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Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Internet Addiction Disorder
We surround ourselves with technology that provides continuous access to a virtual world we’ve created, accessorized, and bookmarked 'Open 24 Hours'. We are “techno-addicts”. The concept of retreat or sanctuary scarcely exists. Our goal is to reach all corners of the earth with full bars of reception. Today’s explorers plant the cell phone tower, not the flag.

Requests to limit the use of PDA’s in public areas like hospitals, highways and school carpool lines, as well as dining rooms and golf course driving ranges where they distract, disrupt and can be dangerous, have not been successful. We’d like to cooperate but we can’t, we are "techno-addicts”.

I Need a Virtual Break. No, Really” is Mark Bittman’s tale of confession, concession and redemption. His research revealed the term “secular Sabbath” as the first step on the path to a cure as “one of those who has developed the latest in American problems, Internet addiction disorder”.

Sources from the most hooked up places...bloggers, engineers, corporate leaders, and psychologists have begun to discuss the need for some quiet time. “Unplugged” is now the link to Ariel Meadow Stallings of Electrolicious. “Nathan Zeldes, a principal engineer at Intel, where employees read or send 3 million e-mail messages daily” is encouraging “employees to spend a morning a week at work but off-line”.

Redemption won’t come easy. “The awesome burden of staying in touch” has imprisoned us in this addicting world we created and can’t quite shut off. Dr. David Levy said “living a good life requires a kind of balance, a bit of quiet. There are questions about the limits of the brain and the body. You need time to think, to reflect, to be successful and productive”.

Take a stab at reconnecting to things real rather than virtual”, reacquaint yourself with yourself and this world around you. Try it in little steps. It’s the latest thing to do.

- Nancy

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posted by The Sensei Team @ Tuesday, March 11, 2008  
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3 Comments:
  • At March 11, 2008, Blogger Dustin said…

    I think I have a few addictions. Other then IAD I'm addicted to not eating right. I never know whats good to eat and when to stay away from the bad stuff. Thank you for your wonderful Sensei services. Learning when and what to eat really makes things easer.

     
  • At March 12, 2008, Blogger Sensei Team said…

    Thanks for the comment Dustin. We are thrilled that Sensei is helping you learn how to make better choices!

     
  • At March 12, 2008, Anonymous Leif Hansen said…

    Hi Sensei Team and others,
    Thanks for pointing out this article and for pointing others to a healthier, more 'human', life.

    My name is Leif Hansen (I'm the managing director of Spark Northwest) and I'm one of the two facilitators for the Soul Tech workshop that was recently shown last week on the Today Show.

    One of our participants, Ariel Meadows started her 52NightsUnplugged experiment as a result of our workshop, which in turn was mentioned in the NY Times article you've sited in your post (Ariel was also on the Today Show for the live portion.)

    While I do think there are some practical things one can do (i.e. bracket one's tech time with breaks, set some family boundaries, set a power-timer on your wifi, etc) our workshops are really more about facilitating a process that helps people to think about how technology is helping or hindering the achievement of broader life/work goals.

    Actually, we've just put together a 7 step e-workbook that takes people through the same process. The steps and exercises covered in the e-workbook are basically to:
    (perhaps first identify what you like about your tech life)
    1. Identifying your challenges with tech
    2. Identify the needs trying to get met
    3. Develop your vision/goals
    4. Finding your focus
    5. Finding solutions
    6. Turning ideas into actions
    7. Sticking with your plan (can be hardest)

    I think if people would really take the time to think about what they want from life, and how technology is helping and hindering their moving in that direction, it would be a tremendous first step.

    Unfortunately, most of us would rather just turn off our minds, and click on some entertainment. Neil Postman called titled the problem in his book "Amusing Ourselves to Death".

    Good luck and keep us posted on your process!
    Warmly,
    Leif
    Spark Northwest

     
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