Put that smartphone away!
Who or what wakes us up in the morning? What's the first thing we check on in the morning? What do you always have to have at hand? … There is only one answer to these questions: our phone!
The more often your phone makes a sound or vibrates, the more stress hormone is produced. And we don’t want that! Recharging yourself by disconnecting from your phone should be as natural as charging your phone on time. It's important to put your phone away because you can only feel truly connected to others and especially to yourself when you have disconnected from the digital version of the world we live in.
It's not about how often or for how long exactly you should disconnect from your phone – it's about building time into your daily routine when you're not preoccupied with your phone.
American Erin Zamett Ruddy spoke to several experts about ‘letting go of the phone’ and summarised their advice in a few small but feasible steps:
1. Keep your phone (but also your tablet and other devices) out of your bedroom. Take a few minutes in the morning to take a deep breath and think about your day. Only check your phone after you have done this.
2. Turn off all notifications, except from contacts for whom you always need to be available.
3. Remove all unnecessary apps, icons … because they only take up time and attention.
4. If you're on the road somewhere, put your phone away for a while. This way you are much more open to your surroundings, people and events. This helps to make you more aware of what really makes you happy.
5. Take a ‘tech time-out’ every day: better focus and less stress!
6. Make regular appointments with yourself: sports, a visit to a museum, an appointment with family or friends ...
7. During meals (at work, at home or in a restaurant) it's certainly important to disconnect from that phone! Agree to out away all phones. The first one to reach for it, pays the bill! This way you learn to become more aware of where you dedicate your attention and your time.
(MH with Skwadra by Tagtik/Source: Gezond Be/Illustration picture: Unsplash)
