When you stop and think about how much time a day you spend on the internet (email, social media, games, etc) is it a scary number? Do you think that you might be more productive if you took some of that time and spent it elsewhere? Could you be more social off of social media?
Yes, Yes, and Yes. I am the perfect example of someone who could use help or a better strategy on finding balance in the wired world that we live in. I was so trilled to get a copy of Christina Crook’s book “The Joy of Missing Out” and be able to discover her thoughts and findings as well as feel motivated by her experiences, quotes and words of encouragement.
Christina devoted 31 days to being unplugged. She turned that data off on her phone, logged off her email, and refrained from using any form of the internet. For every new day into her journey she would write and mail a letter to a friend, who then would uploaded them to a blog. This event has gained international recognition.
For myself personally, having a blog along with all of its social media platforms, a lot of my time can be consumed by the internet without even realizing it. Though, I enjoy all aspects of my blog very much I have noticed the importance of finding a way to balance my screen time. I have made a couple personal changes since I started reading ‘The Joy of Missing Out’ and have noticed a positive impact already.
1 – I made the choice to turn my phone on silent. As a mother to two kids my attention in almost fully consumed by my children from morning to bedtime. When I would get distracted by a phone alert for every text message, email FaceBook like, or Instagram comment, it became impossible to keep up. If I was expecting a phone call from someone I will turn my phone on or even set their number to priority calling, then when that was finished turn it back off again. This simple change has made a huge impact on being able to put my full attention on my children and not have that attention be interrupted frequently.
2 – Take some time in the morning to myself (with my kids) before I look at my phone. Looking at my phone first thing in the morning can often lead me to feeling stressed right off the bat when waking up or even make me feel less motivated to start the day if I lay in bed too long scrolling the latest in my news feed. I have notice this change making a huge impact on my morning routine and having a more positive outlook on the day. Less rushed, less overwhelmed and more connected.
These two changes are my first building blocks to feeling more connected to the unplugged world around us. I would like to encourage you, if you are feeling similar to what I have mentioned to apply some changes in your life. Christina’s book is filled with insights, examples and encouragement that can help you get on the right track again.
