Disconnect to Connect

I'm about one more idle scroll on my smartphone away from getting rid of it. I honestly looked up flip phones last night. Do you ever feel over-connected? Too accessible? Always available? I do. And I'm ready to put a stop to it.

I'm to the point where I need to disconnect from technology. Or at least give myself some healthy breathing room. I can feel my brain turning to mush as I mindlessly switch from app to app. Googling articles. Asking Siri to "name that tune." Following my GPS wherever it tells me to go, even when I know it's wrong. Looking at photo after photo of well-curated, digital lives.

Sometimes it literally feels like I'm addicted to my phone. Stressed? Scroll. Don't want to think about it? Scroll. Bored? Scroll. Avoiding something? Scroll. Can't think of something to say? Scroll. My phone has become my sleep mode when I can't bear to spend time with what's really going on inside my head.

Because I've become so fed-up with my smartphone and my dependence on it, I've started to think of ways that I can disconnect.

​I'm only on day three of cutting back on my phone time, but I'm liking how it feels already. At night, my phone goes on the charger in another room from around 6 p.m. until I wake up in the morning. And when I wake up, I don't reach for my phone to scroll for a wasted 10 to 30 minutes (I'm embarrassed to say that...). I get up, I meditate, I stretch, I get ready - and instead of watching a garbage TV show as I get ready - I watch TED Talks. At work, my phone is in my desk drawer and I check it only on occasion. 

Like I said - I'm only on day three - so I am not "killing it" just yet. But I hope to. More reading, talking to Joel, snuggling Madison, in-person hang out sessions with those I love - anything that keeps the phone out of my hand unless it's necessary.

They say actions become habits after twenty one days. Only eighteen more to go! I hope by disconnecting from technology a little more, I'll connect with the world around me in a more meaningful way. I'm going to disconnect to connect. Something I think we could all use a little more of these days.

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​Have you been feeling the same way and are trying to disconnect from technology a little more? If yes, please tell me some tricks you use when you're tempted to become a scroll zombie!