Technology has enabled us to connect and interact with people all over the globe, in real-time. It has made the stuff of science fiction science fact, satellite communication, wireless internet, and the ability to keep track of 100+ contacts and interactions. But how do you unplug from this technology and interact with those who are in the same room as you?
If you have the money and the time, you can attend a tech-free camp, if not you can make an effort to setup tech-free time-zones. But how do you make sure you’re getting enough tech-free time without neglecting important events or messages? With the very same technology, of course!
The following are a few apps that allow you to unplug, keep track of time or even block your phone from receiving incoming data transmissions. The Freedom app does just that, it blocks you from “distractions” for the duration of your predetermined time. This app is not free, which can be a negative for some, but $10 is a fair price and it’s available for Windows, Android and iOS.
Next up is the Freedom Timer, and it too blocks in-coming internet signals from distracting you from the real world. It simply places the phone in airplane mode until the timer runs out and then reconnects. There is a feature that allows you to bundle social media monitoring to keep you from spending all your free time checking status updates.
For those who want to unplug, but not seem rude or aloof, there is Unplug Message. It sends a message to whom ever is contacting you that you are offline for a predetermined time and will get back to them later. It can even post to social media and inform people that you’re off the grid for a while.
Technology is a great and powerful part of daily lives, but we need to make time to reconnect with the real world and the real people around us. These apps aim to make that an easy reality.
(Image Source: iCLIPART)
