Most of us have become reliant on all the electronic devices we carry around and have in our homes. We can’t even begin to imagine life without them. We carry our cell phones with us literally everywhere we go. If we accidentally leave home without them, we turn back around and go get them. Many of us wear smart watches and/or carry tablets with us. Many come home and turn on the television. We have become so accustomed to having immediate access to information that we have developed a dependence on these devices. Spending this much time connected to devices isn’t healthy though. Aside from all the other negative effects, it prevents us from having a quiet mind. It prevents us from connecting with Source and it prevents us from grounding. Making a point of spending time unplugged every day can have significant benefits.
It will likely be very uncomfortable at first but try turning off all devices for an hour a day. Spend that time initially doing the things you would usually do, but do them without access to any electronic devices. There may be certain times of day this isn’t possible so pick the times that do work for you. It will make it easier. Once you’re comfortable with this, begin to expand the number of times a day you do this and maybe even the length of time you do it. Use this time as an opportunity to quiet your mind and doing something that nourishes you.
For me, I didn’t like how much time I was spending connected to my various devices so I made a conscious choice to begin disengaging. My tablet is not only put away, but also turned off unless it’s in use (which is very seldom). I turned off all my notifications on my smart watch and finally stopped wearing it entirely. I’ve gone to non-smart watches exclusively. I don’t watch tv at all and don’t listen to the radio much anymore. I put my phone in the other room at night and am working on not having it with me as much while I’m not working. This is a little harder for me but I’m working on it. I still have as much access to the news as I used to but now I choose when and where it comes from.
Spending time unplugged goes against everything we’ve been conditioned to think and experience but 40 years ago, people navigated just fine. People back then didn’t carry phones with them and life still went on. They actively chose when they engaged with others by picking up the phone and calling them. They didn’t need the immediate notifications and the constant barrage of people posting on social media, the arrival of text messages, emails, and even weather alerts. By spending time unplugged from our devices, we’re being more mindful of when and how we interact with others. We’ve giving ourselves the opportunity to have more time to think for ourselves and do things for ourselves that nourish our souls. And from a health perspective, there is absolutely no down side to spending time unplugged.
See related posts: The Power of Choice
