Marcus Agnew: Disconnect to Reconnect

Marcus Agnew: take time to switch off this summer.

Another year has raced by (OMG) and I, for one, have never had a Christmas creep up on me as quickly as this one.

My wiser friends tell me it is just part of getting old, but I struggle to see how it can get much faster and much busier.

Yes, it must be part of getting old, but is it also due to the changing world we live in? Is the world becoming increasingly busy, due to the modern technology and ''connectivity'' we have?

They say the world is becoming increasingly connected but that might depend on your definition of connected.

We are definitely in a technology-driven world, and are connected at a macro level around the globe, but that doesn't necessarily mean we are connected on a micro level to everything around us: the people, the environment, and everything else that is really important to us. The stuff that as they say, that when you are on your death bed, you wish you had done more of.

So yes, we may be connected to the digital world, but are we really connected to the world around us. Probably not, just ask the whales.

That's where Christmas time comes in. As we know, Christmas is meant to be about connecting with loved ones, getting out and doing the things we need to do, refreshing ourselves, reconnecting spiritually to the things that are important to us.

Yes "presence not presents", has become even more important in this modern world we live in.

If used appropriately, technology can be great for connecting with friends and family, and can be great for work, staying connected while on the move and working remotely.

So yes, technology is brilliant, but it clearly has its downsides in terms of physical and mental health and, therefore, has also led to an unprecedented need for recreation time (to re-create ourselves).

An unforeseen level of need that our forebears couldn't have predicted, and the subsequent benefit of Christmas time.

Christmas time can enforce that disconnection from our devices.

I say can, because it doesn't necessarily. Not even Santa can wave that magic wand over everybody. We must consciously make a point of it. But Christmas time and Santa can be the opportunity that we need, to really disconnect to reconnect.

Some of us will stay connected to technology during the summer break, perhaps because we have to work, but for others it will be an unnecessary and unhealthy connection to the addictive elements of technology.

Technology that some kids (and grown-ups) may have even received from Santa and, therefore, miss that window in our year to really connect with what's around us.

If we don't good make use of this time, then before we know it, our busy technological worlds will have raced us through to the end of 2017 as well. And no one wants that.

Yes, the constant connection to technology has its upsides, but it can be socially and emotionally draining. The negative psychological impact can't be underestimated.

So disconnect, pull the curtains open, and get outdoors. Use the environment and get into some different activities.

Use this Christmas time as a chance to get into some quality ''re-creation'', get out into nature and reconnect with everyone and everything that's important to you, while getting some decent physical activity along the way.

This is a great time to really recharge, but when it's time to get back into our working routine, we should try and bring a bit of this Christmas spirit and recreation back into our daily lives.

Spend time with the family, as Sir Mason Durie's model for Maori health highlights whanau as one of the key drivers for all-round health, which is also in line with the old saying Rob Waddell reinforced in his recent leadership seminar: "Family who play together, stay together".