Saturday Is “Unplug Illinois” Day…So, Do You Think You Can Do It?

Of course you can do it. A better question probably would be whether or not you would even want to do it.

Personally, I have to admit that the idea of going for a full day without using any of my electronic devices holds little, if any, appeal for me. I'll also admit that I have at least two family members who would lose their minds at the thought of unplugging for more than 30 seconds.

It's not that I'm addicted (yeah right, like nobody ever says that), it's more that I don't feel as though my devices rule my world. I can and do put them down for long periods of time during the day, and I rarely feel like I'm going through tech-withdrawal when I do.

Regardless Of Your Own Personal Level Of Attachment To Your Phone, Tablet, Etc., Our State's Going To Go Ahead And Do It Again Anyway This Year. So Let's Get To What Unplug Illinois Is All About

Here's what's going on, according to the Unplug Illinois website:

Unplug Illinois encourages people to get out, unplug, play and engage one another through their local park and recreation agencies. Whether you are biking with friends on your local trails, playing a sport or taking in a class, Illinois is home to thousands of parks and recreation facilities that can help you live a happier and healthier life.

In Spite Of My Earlier Admissions, I Really Do Like The Idea Of Taking A Day Away From Calls, Texts, Emails, And Social Media Posts

In fact, based upon what I'm reading, there can actually be benefits to doing so.

A 2014 Stanford University study says you'll be far more productive, and far less prone to distraction if you simply leave your phone out of the equation. If you're not texting, tweeting, or reading notifications, you'll get nearly an extra half-hour of work done.

A piece at Forbes points out other benefits like sleeping better, having better relationships, lowering anxiety and depression, and improving your health in general.

So, what can you do here in Rockford while being unplugged? Here are two great places with ideas for you:

RockfordParkDistrict.org

GoRockford.com