Unplugging and Mono-tasking

Happy 2012, Internets!

The beginning of a new year is always rife with self reflection, resolutions, positive change, year-in-review articles, and about twenty metric tons of inspiration/helpful/healthful articles about how to make this year the year you keep your resolutions and are happy and perfect.  For a (relatively new) wellness junkie like me, it's all a little overwhelming - especially when my Facebook news feed is full of likeminded yogis posting tons of articles that interest me.  The whole thing can just turn into too much of a good thing.


Of all the zillions of blogs and articles I've read in the last week or so, this New York Times article has stuck with me the most significantly.  Our phones, computers, television - it all adds up to a constant influx of information overload if we let it.

I don't have an interest in being a monk or paying zillions of dollars to stay someplace that doesn't have a TV (can they not just leave it off?) like the article mentions, but I can completely relate to the desire to be unplugged.

My own experience with my personal journaling (to say nothing of writing this blog!) has been adversely affected by this as well.  I've been keeping my personal journal on my computer since 2006 at least and it has served me well.  I type faster than I write, so keeping it on the computer just made sense for me, as I can keep up with and thus express my thoughts better.

 Now, it's gotten to the point where I have to force myself to deactivate the WiFi on my computer or else I'll literally stop midsentence and check facebook for no reason.  I don't even have a very strong desire to, I just do it.  It makes no sense!  I've been doing more pen-to-paper journaling lately just to feel like I'm actually connecting with myself, rather than being in front of a screen where Facebook, email, other health blogs, online newspapers, and a recipe idea for dinner are a tantalizing click away.

I think part of it comes down to too much multi-tasking and not enough "mono"-tasking.  In one of my procrastinate-y, getting-lost-in-the-blogging-rabbit-hole moments, I came upon this lovely blog from YogaJournal.com where the author mentions the lost art of mono-tasking as a time management technique.  It's brilliant, and something I've absolutely taken to heart.

So in the midst of the fabulous flurry of New Year's self-help articles, resolution making, and intention setting, remember to occasionally unplug yourself from the flood of well-meaning but often overwhelming information out there.  Remember that we're all doing our best, whether in January or June, and we can all use a break from the constant technological connection now and then to help us connect deeper with ourselves.