Fourth Annual “National Day of Unplugging”
Power Down and Recharge on March 1; What Will You Do With Your Extra Time?

NEW YORK (Feb. 6, 2013) – In celebration of the fourth annual National Day of Unplugging (NDU) on March 1, the non-profit Reboot is asking individuals, organizations and schools around the world to publicly share what they do when they’re not using technology.

The “I UNPLUG TO _____” campaign invites people to share their commitment to unplugging by posting photos of what they will do when not using technology to www.NationalDayofUnplugging.com. From the lofty — “build houses,” “register people to vote,” “climb a mountain,” “feed the homeless,” — to personal recharging activities like “relax,” “read” or “bond with family,” the NDU encourages individuals and communities to take a digital detox and rediscover the world around them.

Reboot developed the annual tech detox to remind young, hyper-connected and frequently frantic people to take a respite from all things digital. The annual tech timeout begins at sunset March 1 and lasts through sunset March 2. Internet addiction is being considered for classification as an official mental health disorder by the American Psychiatric Association, suggesting that unhealthy dependence on technology is increasingly becoming an issue.

“Over the past four years, people have confided that they are so connected to their devices, they are now at a loss as to what to do when they unplug,” said Amelia Klein, associate director of Reboot. “The ‘I Unplug To…’ campaign is designed to spread the word that unplugging can be fun and healthy, and inspire meaningful experiences and face-to-face conversations.”

For those who do not know what to do when they unplug, Reboot has created The UNDO List, a free service through which subscribers will receive ideas for conversation topics, readings, local outings and creative endeavors. The service is designed to help ease people’s time away from technology, both for the NDU and beyond. http://www.theundolist.com/

The NDU has roots in the Jewish tradition of the Sabbath, but this modern day of rest was developed for people of all backgrounds as a way to bring balance to the increasingly fast-paced way of life and reclaim time to connect with family, friends and our communities. The National Day of Unplugging has resonated around the world with people of all backgrounds, from Catholic to Hindi, Buddhist and Muslim and has been embraced by a range of celebrities including writer Joel Stein and Weeds creator Jenji Kohan.

The Koret Foundation is sponsoring the National Day of Unplugging in San Francisco.

About Reboot
Every generation must grapple with the questions of identity, community and meaning on its own terms. Reboot exists to facilitate that process for this and future generations – providing the tools and methodologies to help ‘reboot’ inherited tradition and make it vital, resonant and meaningful in modern life. Founded in 2002, Reboot engages and inspires young, Jewishly-unconnected cultural creatives, innovators and thought-leaders who, through their candid and introspective conversations and creativity, generate projects that impact both the Jewish and non-Jewish worlds. Reboot has been responsible for producing some of the most influential and innovative Jewish books, films, music, Web sites and large-scale public events of the past five years. These projects include the National Day of Unplugging, Sukkah City, 10Q, Sabbath Manifesto, Beyond Bubbie, the DAWN Festival and the Idelsohn Society of Musical Preservation. Find out more at: www.rebooters.net