Disconnect to Reconnect

How to Stay Energized, Renewed and Balanced Throughout Your Summer, Part II

Point to Ponder:
Do you have an unhealthy relationship with your smartphone?

by Neissa Brown Springmann

I think it’s safe to say that most of us rely heavily on our smartphones and may even struggle with a little smartphone addiction. I, for one, fall into this category because when I lose it I freak out! This handy device serves as my main communication mechanism (phone, text and email), camera, photo album, map, alarm clock, encyclopedia, dictionary, calculator and babysitter. I’m not proud of the ‘babysitter’ admission, but it keeps my kids entertained at times when I need them to be quiet.

Smartphones are an incredibly convenient tool that has simplified our lives in many ways, however too much of anything is too much and healthy boundaries are needed. Therefore, my second tip for getting and staying energized, renewed and balanced throughout the summer is to limit the use of your smartphone and reduce your time on social media. I believe that this time will not only allow you to authentically connect and reconnect with your friends and loved ones, but it will also allow you to check-in and reconnect with your body, mind and spirit. The blog Pop Sugar provides a very reasonable and realistic 7-Day Smartphone Detox plan.

Monday – Unfollow people who are not your real friends, unsubscribe from unwanted email lists and delete unused apps.
Tuesday – Turn off push notifications.
Wednesday – Resist the urge to look at your phone first thing in the morning.
Thursday – Set up a charging station outside of your bedroom and don’t look at your phone an hour before bed.
Friday – Go out to dinner and leave your phone at home, or if you aren’t using it for directions, keep it in your purse and only use it in the event of an emergency.
Saturday – Spend the day not looking at or posting on social media.
Sunday – Turn off your smart phone the entire day, or only use it as your phone, camera or map. No texting, emailing, or social media.

Of course these are just suggestions, an experiment if you will, but the main take away is as often as we use our smartphones and possibly social media, a good break is needed and necessary.

As you disconnect so you can reconnect, I encourage you to take note of how you sleep, feel and function. Do your smart phone and social media affect your ability to get a good nights rest, 7-9 hours per night? Do they impact your self-esteem or affect your mood? Do you have more time?

Finally, often times I think that we tinker with our phones out of boredom and even discomfort, like when standing in line at the grocery store and not knowing what to do with our eyes. If you do, I recommend resisting your smartphone. Instead, look around, people watch and maybe even strike up a conversation and connect with the people around you. I know it sounds cliche, but offline is a luxury which provides a definite peace of mind!