approaching things differently: disconnecting

Less time on my phone means more quality time with my pets, right?

How often do you check your cellphone in an hour? How often do you go for dinner/lunch/any time spent with friends and you have to take at least 2 breaks to check your phones? How often do you see people texting/checking their phones while in line? It’s safe to say that we are pretty attached to our technology. Attached to being connected. Uncomfortable with the idea of silence and waiting. Impatient, even. I am certainly guilty of this. I’ve forgotten how nice life can be when we are not so connected. When things are not so instantaneous. Based on discussions I’ve been having, it seems like in society, there is a huge amount of anxiety in not being connected. To not having instant gratification or instant answers.

I have to say, lately my time ‘not connected’ has been forced upon me, rather than choice. When my phone dies, I am without my headphones in my ears or my phone to keep me company. I’ve begun to notice a lot more. I’ve forgotten the joy of people-watching and observing others while on the bus. Of noticing the little things. These things are so lovely and so crucial to life! I am not looking for drastic life changes, like getting rid of my cellphone completely, but enough to avoid tripping on the sidewalk because I’m on my phone and not paying attention.

My challenge for myself these next few weeks is to approach things differently. My first one, is a challenge to disconnect for a few hours each day. To turn off my phone and computer, and have my focus not be on returning messages or checking social media. Maybe not even as extreme, but to put my phone away while I’m on the bus and notice the people around me. My goal is that with this disconnection it will allow me to be more mindful of my time. To my approach to life in general. I’ve seen a few posts with this sort of challenge floating around in the blogsophere lately, and I think it’s time I give it a shot. Not only, but this is something that Sam and I have been discussing lately and it certainly seems fitting for me to give it a try. And hey, maybe my iPhone battery will last a little bit longer.

Next week, I’ll check in with you to let you know how my disconnection is going. I’d like to add different challenges into ‘approaching things differently’ and share them here with you. I’m looking forward to gaining a different perspective of my time, and to continue reflecting on the little things in life.

- g