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14 Days with (Almost) No Internet: Did My Digital Detox Pay Off?

Ryan Holmes

1 Last year, Paul Miller made waves online when The Verge published his article detailing a unique personal experiment: going one full year with absolutely no internet.

2 Of course, at the time, what we all wanted to know was what amazing discoveries Miller had made from his 365 days offline.

3 As it turns out,despite a promising first few months of the experiment (during which he lost weight, took time to smell the flowers and wrote a lot of stuff), what Miller discovered in the end was that the very technology he’d begun to criticize actually had very little, if anything, to do with his life’s problems. In fact,Miller realized that without the net he had started becoming even more “out of touch with life.”

4 Last month, I went on my own digital detox. It was only two weeks, but it was the longest I've gone offline in 13 years.

5 Why did I do it?Throughout the last decade, I’ve been plugged in 24-7, living in a world where the line between digital and real gets a bit blurred at times. For a while I'd felt the urge to free myself from it all, and wanted to see what would happen then.

6 I haven't of course forgotten that I’m CEO of a social media company. My life's work is built around the belief that being connected makes our lives richer and more rewarding. Still, I'd forgotten one key lesson along the way: moderation. As more and more of my life was spent scanning social feeds, I realized that I needed to step back and get some perspective.

7 So on my winter vacation to Mexico, I took a break from being active on the internet for the entire trip. For a whole 14 days, I ate a lot of delicious seafood, surfed and fixed up my hut on the beach. I didn't go online except to check my email periodically — just to make sure an emergency wasn't unfolding while I was away.

8 What I learned from my short experiment was actually not too unlike what Miller learned. I didn't end up discovering that technology is evil. In fact, I found myself reflecting on how living and breathing tech has let me experience some of the most rewarding moments of my life: I've seen world events unfold before my eyes over social networks; I've seen people using new technologies to stay in touch with their loved ones. I've also seen businesses finding new and innovative methods to connect with their clients through channels like Facebook or LinkedIn.

9 The irony is that by stepping away from all things digital for a while, I actually felt even more appreciative of it. After all, technology is a part of me now and it's how I interact with many of the most important people in my life; it's also made me who I am both professionally and personally.

10 I learned a few other lessons from my short digital detox, which — as I dive back into my connected reality — I'll make sure to remember:

11 Snacking is fun, but it shouldn't replace full meals. With the digital explosion has comean excess of cheap, easy, and addictive pieces of online content for us to readily snack on. No wonder it's so easy to fall into the habit of spending hours online mindlessly moving from one tasty snack to another. The funny thingis that I found I didn't miss this kind of online snacking at all during my 14 days offline. In fact, what I started to crave in the absence of snacky content was longer, thoughtful articles and good books, reading that nourishes my mind.

12 Numerous studies have proven that such reading can improve brain function; some have even suggested it can make you a better person. So instead of funny cat pictures, dive into some of the great “long reads” that show up on your screen— stuff that actually changes how you look at the world. Better yet, pick up a novel or read a book about a topic that can benefit you in some way, whether it's related to your job or your passions.

Language Focus

一、Text生词

internet:n. (the I-) 因特网

e.g. You can find this information on the Internet.

这些信息网上可以找到。

pay off: turn out to be profitable; bring good results 有报偿；带来好结果

e.g. Honesty pays off in the long run.

诚实最终令人受益。

make waves:create a significant impression 造成轰动

e.g. It's probably not a good idea to start making waves in your first week in a new job.

到新单位头一个礼拜就造成轰动未见得好。

Our culture encourages us to fit the norm and not to make waves.

我们的文化鼓励循规蹈矩而不是特立独行。

online: a., ad.联机（的）；在线（的）

e.g. Take part inour online survey and win great prizes.

参加网上调查赢大奖。

Do you like to shop online?

你喜欢网上购物吗？

publish:vt. prepare, have printed and distribute to the public 出版，发行

e.g. His book is to be published in October.

他的著作将于十月出版。

detail:vt. describe fully 详述

e.g. Can you producea report detailing what we've spent on the project so far?

你能不能写一份报告，详细说明我们在这个项目上花了多少钱？

unique: a. beingthe only one of its type, unusual 独特的

e.g. Her style of writing is rather unique.

