Enjoy the freedom of being UNREACHABLE: Take a daily smartphone break!

White Wildflower at Norman Levy Park
I had an epiphany at my morning meditation class today. At the end of the class which is held at our local library I heard the sound of a dog barking. It turned out to be someone's cell phone ringtone.  Sometimes my smart phone feels like a pavlovian dog. I jump everytime it rings, beeps, bells, and vibrates. We have all put ourselves on call 24/7 being available to the next facebook update, tweet, email, emergency, text, and phone call. When did we all become on call doctors to one another. The stress of being available to everyone all the time makes us jump when our phones vibrate!

 I was thinking about what activities get me to turn off my phone. I turn off my phone for meditation class, for orchestra rehearsal, when I am at a play, or a movie. This got me thinking, I got that aha moment of clarity. I should turn off my phone when I am enjoying being out with my friends, at family gatherings, on my walks on the beach, or hikes in nature. So I can enjoy that beautiful white wildflower blooming without distraction. I want to enjoy that feeling of freedom.

I should enjoy more of these moments with out the constant updates. I can catch up electronically later. I need to stop letting my smart phone hyjack me of enjoying the NOW.  Maybe I should plan a daily smart phone break.

I remember growing up as a kid -  there were no cell phones. We went out and enjoyed our moments with friends. We had change for a payphone for an emergency. We went to the park, or the beach where no one could reach us. We enjoyed just spending time with each other, laughing, being outside being free. We were for that moment UNREACHABLE!

Start planning your UNREACHABLE smart phone break. Experience this feeling even if its only for 15 minutes. You can always be updated later. Take back that feeling of freedom, and enjoying the moment! I am so grateful for that barking ring tone for giving me the courage to disconnect and enjoy more UNREACHABLE MOMENTS!

Comments

  1. Allison (Funfamily.Vacations)June 12, 2015 at 12:55 PM

    We went on our last vacation with just a flip style phone. No urge to google anything, send messages, check social media.. and it was one of the best vacations ever!

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJune 12, 2015 at 1:57 PM

    we are getting ready to go camping where there is no signal! I can't wait, I'm sure my teen will hate me but it will be a nice break!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hannah NicklinJune 12, 2015 at 2:41 PM

    I agree with this, I find that it's just because it's a force of habit to check my phone and drop everything if it goes off.

    I love the idea of having a daily break from your smart phone but I worry that I'd get an emergency call within that time. I know the chances are slim but murphy's law, right?? :(

    Here's a little video I filmed at Ignite Cardiff of someone talking about why we should 'Turn it off, put it down and walk away' - http://bit.ly/1B8oVaF

    Keep spreading the word though, people should do it more! :)

    http://www.missnicklin.co.uk/

    ReplyDelete
  4. Michele@liferedesign101.comJune 12, 2015 at 4:13 PM

    I don't find myself glued to the phone, it is in my purse but I forget about it. I like it that way!

    ReplyDelete
  5. annabelt @ geeks dietJune 12, 2015 at 4:59 PM

    Mine is still a 'dumb' phone so I can leave most of that stuff behind much more easily, but I still miss the days when people would make an arrangement and that would be that!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Carrie TrippJune 12, 2015 at 5:49 PM

    I have been turning the volume off on mine or putting it in the bedroom where I can't hear it once I get home in the evenings. I don't turn it back on until the next morning. Yes, I miss texts and calls. I figure in a big enough emergency they will come and get me.

    ReplyDelete
  7. AgyJune 12, 2015 at 9:34 PM

    I try to, but it can be difficult if you're freelancing. I'll give it a go another time :-)

    ReplyDelete
  8. Kid MindsJune 12, 2015 at 10:08 PM

    Oh yes I do this all the time! I need my freedom. It's too stressful for me to be chained to the phone that can go off at any moment.

    ReplyDelete
  9. SimplyWrightJune 12, 2015 at 11:28 PM

    Great post, thank you for sharing! xx

    ReplyDelete
  10. Randi MarieJune 15, 2015 at 3:45 AM

    I do this all the time! (But mostly because I just don't have it together enough to keep my phone charged!) Anyway, I love your thoughts here, thank you for reminding me that it's GOOD to be wireless and detached from time to time.

    ReplyDelete
  11. DeepikaJune 15, 2015 at 1:10 PM

    Wonderful read. I really try my best to stay away from my phone when I am out with friends and family. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  12. IrionJune 16, 2015 at 12:36 PM

    A daily smartphone break...I'm going to start doing this. My phone has been right by my side since I started blogging and it's time to change that.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Thanks for sharing your gratitude!

Best of Sharing Thanks

Ten Easy Gratitude Habits

Image
Gratitude is scientifically proven to make us happier. I've put this Top Ten List together to help jumpstart your gratitude habit! This new thankful attitude will help your mind focus on the little joys available to all of us everyday. These suggestions are easy to do! Share your experiences in adapting some of these thankful habits. Wake up Thankful: When you open your eyes, Say thank you, thank you, thank you! You are alive, and the new day is filled with possibilities for you! Take time to stop and smell the coffee! Take the time to breathe in the sweet aroma of a cup of coffee, or home made blueberry muffins.  Enjoy your morning shower. Is there anything better than clean hot water streaming down on you, especially on these cold winter days. Be thankful for the clean water we have. Take a gratitude break. Incorporate a 1 minute break by taking a deep cleansing breathe and think of something your thankful for in this small moment of peace. Give thanks for your food...
Read more

Create a Sharing Thanks Journal with someone to cultivate a Grateful Heart

Image
    I am very thankful for this very special Christmas gift given to me by my daughter Liz. She made me a Sharing Thanks Journal. I love her heart design and the picture of us she printed to adorn the inside of this very special journal. The best gift of all was that we used the journal together to practice gratitude. She wrote the first entry listing four things she was thankful for and passed the journal back to me. We use the journal to share what we are thankful for. It has helped me practice gratitude and has helped me and my daughter connect on a deeper level. It is wonderful to have a dialogue where we share our blessings. I love writing my thanks and sharing what brings me joy. It could be a beautiful sunset, or a kind smile a stranger gave me. I love learning about what my daughter is thankful for. I recommend sharing a journal with someone special to help your gratitude practice. It will allow you to focus on counting your joys and help you connect to someon...
Read more

Thankful for Chihuly's impressionistic water reflections at New York Botanical Gardens

Image
I love sharing beautiful spaces with fellow friends who appreciate the impact of art fused with nature. So thankful to my friend Liz who invited me to go see the current Chihuly exhibit at the New York Botanical Gardens. I loved how Chihuly's pieces enhanced the beauty of the main greenhouse exhibits. We were blessed with a crisp fall day with blue skies. I took this video to capture the wave of colors undulating that looked like painter's brush strokes in the water. Below is the glass work that made these beautiful reflections. If you live in the New York area I recommend you go to the New York Botanical Gardens to enjoy this artist's brilliant work. The NYBG also has some fun fall displays. My friend and I enjoyed posing with pumpkin man. Below are a few more pictures from the greenhouse that illustrate how well this artist's work merges with nature. Hope you are enjoying this autumn season. Please share a fall activity that your thankful for! If ...
Read more