How to Find Time for Face Time and Personal Interaction

“Power down. Log off. Unplug. Have mercy on your thumbs. Browse the World Wide Something Else. Send some not-so-instant-messages. Undo. Hit cancel. Be together.”

This quote is from a Dentyne commercial and you know what, they might be on to something. Their message is trying to urge us to “make face time” in what has become a very online world.

Our generation is as guilty of this as ever before. We are so used to computers and cell phones and TV and instant gratification that it has become a rarity that we hang out with someone. How often do we choose to chat with someone online instead of meeting them somewhere? How deep are those interactions? Are they as valuable?

To be honest, those Dentyne commercials made me feel horrible. I have always felt I am too wired, online too much, attached to my cell phone….but then I look around. I’m not the only one.

So I challenge myself and I challenge you to make tiny steps to become unplugged – at least occasionally. Being Internet savvy will always be important but “making face time” will always be one of the best parts of life. Don’t you think?ere are some ideas:

• Set some limits
  Set aside certain times of the day to check your e-mail, browse Facebook, or chat on AIM. Set a time limit if you have to; it’s to easy to let several hours slip my as you fall into an internet trance.

• Break Away
  Call someone and ask them to meet somewhere or do something that doesn’t involve technology. While thinking of this one…most things in mind are $$$ involved. Meet for coffee. Take a class.. art, exercise, whatever. You get the idea. Low on cash? Go for a walk. Make your own smoothies. Write something silly together. Dance to your favorite song. The list can go on. 

• Do the unthinkable
  Forget sending your faraway friend an e-mail or Facebook message for a day. Send an old fashioned letter instead. Yes, the kind that the real mailman delivers! Send them a care package…anything that CAN’T be sent over the World Wide Web. 

• List Alternatives
  Make a list of things to do when you’re bored so you don’t succumb to 3 hours of Facebook stalking. Work out. Do some extra homework. Do a Sudoku puzzle. Read a book. Stare out the window. Do whatever makes you happy that doesn’t involve a keyboard or a reality show. 

• Make plans
  Set aside one day a week that you spend with a certain friend. This will ensure you truly do “make face time”. Maybe they can even be your accountability buddy for making sure you don’t stay a slave to the laptop.

So what do you think? Do you think increasing face time is important to your life or are you just as content keeping your online time maxed out?

Written on 8/20/2009 by Lauren Stewart. Lauren is a college student living in Michigan. She is studying Journalism and her passion is writing and making people feel good with what she writes about. Her blog is Lauren’s Thoughts.

Photo Credit: makelessnoise