It’s Social Media Week in New York City, which means there are lots of events centered around Twitter and Facebook’s world takeover.

My Web-obsession began during college, when I searched restlessly on a ginormous PC for romance in the AOL Jewish single chat rooms. I was tired of the guys on campus. Some things never change.

I found my first job out of college by randomly instant messaging a stranger at iVIllage and asking for an interview. What can I say? I had some online chutzpa.

These days I do my best to take control over my social Web addiction. Sometimes I find myself peeking over at my iPhone during yoga class. It’s not good. Checking my inbox can feel like a drug fix.

It’s tough to remember to turn off the digital noise, but it’s increasingly important in order to reconnect to our Selves and be still. Tim Ferris, author of The Four-Hour Work Week, only checks his email twice a day. He spends the rest of his time dancing the tango or surfing in Costa Rica. I like his style. For my part, I’ve begun walking away from the computer more during the day and actually connecting with friends in the flesh. It’s quite a concept: to pay attention to people, nature, art, and things that don’t have chips in them.

I guess that’s just what I’ll do at Social Media Week—but you’ll still be able to follow my Twitter updates from the events @ilanadonna. Baby steps!

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