Global Day of Unplugging Date in the current year: March 1, 2024

If you’re reading this article, you probably can’t imagine your life without technology, like millions of other people around the globe, and it’s hard to deny that technology has improved our lives in many ways. However, every medal has two sides. Sometimes we rely on technology a little too much and allow it to distract us from the things that really matter.

According to statistics, American children aged between 8 and 12 spend up to 6 hours a day watching or using screens, and teens spend up to 9 hours. About 30% of adults in the United States say they are “almost constantly” online, and an increasing number of people are concerned about the long-term impact of technology on their health and relationships.

This is why it is important to take a step back and unplug every now and then. The term “unplugging” can refer to a bunch of different things, but in the context of Global Day of Unplugging it means giving up your tech for a certain period of time to relax, unwind, and reconnect with people around you.

Global Day of Unplugging started as a National Day of Unplugging. It was created in 2009 by Reboot, a Jewish arts and culture non-profit dedicated to re-imagining and reinforcing Jewish traditions and thought. Reboot launched the Sabbath Manifesto to encourage people to slow down their lives in our increasingly hectic world. The idea behind the Sabbath Manifesto, inspired by the Jewish observance of the Sabbath, is to take a break from technology at least for one day from sunset to sunset.

Since its inception, the unplugging campaign has gone global. It is organized by Unplug Collaborative, a nonprofit organization that helps coordinate unplugging events around the globe in order to make meaningful tech-free experiences accessible to everyone. In addition to Global Day of Unplugging, Unplug Collaborative runs other programs such as Unplugged Village and Unplug for a Cause. Their unplugged activities include volunteering, crafting projects, scavenger hunts, and other tech-free experiences for people of all ages and backgrounds.

If you want to observe Global Day of Unplugging in a meaningful way, we suggest that you plan in advance. This is a great day to do something you’ve been meaning to do for a long time but kept putting off: take your time making a delicious breakfast for your family, meet an old friend for brunch or lunch, spend the entire day with friends or family without getting distracted by your smartphones, go on a hike, read a book, pick up a new hobby, or volunteer to make the world a better place.

Even if you won’t be able to unplug for 24 hours, that’s okay. You can celebrate by unplugging for an hour or two at some point during the first weekend in March, and it will be enough. And don’t forget to spread awareness of Global Day of Unplugging the day before because once you unplug, you won’t be able to post about it on social media.