她的写作风格比较独特。

amazing:a. very surprising and causing pleasure or admiration 令人惊异的；了不起的

e.g. It's amazing that the managing director is only in his early thirties.

令人惊讶的是，总经理三十刚出头。

turn out:prove to be 结果是，证明是

e.g. You can't expect everything to turn out as you wish.

别指望事事如意。

despite: prep.尽管

e.g. The plane took off despite the fog.

尽管有雾，飞机还是起飞了。

promising: a. showing signs that sth. good will happen 有前途的；有希望的

e.g. They won the award for the most promising new brand of the year.

他们荣获年度最佳新品牌奖。

smell the flowers: take time out of one's busy life to enjoy the small pleasures 轻松一下

e.g. I'm taking sometime to smell the flowers.

我且消闲消闲。

stuff:n. 材料；东西；物品

e.g. There is sticky stuff all over the chair.

椅子上全都是黏糊的东西。

I’ve got quite a lot of stuff to read.

我有不少东西要读。

criticize:v. judge (sb. or sth.) severely 批评

e.g. Don't get me wrong; I wasn't trying to criticize you.

别误会，我不是在批评你。

have (much/something/nothing…) to dowith:与……（有很大/有一些/没有）关系

e.g. There is no doubt that human activities have something to do with climate change.

毫无疑问人类活动与气候变化有关。

if anything: (used for emphasis) if at all, if in any degree 如果有什么的话

e.g. We could have some tests to see what, if anything, is wrong, and see if anything can be done to fix it.

我们来做些测试，瞧瞧有无差错，看看如何修复。

plug in:用插头接通……的电源；使上网

e.g. The printer will begin to work as soon as you plug it in.

你插上插头，打印机就开始工作。

at times:sometimes, but not often 有时；偶尔

e.g. He went to the badminton club at times during his school days.

他读书时有时会去羽毛球俱乐部。

for a while: for a period of time 一会儿；一段时间

e.g. Now that I amfree, I can enjoy music for a while.

我有空了，可以欣赏一会儿音乐。

urge:n. a strong desire 强烈的欲望

e.g. I feel the urge to be outside when spring comes.

春天到来时我一心就想到室外去。

media: n. meansof mass communication 大众传播媒介

e.g. The issue has been much discussed in the media.

媒体广泛讨论了这个问题。

scan:v. glance at quickly but not very thoroughly 浏览

e.g. Scan the newspaper article quickly and make a note of the main points.

快速浏览这篇报纸文章并写出要点。

surf:v. 冲浪；浏览

e.g. If the waves are big enough, we'll go surfing.

如果海浪大的话我们就去冲浪。

He spends a lot of time surfing the Internet/Net/Web.

他在网上花了不少时间。

fix up: repairor change (sth.) in order to improve it 修理

e.g. Nick loves fixing up old cars.

尼克喜欢捣鼓旧车。

emergency: n.紧急事件；紧急情况

e.g. How would disabled people escape in an emergency?

紧急状况下残疾人士如何逃生？

unlike: prep.different from; not like 与……不同；不像

e.g. Unlike most farmers there, the Johnson family live in a nearby town instead of on the farm.

跟当地大多数农民不同的是，约翰逊一家不住在农庄上，而是住在附近的镇上。

end up (doing sth./in sth.): finally be in a particular place or situation（以……）结束

e.g. How did you end up working on web services?

你是怎么从事起网络服务工作的？

stay in touch with: be in communication with 与……保持联系

e.g. They stay in touch with each other by sending emails.

他们通过电子邮件保持联系。

interact:vi. communicate with each other 交往

e.g. It's interesting at parties to see how people interact socially.

聚会上有意思的是看人们如何交往。

no wonder (that …): it is not/hardly surprising 难怪；怪不得

e.g. No wonder the children are excited — this is the first time they have been on board an airplane.

难怪孩子们要兴奋了——他们这是第一次坐飞机。

fall/get into the habit of: have/acquire the habit of 养成……的习惯

e.g. It's easy to fall into the habit of smoking, but difficult to get rid of it.

抽上烟很容易，戒掉烟可就难了。

in the absence of:在……不在场的情况下

e.g. The vice chairman is the chief executive officer in the absence of the chairman.

