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Cell phone, text message, email, Twitter, Facebook…and that’s just me.  Others are even more connected.  This has led to a growing belief that our society may have become too connected.

by The Wandering Angel

What was originally thought to improve the quality of our lives, may in fact be biting us on the butt.

Can being Connected be a Bad Thing?

The cell phone is arguably the greatest advancement in personal safety over the last 50 years.  However, with its continued development to include pictures, music, social networking and an endless stream of new applications—it’s become extremely time consuming too.

It Started so Innocently.

• I’m certain the cell phone was created for convenience…with the intent to make our lives easier.
• Inventors probably pictured a world where business people could occasionally knock off a few hours early and just be reachable by cell phone.
• Or perhaps they saw friends and family becoming more connected with this electronic gizmo.
• Maybe they saw it as a way for users to enjoy the luxury of getting away from it all more often without having to worry they weren’t reachable in an emergency situation.

What Really Happened.

• Careers are no longer just M-F or 9-5.
• Friends often become irritated when you can’t be reached for just a few hours.
• Social networking often gets in the way of real interaction with friends and family.
• More and more people now describe themselves as being “overwhelmed.”

We’ve basically become a world of Pavlovian Dogs.  When a tiny little machine rings or dings…we jump into action.  But what is our reward?  Even Pavlov’s dogs got something in return.

I’m in the process of re-reading one of my favorite books, The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Tim Ferriss.  By the way, when I grow up I want to be just like Tim!

See Success as a Tool–Not a Destination.

Tim’s philosophies are revolutionary in the fact he sees success as a tool to a better life.  Most view success as the main objective or an ending point.  Tim sees success as just the beginning.

Americans especially, seem to wear “hard work” as a badge of honor.  What I mean by this is we want to tell everyone who will listen- the story of how hard we worked for the success we have now achieved.  We seem to feel the need to justify our success to others.  (I’m sorry to say–I’ve always been a member of this group too.)

Being so connected is part of it.  We’ve become proud of how deeply we’re electronically connected.  Tim sees this for what it is…more work.  Therefore he sets limits to how often he checks email etc…

I think perhaps we need take a page from Tim Ferriss’ book and appreciate hard work when it is truly necessary-but constantly be looking for ways to simplify when possible.

In “The 4-Hour Workweek,” Tim is obviously more proud of the experiences his success has afforded him.  From the title alone, you know Tim Ferriss values working smart–not hard.

As I move forward, I am going to implement some of Tim’s ideas and try to change my way of thinking.  Instead of work being what I do AND who I am…my goal is to put it in perspective and eventually see work as merely a means to an end.  A way to pay for exciting life experiences.

I know that for me, moderation will be the key.  I don’t intend to give up any of it…just set limits.

What are Your Thoughts?  Please Weigh in on the Subject.

What do you think?  Have we forgotten what it was like to simply be in the moment and enjoy the world around us?  Do you find yourself missing out on experiences because you are so connected electronically?  What’s the answer?

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