“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
A sticky note containing this quote by Anne Lamott hangs on the wall just under my computer screen, where it is always in my sight. Yet, even with seeing it every day, it still hasn’t sunk in for me. Well, the first part has. That’s my go-to when my computer, phone, cable box, or any electronic product doesn’t work the way it should—unplug, reboot, refresh.
It’s the second part—the part after the comma—that I can’t seem to grasp. And, apparently, I’m not alone. According to a recent Pew survey, fewer than half of American workers take all of their vacation days. I am not at all surprised.
But even if we do, chances are work and other life responsibilities are not far from our minds. I say that from my own personal experience.
A Failed Attempt
Recently, my family packed up our van and headed to the beach for a brief getaway. It was a much-needed break. Life had grown hectic and stressful for all of us—work, school, college decisions, etc.
One morning, I rose early and made my way down to the beach for a walk. Eventually, I sat down on the sand with every intention of just breathing in the salty air of the ocean and listening to the waves. The sun was shining and beginning to warm the sand. I thought I might be able to find a little bit of peace and serenity.
But after I sat down, I found my mind running through all of the things on my to-do list that awaited me back home. I wondered how much this break would set me back—both at work and at home. I wished I had either my phone or a pen and paper to capture the tasks flooding my brain. The list started to seem insurmountable, and I was right back to the place that had spurred this getaway in the first place. It got to a point where, for a moment, I could no longer even hear the sounds of the waves crashing.
As I tried to regain my focus on the present moment, this column began to formulate in my head. Now, to be fair, being a writer means you are on call 24/7. You are at the mercy of your creative mind, and inspiration and insight can show up at any time, vacation days or sleep be damned. Usually, that’s not a problem. But it becomes one when it is buried under a mound of other things already calling your name.
Not Alone
But I’m not alone in feeling like this. I have had numerous discussions with friends and family about their need/want to unplug and step off the merry-go-round of life, even if just for a moment. And the Pew research I mentioned before supports that with cold, hard facts.
The question is, though, what are we going to do about it? We all know the way we’re living is not sustainable, right? We should follow the lead of our technological companions and unplug, reboot, and refresh—even just for a few minutes. Everything seems to work better after that.
