We live in a busy world where phones, and computers, tablets, Fitbits and laptops consume us. Electronics are everywhere and their beeping away like crazy. Before we could even take a breath another new notification or email is coming through and we're on these things that drain us... These things that take away our energy, our mindset. These things that make us feel like a crazy person - we give more time to!
Well I'm saying NO!
I've said NO to this bizarre way of living for a few years now - and I can tell you this. It FELLS SO GOOD!
I'm not here to make the typical scientific blog that you see all over the internet with facts that you may or may not know. I'm here to tell you what I've personally experienced being on my phone way too much vs. being more present in the day to day. And I hope that with that, maybe you'll feel inspiration too and say "Yes, I want to be more present. So I'm going to say NO."
I'm here for you. You're not alone and you can do this... ❤️
You see, the crazy thing is - in this day and age it's really hard to try and disconnect yourself from the internet or from your electronics without worry because people think if they haven't see you "active" on Facebook, or post for a while on Instagram, are they okay? Or, if you don't send multiple text messages daily, video call, or live chat that something is not right. This is a crazy misconception. Why can't I just be more present in my daily life? Why do I always have to be attached to my phone for you to know I'm alright, RIGHT?
This is exactly how I felt because I WAS that person...
I'm going to tell you a story. When I was about 22-23 years old I had friends and social media and I was the normal young adult that I guess made social media and my phone a priority. (I just met my now husband). I was on social media and texting more than I ever was because I had friends who constantly wanted to go out / wanted to make plans. I had my new boyfriend (who is now my husband ☺️) and I didn't want to stop texting him. I had my Instagram page, Facebook page. I was always on my phone day and night.
And I noticed so many things... For starters:
I couldn't sleep.
I was up all night and exhausted all day because I couldn't put my phone down. As much as my eyes were so sick of looking at that screen, and my body wanted rest at night, if I put my phone o on my nightstand, turned the other way and tried to close my eyes - a couple of minutes later it was back in my hands again because in my head I knew I wasn't going to be falling asleep anytime soon, so what else is there to do?
I was always anxious...
This one always gets me. I swear, I never correlated being on my phone too much with anxiety - but after talking to my doctor, she said anxiety is a top concern in people with high phone usage. I was shocked. My poor nails suffered a lot of biting and it's a habit to this day I'm trying to fight / get past.
I was irritable, moody, and I snapped at people if I was in the middle of "sending something important".
When I think about this and how many times it happened, I feel like such a jerk! I don't know why, but being on my phone made me be this person I didn't want to be in every sense of the way. If this is true for you too, you need to be more present. You need to ditch those old ways and find a new way of living, stress free, unplug more and unlock your better self because there is nothing like it, truly!
I was unaware of how much I was eating.
If there was food beside me, I would just grab, grab, grab, take, take, take. With no care in the world or recognition of just how much I was putting into my body. I don't even think I recognized when I was full. Because I was mentally distracted, so I gained a bunch of unwanted weight that became really hard to events get off. I was so cluelessly unaware...
I went for walks and left my phone at home...
When I started feeling and actually noticing the sun on my skin and the breeze in my hair, without my phone anywhere near me - it was uplifting. It was a feeling I'd never be able to explain even if I tried. My heart felt healed. I felt like this brand new person. Like I was a newborn baby breathing my first breath. It was just - something I wanted to continuously keep doing. I went for walks every single day without my phone, and it gave me so much peace!
And then I started going to the grocery store, and Target, and pretty much anywhere and everywhere without my phone.
I'd just leave it on my dresser. And this is where my family, friends and now husband started to get concerned. Because I "disconnected". I set myself free. When I told people this, no one understood. The only one who got it was my now husband. He would check in from time to time but not bombard my phone with messages. Or, he would show up at my apartment unexpectedly. Everybody else made me feel like I was a crazy person doing this alone.
I'm 29 years old currently, and I'm at a point in my life where I actually hate my phone lol. Isn't it funny how it goes from one upside to the next? But, I could go all day without even touching it. I'll just leave it in my room, still be in the house, but just leave it in my room and not even be phased by what's on the other side of the screen.
I will forever tell someone to always take the chance to unplug whenever possible because it truly makes a difference in your emotional, physical and mental health.
You deserve so much. Never let any electronic take more from you than it needs to. Say NO when you need to, and yes to unplugging, downtime, and being more present because you are worthy! ❤️
Until next time,
Jess
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