046 - The Coach Up: How (and Why) To Do A Digital Sabbath
Jun 10, 2024
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Guest Brad Stulberg shares the benefits of a Digital Sabbath, highlighting presence and creativity. Discusses the process of disconnecting from devices, the advantages of a digital detox, and the importance of mindful usage for overall well-being.
Engaging in a digital Sabbath fosters creativity and deeper family connections by providing extended breaks from digital distractions.
Setting boundaries with technology is essential for a balanced relationship, allowing individuals to assess its impact on their well-being.
Deep dives
Brad's Digital Sabbath: Disconnecting to Reconnect
Brad Stahlberg discusses his weekly digital Sabbath where he disconnects from the internet and devices for approximately 24 hours. This practice helps him be present with his family and fosters sustainable creativity by creating extended periods away from digital noise. Inspired by discussions with admired individuals like Ezra Klein, Brad emphasizes the benefits of closer family connections, living with insecurity and boredom without digital pacifiers, and experiencing creative breakthroughs during the breaks.
Incorporating a Digital Sabbath into Daily Life
Despite having young kids, Brad adapts his digital Sabbath to fit his schedule, even using a flip phone for emergencies and family coordination. Initially facing withdrawal symptoms, Brad gradually appreciates the benefits and finds it easier to disconnect over time. Emphasizing the need for a deliberate break from digital devices, Brad encourages starting small and gradually increasing time spent unplugged to build a sustainable habit.
Balancing Technology Use and Unplugging
While Brad acknowledges the value of digital tools, he emphasizes the importance of setting boundaries to ensure technology serves its purpose. Recommending resources like Cal Newport's 'Digital Minimalism,' Brad suggests a deliberate approach to assessing the impact of technology on one's life. By experimenting with periods of disconnection, individuals can determine how technology both enhances and hinders their well-being, allowing for a more intentional and balanced relationship with digital devices.
Every week, Brad Stulberg spends either Saturday or Sunday practicing a Digital Sabbath: he goes the day offline and without any of his devices (phone, computer, tablet). It's not because he's anti-technology, but because he wanted to make sure he still had access to many of the aspects of life that tech use can hamper: presence, creativity, silence, and emotional regulation, to name a few. On today's episode, he discusses the benefits he's experienced, how it works (hint: flip phone), and how anyone interested in spending more time away from their devices (even if it's just for an hour or two) can develop a digital sabbath that works for them.
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