To be honest, there is some major resistance happening when I sit down to write about how technology is getting in the way of our mindfulness. This is most likely due to the fact that I am currently struggling in that department. As I am wanting to connect with more people online, I am finding it way too easy to be glued to one screen or another(mainly my phone because its oh so easy and portable) for the better part of my day.
There are obvious downsides to being engulfed in a world that is not part of our current, physical reality. Surely when our minds and hearts are attached to something we are reading online or scrolling through instagram for the millionth time that day(guilty) we are not also able to be fully engaged with what is happening right in front of us. This goes back to the previous day, single tasking. Our brains are not wired to maintain focus on more than one thing at a time.
For me this translates into deciding what my priorities are and then setting boundaries to protect them. Social media and technology in general is not all bad. Quite the contrary, I actually think it can be a really good and postiive part of life, but we must be in control of it and not the other way around.
I refuse to let my tiny little phone, seemingly so innocent, run my life or steal my precious time away from my kids. At times that is easier said than done, I will think: ok, I’m just going to hop on Facebook for a minute while they are distracted with something and that minute inevitable turns into way ore time than I had planned.
It is much more beneficial and a fulfilling experience when we are intentional about our screen time. Decide what works for you and your family, then stick to it. This ensures that you are able to be where your feet are exactly at that moment, not disconnected from what matters most.
For this exercise during the 7 mindful days, detoxing, or unplugging can look different for different people. For some it may be setting strict time limits on social media, or cutting it out altogether. Clearly, sometimes it is not realistic to simply delete it for the day, but sometimes it is. You will decide for you, what will truly help to reconnect.
The more serious you take this, the more benefits you will reap.
Action Steps
1. Focus on the ONE main piece of technology, or app etc. that you feel the most pulled to detox from( for me its my phone).
2. Decide on your boundaries for the day, write them down and stick to it!
3. When you want to reach for your phone or computer, find a real human to connect to instead.
Helpful Resources
Benefits of Detoxing from Technology
