I have recently had a two week holiday from work for the first time in many years. Largely my family was working and there was enough time to think and chew over the world, cunning plans were hatched, but there were also a few more fundamental thoughts.

We are connected people in a connected world and there is always the temptation to go online and have a look around, or look at the iPhone. This happens often, and perhaps far too often. Those two weeks, whilst acknowledging that work in online based, I began to wonder what would happen if it all stopped. More than that, what would happen if we wanted it to stop? Don’t misunderstand, this is not the stirrings of a potential luddite or the desire to become a prepper. This is about simplicity.

We live increasingly complex but trivial lives (debate).

Simplicity and meaning rather than complexity and trivia – there’s a thought. So there is no desire to live in a yurt and knit my own yoghurts. Yes there is a desire to have a break from it all, to do things we used to do, or better things, with hands and minds and time.

An experiment is upon me. Internet free Sundays. I am going to try and keep one day per week (Sunday is just the most convenient day) internet free. That means phone switched off and no computer. On Sundays I will be a man unplugged.

The phone will be with me in case of an emergency. But wait…if the phone is switched off, how will I know the time? Must find my watch. But wait…why do I need to know the time? Get the picture? Time slows down.

Last Sunday I went blackberrying, and froze them. I went to a car boot sale (poor as you ask). Then I cooked, then I read a book. Can’t decide if TV is allowed.

This might become a movement, or a cult, or an internet phenomenon…

Man Unplugged

xx

p.s. This blog will of course appear online, but was written on a Sunday, on paper, outside, under a tree. So there.