主席空缺时由副主席担任首席执行官。

thoughtful: a. full of thought; showing careful thought 富于思想的；思考缜密的

e.g. He had a thoughtful look on his face.

他显得若有所思。

nourish: vt. give (people or living things) the food they need to live,grow, and stay healthy 滋养

e.g. This cream is supposed to help nourish your skin.

该乳液滋润肌肤。

related: a. (usu. followed by to) connected with（与……）有关的，相联系的

e.g. Experts believe that the large number of cancer cases in the area is related to the accident at the nuclear power station some years ago.

专家认为，该地区的癌症高发率与多年前的核电站事故有关。

二、Text难句

… what Miller discovered in the end wasthat the very technology he'd begun to criticize actually had very little, if anything, to do with his life's problems. (Para.3)

……最终米勒发现，其实他原先开始批评的技术与他生活中的问题，如果说有关系的话，也是微乎其微。

“very”用来修饰名词以加强语气。

e.g. My mom knowsmy very thoughts. 妈妈了解我内心的想法。

In fact, Miller realized that without the net he had started becoming even more “out of touch with life.” (Para. 3)

As a matter offact, Miller realized that without the Internet he had started becoming even more disconnected from life.

事实上，米勒发觉离开了因特网他变得更加“与生活脱节”了。

… I've been plugged in 24-7, living in a world where the line between digital and real gets a bit blurred at times. (Para. 5)

… I’ve been getting online round-the-clock, living in a world in which the difference between virtual and real sometimes becomes unclear.

……我时时刻刻处于在线状态，生活在一个数码和现实之间边界时常有点模糊不清的世界里。

这里用了比喻手法，把“我”比作一个可以插上插头、接通电源的电器。

Still, I'd forgotten one key lesson along the way: moderation. (Para. 6)

Nevertheless,I'd forgotten a very important lesson all these years, a lesson which suggests I should spend only a reasonable amount of time online.

然而，我一路过来却忘记了一条重要的训诫：适度。

What I learned from my short experiment was actually not too unlike what Miller learned. (Para.8)

实际上，我从这一短暂试验中得到的感悟与米勒大同小异。

句中有个Double Negative（双重否定）的用法，即not unlike …，起到一定的强调作用。

I found myself reflecting on how living and breathing tech has let me experience some of the most rewarding moments of my life. (Para. 8)

I was thinking about how immersing myself in (沉浸于) tech has offered me some of the most rewarding moments of my life.

事实上，我发觉正是我的与科技息息相关的生活让我体验到我生命中一些颇有价值的时刻。

I’ve seen world events unfold before my eyes over social networks; I've seen people using new technologies to stay in touch with their loved ones … (Para. 8)

通过社交网络，我看到许多国际事件呈现在我的眼前，看到人们运用新技术与挚爱的人保持联络……

在论证某个观点时，可将其分解成具有一定联系的几个平行的方面来加以论述。显然，这里的几句，都是围绕着“I found myself reflecting on how living and breathing tech has let me experience some of the most rewarding moments of my life”这一中心观点而展开的。

Snacking is fun, but it shouldn't replace full meals. (Para. 11)

零食好吃，但是不能代替正餐。

这里用了暗喻，把可以轻易获取的、廉价、简单、使人上瘾的网上信息比作零食。

With the digital explosion has come an excess of cheap, easy, and addictive pieces of online content for us to readily snack on. (Para. 11)

随着数码信息的爆炸，人们可以轻易获取过量的廉价、简单、使人上瘾的网上信息。

So instead of funny cat pictures, dive into some of the great “long reads” that show up on your screen. (Para. 12)

So instead of viewing funny cat pictures, spend your time reading some great long articles that show up on your screen.

因此，别去一味浏览那些有趣的猫的图片了，而是要潜心阅读屏幕上那些好的“长篇文章”。

Better yet, pick up a novel or read a book about a topic that can benefit you in some way, whether it's related to your job or your passions. (Para. 12)

更好的做法是，捧起一本小说或阅读一本在某个方面能使你受益的书，无论其主题关乎你的工作，还是你热衷的事情。

这句中yet与比较级连用，用以加强语气。