National Day of Unplugging -- Starts Tonight!

 Just a quick heads up: Starting at sunset tonight and lasting until sunset tomorrow, you can participate in the National Day of Unplugging.

Sponsored by the non-profit Reboot, this second annual National Day of Unplugging is being promoted as a chance to eschew technology (meaning the internet, computer, cell phone, MP3 player, etc) and re-connect with real live human beings. And yes, there's an app for that -- the allows you to post a message to Facebook and Twitter explaining that you're unplugging for 25 hours.

Sabbath Manifesto, by the way, is non-profit group devoted to helping people in an "increasingly hectic world" slow down, according to the website. Its ten core principles include avoiding technology, connecting with people, getting outside, taking care of your health, lighting candles, drinking wine, and giving back.

Now, I like all that stuff. But I was interested to observe that the idea of unplugging for a whole 24 hours made me feel kind of...anxious. Like I was going to miss something important. Like I would be floating around my house, my town, feeling kind of unmoored.

Truth is, I can't unplug during the designated time because I'm involved in a massive volunteer project that I know will generate a lot of email this weekend. But I've decided that another time, when I don't have an obligation to digital communications, I will definitely try to unplug for a full 24 hours. Just to show myself that I can.

Are any of you readers going to try it? If so, post a comment here so we can all hear how it went.