Posted April 24 2008
Shutdown Day - “Could You Survive Without Your Computer for One Day?”
WebWorkerDaily wrote a post today, “Could You Survive Without Your Computer for One Day?” asking if it would be possible to live one day unplugged from society. As Shutdown Day approaches (May 3rd, 2008), more and more blogs will be talking about shutting down.
As someone who practices this “experiment” every week, as an observant Jew who keeps the Sabbath, I say YES, I can survive! It is actually really wonderful being unreachable for 25 hours ever week. My batteries (my body and my devices) get a chance to recharge for the upcoming week, while my mind gets a chance to relax. My eyes don’t spend hours scanning a screen and my fingers don’t type away in a never-ending stream of connectivity.
Typically, on every other day, I can be reached by email, Facebook message, LinkedIn message, twitter, IM, Gtalk, Skype, cell phone (best), office line, VOIP home line and old school snail mail. The Sabbath allows us to take the 30,000 foot snapshot of our lives every week and refocus. My Gen-Y, startup, technocratic, web 2.0 life is ridiculously connected. I am addicted to the internet. I thank G-d that He gave us a built-in day off.
Can you power down once a week? Are you uber-connected and need help?
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3 Comments currently posted. 
Tiffany S says:
Esther K says:
Amazing how people are coming around to a tech/consumption sabbatical every once in a while. That’s one of the things Shabbat Across America hoped to promote with their new site: ShabbatAcrossAmerica20.com. That’s 20 as in 2.0, which you like so much.
Menachem Wecker says:
I wrote an article along these lines for the Forward which may be of interest.
For me, who is constantly on my laptop doing research, making outlines and taking notes– to not be on the computer is a huge relief. The fact that I know that every Saturday, all day, I can’t even touch it and I am completely MIA from the rest of the world is amazing. However, had Shutdown day been on a Tuesday, I don’t think it would be as easy. We are used to Saturdays being the chilled out quiet day, but if it was to be in the middle of the week, yea we would be able to deal with it, but it would undoubtedly be much harder.