joys for a while was going up to my cottage, which had poor cell phone service and no wifi. It was great for me because it forced me to unplug and get away from the world for a while. I was able to read a book, sit by the lake and not worry about what was going on all the time. There is a baseline of tech that we have had for longer than we would like to admit. The only reason people believe technology has become particularly invasive is that the baseline has risen more sharply in the past 30 years than in the past 300. That, however, is a topic for another post. For now, if you want to take a tech break, I say go for it, but just remember to come back to it. Also, if you are walking away, make sure you keep what you need to ensure your tech baseline going forward.

What do you need to take a break from Technology?

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