Most of us are extremely connected. Whether it’s responding to email, text messages, or social media posts, we are at other people’s beck and call pretty much 24/7. No generation before us has been so accessible, and never has there been a greater need to unplug.
We can, and often do, run our lives from our phones. We listen to music or podcasts, we do our work, we check emails and social media, we watch TV, we read, we set reminders, we text, we shop.
I mean, I’m not exactly writing this blog post on a slate.
But when does a helpful tool become something unhelpful, something that actually gets in the way of living fuller lives?
Between this podcast I recently listened to and this Nature Valley Canada ad asking three generations of families what they did for fun as kids, my technology overuse has been on my mind.
I know that being on my phone before bed makes it harder for me to go to sleep. And, I’m not proud of the fact that our daughter brings us our phones if she sees them sitting on the counter like we’ve forgotten to breathe. Or how I scroll Facebook or Instagram every time I have a free minute to myself.
Our obsession with technology can steal our time, steal our peace and steal our ability to connect with real life people.
Your cell phone has already replaced your camera, your calendar and your alarm clock. Don’t let it replace your family.” – author unknown
So what is the solution? How can we unplug?
I’ve done digital detoxes before, and though these breaks are so satisfying, I get sucked back into old habits so quickly.
Promises to stay off of Facebook or put away my phone on Sundays has never worked well long-term either.
Tom Ziglar says, “The fastest way to success is to replace bad habits with good habits,” and I have found that to be true.
So what good habits can you and I start to replace the bad habit of being on our phones 24/7?
7 Habits to Help You Unplug
- Read paper books and magazines.
Instead of reading Kindle books and digital magazines, opt for paper versions. And if you like to read before bedtime, this will actually improve the quality of your sleep. - Listen to music and podcasts with wireless headphones.
This is the best of both worlds. You can enjoy streaming music or your favorite podcasts without being physically attached to your phone. Plus, using headphones or earplugs help block out any noise around you. - Make TV a real treat.
Sometimes, I turn the TV on but don’t pay attention to it, or I’ll watch a show on Netflix that is ok but not great. Instead of doing this, save your TV time for a show you love, make yourself a snack, and give it 100% of your attention. - Write a list of quick activities to do instead of being on the phone.
Often, we turn to our phones because we are bored or tired and aren’t sure what else to do. Instead, make one list of fun things you would like to do when you have a few minutes to spare, like swinging on the back porch, listening to a favorite playlist, reading a magazine, thumbing through a cookbook, or coloring. Also, make another list of things you need to do broken into 10 to 15-minute tasks. Doing these things help you chip away at those long to-do lists. - Schedule time to be plugged in.
How much more would you accomplish if you scheduled times during the day to shop online, respond to emails, reply to texts or check social media? After getting in a habit of doing this, the people in your life will learn they can expect a reply when you choose, rather than expecting an immediate response when they choose. - Make social media work for you.
The unfollow button is a powerful thing. If you are finding that social media depletes you or takes too much of your time, decrease the number of people you are following. You are the curator of what you see in your feeds. You can decide only to allow people, pages and groups that are life-giving. - Maximize use of Google Home.
Google Home and similar devices can play music and podcasts, add items to your shopping list, set reminders and timers, and answer questions. These assistants help you do tasks without ever touching a screen.
Trying to unplug is just one way you can find more time in your busy life. For 24 other ways, sign up to get this FREE guide called 25 Ways to Find More Time.
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