Unplugging our electronics is one of the simplest ways to conserve energy and ultimately benefit the planet.

So why is it so hard to pull the plug?

Inspired by Tip #1 [0] in Top Ten Ways to be Green [0], I went around my house the other day, looking for things to unplug.

My goal was straightforward: I planned to unplug anything that wouldn't disrupt my day-to-day life. Some things, I'd already decided, were going to remain plugged in. The fridge, obviously, but also stuff I use daily, like the clock radio, my laptop, a couple of lamps and my TV, which gets its juice from a very hard-to-access outlet.

At first, the unplugging was swift and painless. The paper shredder that only gets used around tax time, for instance, has had its cord tidily wrapped up until next March. And I not only unplugged the battery charger for my drill (believe me, it's pretty amazing that I even have a drill), but it's been stashed in a cabinet where it's likely to stay until 2010.

As my hunt continued, however, pulling the plug became more challenging. But I was on a mission and decided to unplug things I use fairly often, like the blender, dust-buster and computer printer.

But when it came down making real sacrifices, like unplugging my iPod charger or powering down the stereo, I suddenly got very grumpy about my mission to better the world. What started as a globally- conscious gesture quickly deteriorated into a heavy burden.

Am I actually supposed to feel guilty because I want to turn my stereo without any fuss? Am I really expected to power up my microwave whenever I want to snack on some popcorn?

Theoretically, I know this isn't hard to do. In fact, it's embarrassingly easy. But, in practical terms, it's a total hassle when you're used to the ease of clicking a button or flipping a switch.

The problem is that I live in a land of remote controls, and it's made me lazy and impatient. Like most of us, I'm used to the instant gratification that we expect from modern conveniences.

So, I guess I'll attack this slowly and hope that unplugging will become second nature. Habits, as we all know, are mighty powerful.

But for now, I'm not ready to unplug my iPod charger. Call me indulgent, but I still want some gadgets ready to cater to my whims.