As I get more and more attached to digital tools and communication mediums, I’ve recently begun to appreciate the non-technology elements of life more and more. Those who know me know the running joke about how much I hate paper and it’s true – I do hate the unneccesary use of paper. However, there is only so much technology that I can take before I start to yearn for something different to bring harmony to my life and so I am enjoying a re-discovery of some of the non-electronic things that bring me satisfaction. For those of you as uber-connected as I am and are looking for some ways to unplug, here are some things I recommend.

• Read a book (on paper, not a Kindle)
• Call an old friend just to catch up
• Write a letter (with pen a paper using nice stationary)
• Take a walk in the park
• Buy a Moleskine and use it for meeting notes
• Send handwritten thank-you notes to client and prospects
• Go out with friends and turn your phone off during dinner
• Attend a live classical music performance
• Attend a meeting at work without your laptop or a mobile device
• Play board games with friends instead of watching TV or a movie
• Go to the zoo, art museum, or local nature spot and just observe

It’s amazing how rich some of these simple experiences can be after being so plugged-in for so long. Maybe this is obvious to everyone else but I sometimes feel so engrossed in an online world that I find myself needing balance. What do you do to keep from losing yourself in technology?