Want to get things done? Turn the power off!
Posted on December 5, 2007
Filed Under Tips |
It’ s been very stormy here in Cornwall and the other day we had a power cut in the local area. In the middle of Saturday morning the electricity went off. I called the power company on my mobile and they said it would take about three hours to fix.
What was I going to do for three hours at home on a Saturday? When the power went out, I had been browsing the web and looking forward to making a cup of tea and watching sport on TV. Now all those plans had gone out with the power!
But then I realised that actually there was plenty I could do that didn’t require any electric power at all. I could clean the bathroom (it needed doing!), file my post, tidy up the flat, go for a run or finish the book that’s been sitting half-read on my bedside table.
I ended up having the most productive three hours of my weekend and also realised how profligate we can be with our power. So the next time you need to get things done, try banning the use of electricity for an hour or two. Better yet, to prevent cheating, turn your electricity off altogether! You’ll get your chores done and save some money into the bargin.
Stumble it!
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5 Responses to “Want to get things done? Turn the power off!”
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About this site
Find out how to leave the rat race and get the life you want. Read my story and others, learn from our mistakes and be inspired by our successes!
Hi there Sally,
I read your guest blog on David Culpepper’s pure blog and found it quite fascinating and thought that I would visit yous site to see what it is all about.
I am quite impressed with what I have seen here.
I live in India in Pune and I introduce myself as a hippy whenever someone wants to know what I do. This happens more often in India than it would in Britain. Trust me, it can be very annoying!
When I was a young lad, I am 64 now, my ambition was to be either a beatnik or a hippy. I could not for the obvious reason that I had to keep my body and soul together. I then changed my ambition to retire at 50 but was able to manage it only when I was 52. Things started going wrong again and I had to go to work again three times voulunteerily and once under tremendous pressure.
I finally managed to drop out as you now so nicely put it.
Many things in life do not go as we expect them to do and a little flexibility is always a good fall back position.
I like the interviews that you have posted and wish all of them well in their new dropped out stage of life and so too to you.
All the best. If you feel like corresponding, do feel free to via my email address that I have given here. I am totally harmless, I can assure you. If you do not, I would still understand. My best wishes nevertheless.
I’m so pleased you like the blog, thanks for checking it out.
It’s encouraging to hear your story. You’ve obviously been determined to live a simpler life and you’ve made it happen. What made you want to be a beatnik or hippy at a young age?
I don’t know if you came across my recent post on what I think dropping out means today. You might find it interesting as it tries to draw a line from the sixties and the ‘turn on, tune in, drop out’ generation to the present day. You may not even agree with my analysis or may have different insights to offer.
http://www.dropoutdiaries.com/2007/11/what-dropping-out-means-today
Sally,
I couldn’t agree more! I think it is very important that we use technology to OUR advantage. These advances are wonderful, as long as we remember they are there to serve us, not the other way around. By giving ourselves an electric/electronic time out, we expand our worlds and challenge ourselves to think and act a bit differently.
And, that, is always freeing!
I found your site via Dumb Little Man. Loved the surfing analogy. I just wrote on my blog, (simply put with maria) about the movie Blue Crush, a favorite of mine, because it is about a woman taking the risk to be true to herself.
You might like the blog.
Finally, I’m out of the rat race too! My husband and I left Chicago and moved to a small island off the coast of Florida. There is a peace at the ocean unlike anywhere else.
I love your attitude and you have a wonderful website..
Maria Murphy
Simplyputtogether.com
Maria, thanks for your comments. I enjoyed your post about Blue Crush as I love the movie and have found it a real inspiration.
Congratulations on leaving the rat race! I am in London for the Christmas season visiting friends and family and already I am missing the sea.
Good luck!
[…] If you need to get things done around the house, try turning the electricity off. With no TV, computer, phone or Wii to lure you away, you’ll be able to get through your ‘to do’ list in no time. More… […]