Day of Unplugging, Arabia edition: Middle East, take a high-tech hiatus!

Published March 5th, 2015 - 09:30 GMT

The ‘National Day of Unplugging’ is upon us! This is a 24 hour period that begins on the first Friday in March when participants pledge to unplug for a day from all high-tech “conveniences” that loom large in their lives. The project is an outgrowth of a California (of course!) movement to carve out one day each week to unwind, relax, reflect, get outdoors, and connect with loved ones with technology support - or interruption. The annual unplug is happening March 6-7. Are you ready to abandon your devices?

Quick count - how many gadgets do you have? Mobile phone (or is that phones?), televisions, tablet, laptop, desktop, e-reader: how many are within reach now - in your pockets, backpack, handbag, and car?

How many days have you gone between Facebook updates? Can you experience anything new without taking photo-documenting it?

We increasingly miss out on important moments of our lives when we tether ourselves to technology, chronicling our every move through Instagram, Snapchat and Twitter. We shield ourselves from sensing the real world with noise-cancelling headphones and earplugs that deliver a custom-made soundtrack.

Any Middle East players willing to give it a go? Come up with your unplugged intention and start living a different life, today. Maybe you’ll be inspired to continue the data-diet beyond today. Make sure to tell us about your plans so we can spread the word...that is, when you are back online.

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Here’s how it goes down. Lift your face up from the glow of your screen(s), and think - how would I like to connect with the world today? Will I unplug solo, with friends, or with the wider community? Lay down your devices, and get out there, feeling crazily naked!

Unplug and avoid a trip to A&E! Smartphones make us terrible walkers. “Distracted pedestrian” injuries have quadrupled in the last decade, we’re too busy looking at what’s in our hands that what’s happening near our feet.

Sure that free “Learn Arabic” app is swell when you’re stuck on line waiting for your skinny-soy-grande-latte-with-a-shot, but want to know what’s really cool? Go park yourself in a no-name cafe in al balad and actually SPEAK ARABIC with the people around you!

Unplug your smartphone and turn on your oven! Why follow food networks when you can make real food and actually eat it? Unplug and learn your mother's mansaf recipe, secret ingredients and all. Why not make all meal times off-limits for tech too?

Smartphone use is booming in the Middle East, with Saudi leading the way. Those emails, texts, social media postings and digital data are bad enough when they scream at us from our desks, but smartphones act as electronic leashes, strapping us to tech info all day and night. Unplug to see if a simpler life can be a happier life.

Unplug and go old school with a wristwatch! This way you can see the time without being hooked into also checking Instagram or Snapchat. The best offense is a good defense, so map out a strategy to help you cope unplugged!

Unplug for your health! Did you know that looking down at our phones is the equivalent of having 60 lbs of weight on our necks? Or that excessive typing could cause carpal tunnel syndrome? Avoid the dreaded “secretary butt”, a flattened rear caused by constant sitting, by putting down your devices and getting active!

Unplug to focus on safe driving! Texting makes us horrible drivers, we’re six times more dangerous texting than if we were legally drunk! Treehugger’s Graham Hill says that handling one text while driving at highway speed equals driving blindfolded for the length of a football field. Unplug while driving and we’ll all live longer!

Wadi Rum Petra hiking Dead Sea Blackberry

Unplug and lace up your hiking boots! Go for a walk in nature. Hike Wadi Rum, and camp under the stars. Go float in the Dead Sea. Scale Petra’s Place of High Sacrifice, and leave your Blackberry on the altar. Unplug and do all these things and never worry about dead batteries, bad connections, or getting sand in your device!

Unplug to show your love! Relationships build on connecting, and these devices actually disconnect us. When you pick up your phone, you might as well tell whomever you’re with, “You are not as important as this person who’s calling.” Show someone you care, turn it off.

Unplug and discover yourself. Ironically, you may be reading this story on a handheld right now. The slideshow is now over. Unplug, and go do something retro, something human, something tangible. Then drop us a comment and share the experience.

