I hope everyone has been enjoying the posts about de-cluttering! Last week I discussed a difficult topic for some, the wardrobe. This week I’m going to take de-cluttering to the next level by
suggesting that while technology has undoubtedly made many positive
contributions to modern life, it may also be preventing many of us from achieving,
growing and living. By the way, this
is quite the revelation, coming from a former iPhone and Facebook addict! Clearly, I still have an affinity for
technology as I’m writing this for my online blog, and I’m not suggesting we
give up on technology all together but perhaps, for many of us, a bit of reflection
is necessary. Just as we need be
particular about relationships, food, and possessions, so should we be mindful
of how we spend our most precious commodity – time.
The Phone
I’m sure most of you reading this have a smart phone of some
sort. Maybe you’re texting someone right
now, in which case unless you’re telling them how awesome my blog is, then put
the phone down! In all seriousness, as
much value as smart phone technology brings to daily life, the dependence upon
smart phones can provide severe limitations and also detract from quality of
life. I doubt I need to go into “the
rudeness factor” as I’m sure most of you have experienced this by being put on
the back burner whilst your companion checks his email, returns a text (or 10),
or catches up on Words with Friends. In
my opinion, this is just plain rude, but unfortunately, this behavior is
becoming quite commonplace and, therefore, acceptable in modern society. As I have learned from my own experience, becoming
more mindful in these situations helps to gain awareness of one’s own
behavior.
Over a year ago I noticed I was becoming very involved in my
phone and decided to, for the most part, eliminate my use of the cell phone. I still carry my cell phone, but without a data
plan and now only use it to place the occasional phone call. It’s not uncommon for my phone to be turned
off for days, or even a week at a time. Very
rarely do I miss the ability to surf the web or look up directions, weather,
etc. I find that now I regularly engage
in more human behaviors like asking someone for directions or the time, and
carrying a book or journal with me if I know I may be waiting for a while. It’s refreshing to depend upon myself rather
than a machine.
If you would like to de-clutter the phone usage in your life,
please take a look at these simple suggestions:
1.
Become more mindful of your behavior. If you notice you frequently check your phone
for email or texts, or feel the need to respond immediately when you hear your
phone’s notification ring, take a step back and adjust your behavior. Unless it’s truly urgent (see #3), try not to
immediately pick up the phone, especially if you are in the presence of
company. On that note, if you are with
company and know you will need to answer a call or respond to an email, give
your company a heads up. This is a very polite
approach and tells others that you value their time as well as your own
business.
2.
Separate yourself from the phone for periods of
time throughout the day. Learning to
live without your phone or turning your phone off for a small time frame at
some point during the day can help with detachment, especially if you use your
cell phone all day for work. Dinnertime
is a great opportunity to turn off the phone, set it aside, and devote time to
the family, your pet, or yourself and enjoy a lovely meal, without
distractions.
3.
Learn when to classify communication as “urgent.” It seems these days everything is urgent…but
is it really? “Urgent” means different
things to each of us, but if it can wait, without negative repercussions, then
it’s not really urgent.
4.
Adjust the role of “phone” in your life. Some people use phones simply to communicate
with friends and family. Other people
use phones to play games, check out the App Store, text with abandon, surf the
web, shop and occasionally make phone calls.
Whatever your use for the cell phone, ensure it makes sense for what you
are trying to achieve in life. If the
hours a day playing games and surfing the web are making it difficult for you
to accomplish personal or professional goals, then perhaps it’s time to turn it
down a notch.
Television
As part of the de-cluttering efforts in our household last year,
we decided to severely downgrade our cable.
Now, notice I said we downgraded, not cancelled, because we just aren't quite ready to give up television all together.
I definitely understand how it can be relaxing to unwind after work with
a favorite TV show or watch a sports game at home over the weekend with
friends. However, it’s easy to become
caught up in it all, especially with DVR technology, as Dave and I learned...
It was earlier this year, after we returned from a week-long
vacation. While we were gone, we had
recorded a week’s worth of “our” shows, ready for us to view via DVR upon our
return. I felt overwhelmed, knowing that
we had to watch the previous week’s shows before the new ones aired that week,
lest we should fall further behind. As
silly as this may be, the sheer thought of watching all of these shows in a day
or two’s time actually stressed me out! A
couple of episodes in, Dave and I looked at one another, simultaneously sighed and
turned it off. A few weeks later we got
rid of the DVR, HD, and downgraded our cable.
As dramatic as it sounds, I immediately felt freed as I had become
somewhat of a slave to my TV. All of a
sudden, I had loads of time for other pursuits and no longer felt the need to
unwind with TV every night.
Activities
Entertainment comes in many forms, but I believe the best spark
careful thought and true appreciation. Sometimes
entertainment can involve technology, but all too often these forms of
entertainment can be consuming and mindless.
Try to balance technology in your entertainment activities. Instead of spending free time gaming or
watching reality TV or mindlessly surfing the web, try these ideas:
1.
Swap movie channels for a few quality films and
the theater. If you love the movies, why
not cancel your movie channel subscription and use Netflix? This way, you will look forward to just a few
quality films each week instead of watching movie upon movie from the moment
you get home to the moment you fall asleep every night. Even better, try attending live theater or your
local independent film theater from time to time to gain a different
perspective on acting and film-making.
2.
Enjoy the great outdoors. While I most certainly wouldn’t call myself
an “outdoor enthusiast” (hey, I live in Colorado, that title is reserved for
the truly obsessed!), I do love nature and enjoy a tame hike, camping excursion,
or fishing trip. If you are reluctant to
participate in outdoor activities because they aren’t your thing, start small
and take a little picnic or walk the dog through the park every Saturday.
3.
Get a hobby!
There’s quite a lot to be said for developing a hobby, something
personal and special to you. Perhaps
this hobby is crafting or writing or cooking or something sports-related, but
make sure it’s both mentally stimulating and rewarding.
4.
Read.
Seriously, it’s a very under-rated activity! Read whatever appeals to you, whether it’s a
book about home design or FDR’s biography.
Or both. Reading opens the door
to new ways of thought and helps to understand others. At times, read things you would not normally
choose or be drawn to.
5.
Frequent museums, festivals, art walks and other
cultural events. There are so many
wonderful people and things to be exposed to in these environments. Even if you are somewhat reserved, as I
normally am, I find a small amount of exposure to these sorts of events to be quite
fulfilling.
6.
Learn something new. This is very fun, as you can choose anything
you’d like! I’ve noticed there are
plenty of affordable classes around that teach languages, cooking, and various
crafting skills. If a class is not your
thing (it’s not mine either!), try teaching yourself or finding someone who can
teach you one on one.
My personal examples may seem a bit extreme to some of you
and an impossible idea for others, but I’m not suggesting that my decisions are
the solution for everyone. We all have
our own unique experiences and I appreciate that; however, I truly hope these
ideas have sparked some thought and inspiration.
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