The Value of Having Time to Disconnect

I recently read an article on Yuval Harari – the author of Sapiens – in The New Yorker. I enjoyed reading Sapiens so I was curious to learn more about the author.

As it turns out, there is a habit of his that I find interesting. I believe that this habit plays an important role in his creativity and productivity. It’s the habit of having time to disconnect. Here is an excerpt from the article:

For more than a decade, Harari has spent several weeks each year on a silent-meditation retreat, usually in India. At home, he starts his day with an hour of meditation…

He has time to disconnect daily along with some longer periods each year. Furthermore, during such time, he did disconnect. For instance, he didn’t learn the result of the 2016 U.S. Presidential election until five weeks after the vote.

Okay, that may be a bit extreme. But the lesson here is clear:

Having time to disconnect is important.

Why is it important? Because it can help you see things from a different perspective. It can help you see the big picture without getting lost in the details. It can give you insights.

You should allocate time to disconnect daily. It could be in the morning or evening; choose whatever time that works for you. It could also take different forms: prayer, meditation, daily review or something else. The important thing is that you take a distance from your day-to-day life (with its distractions) and reconnect with your deepest values.

It’s not an easy thing to do in the hyperconnected world we live in. But it’s well worth the effort.

2 Comments

  1. ”…the hyperconnected world we live in.” Did you say that?

    Donald, I have noted that man is the alpha and omega of everything that happens in his life.

    But wait a minute; God did rest on the seventh day. Not so?

  2. More so… Donald do you notice that the greatest attack in this world that we have is not a terrorist attack. But an attack on our homes, families!

    Technology has been the best thing to human – kind in this era save for the lots of benefits in business engagement and performance ”BUT” it has been the worst thing. Take a moment and think about it.

    The moral fiber is almost gone. Any country to be strong, it MUST have strong family back ground.

    Till then,

    Love + Peace!

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