Here at Mashable, we love social media, but we also know sometimes you need to cut the cord. In a partnership with CNN’s iReport, we asked you to share how you disconnect and take a break from the digital world.
Many of you said you make a physical move to get away from computers and email, by going on vacation or getting out of the city. Others found respite in non-digital hobbies. We’ve picked our favorite entries and included them in the gallery below. You can see more photos in iReport’s gallery and all entries at the iReport topic page.
What are other ways to disconnect from the social web? Please share your own methods in the comments below.
Nathalie Aulder Rides Her Bike
Nathalie, of Campwood, Texas, says she disconnects by riding her bike in West Texas. "I hate the phone ringing, and I dislike email, but I have to use them constantly at work. When I get home I turn off the phone and computer. When I get away I bring a phone and laptop, but only use it in emergencies. It's just the sound of silence and the wind in my face."
Funda Ray Gardens
Funda Ray of Hibbing, Minn., said that she loves gardening. "I have a very small garden, this year I have planted three different kind of tomatoes, my favorite is sweet million tomatoes. I also planted yellow onions and green onions and herbs."
Funda Ray Gardens
Funda Ray continues, "I enjoy caring for my flowers too. It's wonderful way to disconnect and connect with nature, just in my backyard!"
Michael Thomas Explores London
Michael Thomas of Johannesburg, South Africa, said traveling helps him escape. "My wife, Nicole, and I recently spent 3 weeks in London, Paris, and Switzerland, making the most of the summer hours, museums, galleries, theatres and pay-as-you-go bikes (best way to see London). Art, culture, history, nature (the actual versions) were a great way to disconnect from technology and connect with each other and things we're passionate about. Admittedly we used a GPS to get around Switzerland but no Facebook, Twitter, iPhones or email for 3 weeks."
Juan Aldape Ditches the Digital Camera
Juan says he tries to cut off from the tech world as much as he can while traveling: no MP3 player and very little digital camera. "Maybe just once," He says. "[It's] nice to have my own thoughts without distractions or incoming updates." Here he is in the Utah desert in summer of 2010.
Chanel Brown Travels With a Pre-Paid Cellphone
Chanel Brown is an ESL teacher in Cheongju, South Korea. She says she recently unplugged by taking a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. "During this trip, I had no access to computers and I was using a prepaid cellphone. It was bliss not knowing what was going on with the world and just enjoying the company of my family ... Sometimes, we all need a little break to unwind and remove ourselves from this technologically dependent society. My break is in traveling."
Bill Hornstein Gets Out of Range
Bill Hornstein of Los Angeles said, "I like to get out of cellphone range when I disconnect. Death Valley is 300 miles from my house. Sometimes I go to Joshua Tree National Park (pictured here). The Xterra allows me get off the paved roads and
camp in very remote places. There is a real sense of freedom to not be reachable for a short time."
Photo courtesy Juan Aldape.
More About: ireport, social mediaFor more Social Media coverage:Follow Mashable Social Media on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Social Media channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad
Posted on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:29:56 +0000 at http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/hXvGljN1WoA/
Comments: http://mashable.com/2011/08/23/disconnect-from-social-media/#comments
Many of you said you make a physical move to get away from computers and email, by going on vacation or getting out of the city. Others found respite in non-digital hobbies. We’ve picked our favorite entries and included them in the gallery below. You can see more photos in iReport’s gallery and all entries at the iReport topic page.
What are other ways to disconnect from the social web? Please share your own methods in the comments below.
Nathalie Aulder Rides Her Bike
Nathalie, of Campwood, Texas, says she disconnects by riding her bike in West Texas. "I hate the phone ringing, and I dislike email, but I have to use them constantly at work. When I get home I turn off the phone and computer. When I get away I bring a phone and laptop, but only use it in emergencies. It's just the sound of silence and the wind in my face."
Funda Ray Gardens
Funda Ray of Hibbing, Minn., said that she loves gardening. "I have a very small garden, this year I have planted three different kind of tomatoes, my favorite is sweet million tomatoes. I also planted yellow onions and green onions and herbs."
Funda Ray Gardens
Funda Ray continues, "I enjoy caring for my flowers too. It's wonderful way to disconnect and connect with nature, just in my backyard!"
Michael Thomas Explores London
Michael Thomas of Johannesburg, South Africa, said traveling helps him escape. "My wife, Nicole, and I recently spent 3 weeks in London, Paris, and Switzerland, making the most of the summer hours, museums, galleries, theatres and pay-as-you-go bikes (best way to see London). Art, culture, history, nature (the actual versions) were a great way to disconnect from technology and connect with each other and things we're passionate about. Admittedly we used a GPS to get around Switzerland but no Facebook, Twitter, iPhones or email for 3 weeks."
Juan Aldape Ditches the Digital Camera
Juan says he tries to cut off from the tech world as much as he can while traveling: no MP3 player and very little digital camera. "Maybe just once," He says. "[It's] nice to have my own thoughts without distractions or incoming updates." Here he is in the Utah desert in summer of 2010.
Chanel Brown Travels With a Pre-Paid Cellphone
Chanel Brown is an ESL teacher in Cheongju, South Korea. She says she recently unplugged by taking a trip to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. "During this trip, I had no access to computers and I was using a prepaid cellphone. It was bliss not knowing what was going on with the world and just enjoying the company of my family ... Sometimes, we all need a little break to unwind and remove ourselves from this technologically dependent society. My break is in traveling."
Bill Hornstein Gets Out of Range
Bill Hornstein of Los Angeles said, "I like to get out of cellphone range when I disconnect. Death Valley is 300 miles from my house. Sometimes I go to Joshua Tree National Park (pictured here). The Xterra allows me get off the paved roads and
camp in very remote places. There is a real sense of freedom to not be reachable for a short time."
Photo courtesy Juan Aldape.
More About: ireport, social mediaFor more Social Media coverage:Follow Mashable Social Media on TwitterBecome a Fan on FacebookSubscribe to the Social Media channelDownload our free apps for Android, Mac, iPhone and iPad
Posted on Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:29:56 +0000 at http://feeds.mashable.com/~r/Mashable/~3/hXvGljN1WoA/
Comments: http://mashable.com/2011/08/23/disconnect-from-social-media/#comments
