Mental break

I'm comfortable enough with tech and I try new things when they make sense to me. What doesn't make sense to me is putting everything in my life on the internet, especially when a lot of us barely have a rudimentary grasp of cyber security.

Just now I was browsing Amazon and saw a Smart Wifi Instant Pot. Are you serious? It's not enough that your alarm system, your doorbell, and your lightbulbs are all connected to the internet and therefore hackable; you need to share your dinner with the hackers as well? What has this world come to??

Last weekend I finished the book The President is Missing where they paint a picture of what the US would look like if the internet was hacked and deleted. Your money would be unavailable because all records of your accounts would be wiped clear; the hospitals wouldn't have electricity because everything is on the grid so not only could they not perform procedures, they wouldn't even be able to verify your insurance; water filtration systems would go down; grocery stores wouldn't function. Chaos. Mayhem. Third world country conditions.

Why did we get here? I understand connecting everything is more efficient. But it's more efficient until it's not. At this point we don't even have the non-internet processes in place as backup.

I'm guilty of it: I'll hop in the car, plug in an address on Waze and let it lead me to where I need to go without any prior preparation. When I first started driving 18 years ago, I remember having to plug in the address on mapquest and printing out directions. Printing them out but still from the internet! I don't know a world where I had to rely on an atlas (or something else???) to get from point A to point B.

Every week we unplug entirely for Shabbat and it's just become so routine and habitual that we don't even notice it. Religion aside, if anyone feels like trying it I highly recommend it. Even if it's just for family dinner time, or an evening -- it doesn't have to be all or nothing. Not only does it help me be present where I am, but it's also a mental break from juggling multiple things.

That's not to say that I don't jump right back on my phone as soon as it's over - I certainly do. There are times it can feel disconnecting. What happened in the news? Is everyone I know still ok? Did my favorite instagrammer post new stories?? You know... the important things. But I recognize that when I'm distracted on my phone and someone (read: husband) tries to talk to me or ask me questions, it can get annoying and I snap at him because I want to finish what I'm doing on the phone. That's not ok. Barring an actual emergency, there's no reason to prioritize anything on the phone over people who are in the same room as me. The weekly break is another added reminder of that. It's what I need to help unpack the past week and prepare for the week ahead and I really appreciate the mandatory mental vacation.

Shavua tov! (Have a great week!)