7 Ways To Really Disconnect

Have you ever thought about how much time we waste scrolling thru our phones?

We are literally turning into a real-life Black Mirror episode. These days, everything we do takes us twice as long because, due to social media, we need to document every. single.detail. Back in the day, I remember humans would stare at their little ones in the buggy and now I see humans stare adoringly at their phones while the little human stares back at the back of their hand. That might be me one day, who knows. 

There is a meme that says:

Do you ever get bored with your computer’s internet so you pick up your phone to see what’s happening on the smaller internet?  

Yes, I’ve done that. And when I realize I’ve done that I am completely flabbergasted by how ridiculous I am for doing that and it bothers me. 

I have a true love-hate relationship with social media. There are pros and cons to it just like everything else in life. Just the other day I took an aerial photo of my rain boots and groceries and posted it on Instagram. For a moment I thought to myself, this is so freaking dumb. I have so much to do and I’m standing in a parking lot taking photos of asphalt and it’s raining on me. Yeah.  

This brings me exactly to the point I am looking to make…I waste time on my phone. Sure a big part of my love for this blog is being on social media, but I am working on creating ways to spend time more efficiently on my handles...social media time management if you will. Things like taking photos or videos ahead of time, saving them and waiting until later to post in an effort to be more in the moment. 

One thing I am looking to minimize immensely, scrolling, Mindless scrolling. You know what I’m talking about. 

You’re casually checking Facebook and before you know it you are looking at photos of your coworker’s husband’s father’s cousin’s sister, Sandy, who lives in Toledo. Like, how did that even happen?! How much time was spent doing this?!

For months now, I’ve been getting irked by this all so I have been implementing changes in my social media behavior to keep me more present and less on my device.  

Here are ways I have been successfully minimizing my time spent scrolling and maximizing my time being present:

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Time management. 

I received a 15-minute hourglass in my stocking this year and I am in love. I use it often to help me avoid wasting time while getting ready to leave the house – ie. sitting on the edge of my bed going thru social media. Once the sand starts, I know I have those 15 minutes to get my act together. It’s great for meditation and carving time out of the day to read as well.

School of Life 15 Minute Timer

Personal assistant.

I find that even if I need to go on my phone for just a moment to do one task, I often end up scrolling, so, Alexa is now my betch. I listen to podcasts on her, check my daily headlines thru her so I don’t get stuck scrolling aimlessly, she adds things into my calendar and sets reminders for me. These days she’s in my office and I have her to set an early alarm for me in an effort to get my butt out of bed and into the workday earlier. It’s working. Having another device wake me helps me not start my day on my phone and so far it has been a beautiful thing.

Amazon Echo Dot

Screen-free bedtime. Sort of.

I am so freaking over my phone being the first and last thing I look at in the morning and at night, plus, I am dying to read some books so the Kindle Paperweight is my new bed buddy. Currently, I am falling asleep to All The Light We Cannot See instead of complete strangers’ faces on a social media app. Thank god.

Kindl Paperweight

A planner with goals.

There is something so nostalgic and old-fashioned about a day planner. These days there is an entire industry of goal setting/journal type planners that we go bananas for. The added luxury to a planner is that it keeps me from hopping around on my phone, has me actually using a pen, and allows a space for me to be creative, thoughtful, and focused. I worship my 2019 Ink+Volt journal. It has thought-provoking inquiries and goal setting, in addition, I love that they lay out the week starting on Monday. It’s an absolutely beautiful planner.

Ink+Volt 2019 Planner

Meditation.

Being a yoga teacher, I have the luxury of tuning into my breathing multiple times a day, however, I really need to get back to my consistent practice. Some days I’ll sit and breath on my own, but most mornings I like to be guided. I love the Happy Not Perfect app because not only does it have wonderful guided meditations, it’s also a gratitude journal. I adore that it also lets you share little notes of positivity and love to friends as well. Albeit a perfect way to get their name to more people, I have no problem sharing the meditation app love. All aboard to meditation station!

Happy Not Perfect App

Baths.

Baths are a favorite past time of mine. I’m making it a promise to myself to disconnect once or twice a week and set the mood. I am a huge sucker for dim lights, chill music (Enya or classical) a bath tray for a candle, book, and glass of wine (after sober January ends). Baths are one of the most relaxing things one can do for their body and mind. For my winter baths, I stock up on Aura Cacia’s Meditating Cedarwood Mineral Bath. It’s like taking a hot bath in a cabin next to the fireplace.

Aura Cacia / Meditating Cedarwood Mineral Bath

And lastly, books on the elevator.

I spend a good amount of time on an elevator and I have found that it creeps me out when all of the humans are looking down at their phones with zero awareness of any other person present. Why I think staring down at a book is any less rude, that’s the route I’m taking anyways. Personally, it’s to keep myself from scrolling and being a slave to my device. Plus, I can get a couple pages in on the ride up and down. At the moment, my elevator read is The Art of Living – by Epictetus. A very relatable manual on virtue, happiness, and effectiveness. Although a couple tips are a bit archaic, it’s brilliant.

Cheers to scrolling less and trying to be more present. Each day is a damn gift – let’s celebrate it & not miss out on it. xo, Lauren.