(In case you missed my first post in this series last week, catch up on Wellness Wed Part 1 here.)
I can’t believe how much has changed in the course of a week. Last week I started this series with the simple intention to focus my energy on my priorities and values. After some deep soul searching, I decided to quit my part-time gig assisting with cooking classes and start thinking about ways to cut down on my use of technology (ahem…. I’m looking at you, iPhone).
Results from last week:
#1: It always amazes me how clearing out room in life creates space for amazing new opportunities. (Just know that I have some really, really cool news coming your way soon! 
)
#2: My simple decision to quit checking work email on my iPhone first thing when I wake up has made a huge impact on my mood. I mean HUGE. Since I live on the west coast, but work with clients on the east coast, by the time I check my email at 5:30 am, I’m usually flooded with urgent requests. It wasn’t until I quit doing this that I realized how much those emails were filling my morning with a sense of anxiety.
I had a bit of a relapse one morning when I was working from home and I thought it “wouldn’t be a big deal” to check email from bed since I was going to get up promptly and get on the computer anyways. But, guess what happened? I saw all those emails, got stressed, and then was grumpy the entire time I was showering and making breakfast because I was just in a rush to get to the computer and respond to everyone. After this incident, I realized that the only way to keep myself sane with my current job is no more checking work email during non-work hours and absolutely no checking email from bed.
#3: I’m becoming more present. This one still has a long ways to go, but I realized that just these few simple shifts have made me become more aware of not sweating the small stuff and taking time to really enjoy life. Which brings me to this week’s topic: detox from technology/be more intentional with technology.
Enter mini technology rant…
For someone who works at a tech company in Seattle, runs a blog, and is somehow considered part of the millennial generation, it’s pretty hilarious how much I dislike technology. Don’t get me wrong here – I am truly grateful for all of the ways technology is creating a better world for us to live in. In particular, I think it’s pretty cool how technology has helped disaster relief efforts to be more efficient and helped people to find lost loved ones (e.g. Google Person Finder). And, I certainly don’t miss the days of printing out directions from map quest, taking a wrong turn somewhere, then winding up completely lost in some strange town where I have to stop and ask for directions. This is the reason I have an iPhone.
However, I also think all these smartphones have robbed our generation. I was complaining to a friend a few weeks ago that I think the reason why our generation is more stressed out than our parents’ generation is because we’re expected to be everywhere, all the time.
There’s no more leisurely waiting in line at the grocery store – we’re all checking email! There’s no more casually reading a book on a bus – we’re all checking email! There’s no more just sitting in a park and enjoying the view or talking to the people you’re actually there with – we’re all responding to someone else on social media! It’s a bit redicious! And with the car accident rate rising due to people texting and driving?! Ugh, don’t even get me started… Ok, end rant.
My focus this week is to be more intentional with technology and use it to enhance my life instead of letting it create stress or be a time-suck.
Here’s what I’ve been focusing on this week in my technology detox:
Don’t check social media unless I really want to. Unlike a lot of folks who find themselves drawn to checking social media constantly, I always have to force myself to check it and it usually doesn’t feel good/natural to me. This week I gave myself permission to stop checking it and anytime I caught myself about to open the Facebook app on my phone, I’d stop and ask myself “Do I really want to look at Facebook, or am I just bored and/or feeling pressured to do so?” This simple moment to pause meant that I spent about 10 minutes total on Facebook for the week (mostly the Facebook page for this blog, not even my personal Facebook) and it felt productive and good (e.g. posting or responding to comments).
Note: if you find yourself distracted by social media or browsing the web, I’d recommend checking out the SelfControl app where you can block any website for a period of time. I also really like RescueTime because it will send you a report of exactly where you’re spending your time online so you can see where your personal downfalls are.
No iPhone usage after 8:30 pm. It’s not hard to stay away from social media or checking emails in bed if you turn off your cell phone every night. In order to make this happen, I had to stop using my cell phone as an alarm and I went back to using my rise-and-shine alarm clock. (This is the version I’ve had since 2012 and I love it, but if you’re looking to purchase one, it looks like their newer version is a lot cheaper.) The other nice benefit to this is that I’m going to sleep on time and I’m finding time to read more in the evenings (one of my personal values).
Be intentional with my iPhone. Not only have I cut back on social media and checking my email mindlessly, but I’ve become more focused on using my iPhone to enhance my life. In addition to my regular uses of using the Remember The Milk app for grocery lists, using the timer app for workouts, or listening to podcasts, I’ve been playing around with some new photography apps and apps that encourage you to move your body.
Additionally, I’ve started turning off my phone and putting it away when I’m at dinner or when I’m spending quality time with someone so there aren’t text distractions or buzzers going off. I know that managing technology in my life will continue to be an ongoing process, but I think I’m starting to get the hang of how to have a cell phone and a real life.
No mindless television. Okay, this is a big one for me. I’m totally embarrassed to admit this, but I have a bit of a television addiction because I really, really like to watch silly reality TV shows “in the background while I’m working.” I developed this bad habit awhile back when I lived alone because I’d turn on the TV whenever I felt lonely or whenever I started to feel grumpy because I was working all. the. time.
This past week I enforced a firm rule with myself: I could only watch TV while I’m walking on the treadmill. We’ll definitely talk more about my treadmill in a future post (because I pretty much think it’s the best thing ever), but what surprised me about this is how much more energy I had when I was actually focusing on work. Not only did I get more done in less time because I wasn’t distracted, but there were a couple of days when I found myself walking an extra 10 – 15 minutes because I really wanted to finish a particular show. Win-win!
I hope this post has been helpful and inspiring for you as well. If you have any tips of your own related to this series please add ’em below in the comments! 
Take care,
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