Why We Need a Secular Sabbath

According to writer and mindfulness teacher Pico Iyer, interruptions come every eleven minutes, leaving us with the feeling that we are never caught up on our lives. The constant interruptions from technology make us feel fractured and frustrated with life. When we are overly focused on technology, what is most important to us escapes us both in work and at home. Iyer suggests dedicating one day a week to a "Secular Sabbath" to rest techno-weary souls. During interviews with Google executives, Iyer found that stepping back from the use and demands of technology made employees happier, healthier and more productive. She says, "the point of sitting still is that it helps you see through the very idea of pushing forward; indeed, it strips you of yourself, as of a coat of armor, by leading you into a place where you're defined by something larger."