Here’s how it goes down. Lift your face up from the glow of your screen(s), and think - how would I like to connect with the world today? Will I unplug solo, with friends, or with the wider community? Lay down your devices, and get out there, feeling crazily naked!

Unplug and avoid a trip to A&E! Smartphones make us terrible walkers. “Distracted pedestrian” injuries have quadrupled in the last decade, we’re too busy looking at what’s in our hands that what’s happening near our feet.

Sure that free “Learn Arabic” app is swell when you’re stuck on line waiting for your skinny-soy-grande-latte-with-a-shot, but want to know what’s really cool? Go park yourself in a no-name cafe in al balad and actually SPEAK ARABIC with the people around you!

Unplug your smartphone and turn on your oven! Why follow food networks when you can make real food and actually eat it? Unplug and learn your mother's mansaf recipe, secret ingredients and all. Why not make all meal times off-limits for tech too?

Smartphone use is booming in the Middle East, with Saudi leading the way. Those emails, texts, social media postings and digital data are bad enough when they scream at us from our desks, but smartphones act as electronic leashes, strapping us to tech info all day and night. Unplug to see if a simpler life can be a happier life.

Unplug and go old school with a wristwatch! This way you can see the time without being hooked into also checking Instagram or Snapchat. The best offense is a good defense, so map out a strategy to help you cope unplugged!

Unplug for your health! Did you know that looking down at our phones is the equivalent of having 60 lbs of weight on our necks? Or that excessive typing could cause carpal tunnel syndrome? Avoid the dreaded “secretary butt”, a flattened rear caused by constant sitting, by putting down your devices and getting active!

Unplug to focus on safe driving! Texting makes us horrible drivers, we’re six times more dangerous texting than if we were legally drunk! Treehugger’s Graham Hill says that handling one text while driving at highway speed equals driving blindfolded for the length of a football field. Unplug while driving and we’ll all live longer!

Unplug and lace up your hiking boots! Go for a walk in nature. Hike Wadi Rum, and camp under the stars. Go float in the Dead Sea. Scale Petra’s Place of High Sacrifice, and leave your Blackberry on the altar. Unplug and do all these things and never worry about dead batteries, bad connections, or getting sand in your device!

Unplug to show your love! Relationships build on connecting, and these devices actually disconnect us. When you pick up your phone, you might as well tell whomever you’re with, “You are not as important as this person who’s calling.” Show someone you care, turn it off.

Unplug and discover yourself. Ironically, you may be reading this story on a handheld right now. The slideshow is now over. Unplug, and go do something retro, something human, something tangible. Then drop us a comment and share the experience.

Day of Unplugging, Arabia edition: Middle East, take a high-tech hiatus!

Here’s how it goes down. Lift your face up from the glow of your screen(s), and think - how would I like to connect with the world today? Will I unplug solo, with friends, or with the wider community? Lay down your devices, and get out there, feeling crazily naked!

Unplug and avoid a trip to A&E! Smartphones make us terrible walkers. “Distracted pedestrian” injuries have quadrupled in the last decade, we’re too busy looking at what’s in our hands that what’s happening near our feet.

Sure that free “Learn Arabic” app is swell when you’re stuck on line waiting for your skinny-soy-grande-latte-with-a-shot, but want to know what’s really cool? Go park yourself in a no-name cafe in al balad and actually SPEAK ARABIC with the people around you!

Unplug your smartphone and turn on your oven! Why follow food networks when you can make real food and actually eat it? Unplug and learn your mother's mansaf recipe, secret ingredients and all. Why not make all meal times off-limits for tech too?

Unplug and go old school with a wristwatch! This way you can see the time without being hooked into also checking Instagram or Snapchat. The best offense is a good defense, so map out a strategy to help you cope unplugged!

Unplug to show your love! Relationships build on connecting, and these devices actually disconnect us. When you pick up your phone, you might as well tell whomever you’re with, “You are not as important as this person who’s calling.” Show someone you care, turn it off.

Unplug and discover yourself. Ironically, you may be reading this story on a handheld right now. The slideshow is now over. Unplug, and go do something retro, something human, something tangible. Then drop us a comment and share the experience.

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