Time for a real conversation?🕒💬
Re-posted from Priya’s article on Fx Med - link to original article on fxmed.co.nz
Yes we are all aware too much technology is not good and yet we use it everyday.
Yes we have apps that remind us of our usage, but you ignore the reminders, or opt for another device…
We live in a time where EVERYTHING is competing for your attention, for your precious time. Mindfulness becomes mindlessness. I mean, we now need a watch to tell us we had a good sleep!
Makes me wonder if kids these days even know what daydreaming is?
What if I told you that the first step to mindful living is about finding a sustainable balance … by un-plugging, un-watching, un-touching screens.
How?
In this mindful movement, if I can call it that, it’s about being more aware and conscious…almost meditative.
Back to the topic, time for a real conversation…. my husband and I found ourselves having dinner in the lounge watching Netflix… we didn’t realize how much time we were generously volunteering to that large black rectangle on the wall. That was until our internet provider decided to take a break one evening and we finally had a real dinner.
Firstly, I noticed I could hear my chewing!! I also noticed how present I was with my food, and how much more present I was with the love of my life and how much gratitude it brought me. We even dusted off a board game set and rolled some dice (remember those things!).
Thanks to the disruption to our WiFi connection, we then permanently adopted what we call “Tech-free Thursdays”. You have to remember it’s about taking baby steps…
We decided every Thursday not to switch the TV on, no phones within reach of us, and actually eat a meal together like they used to in the good old days.
Having dinner was not just mindful eating … no, we had reclaimed mindful peacefulness. As the weeks went by, we looked forward to Thursdays, actually conversing, creating an experience that we enjoyed.
What did this turn to? We are now not having dinner and watching a distraction at all. It felt liberating to claim that time!! My advice is try it.
These are a few small steps to get into Tech free day:
Discuss with your partner/ house members/kids that you pick a day and set a time from which no technology is used. Instead of the news, talk about your news – catch up on how the days events went, play a board game, go for a long walk with your furry friend.
From a certain time at night/evening switch the Wi-Fi off … YES!! You read it right, I know it feels strange. You will be at such peace when you realize and sense the actual freedom you feel.
OK, here’s the big one… ready?
Switch off your phone data, or switch to flight mode, and put them in the kitchen drawer – out of reach, out of mind – more space for mindfulness!
No seriously, no one is going to fall off the face of the planet if you don’t reply to them within the next 5 seconds.Swap out Facebook for putting your face in an actual book.
Let’s be honest, you just have to reclaim that value and your time back and you have to start it today!
You have a take a small step and then you will see the difference and the ripple effect will occur.
On a side note, I have now stopped placing my phone beside me while asleep, every day of the week. I leave it in the kitchen and look at it after my morning ritual and self-care :)
My day now starts with an actual old school alarm clock, mindful gratitude and meditation, simple Wi-Fi-less wakefulness, and it makes all the difference!
Happy tech-free day!
With gratitude
Priya Birdi