Less is More: Tips on Limiting our Device use

Hello readers! I hope you are enjoying your week. I'm happy to finally see a little sunshine after all of this rain. I don't know about you, but my yard is flooded!

If I had to describe this past week in one word, I would say it has been 'refreshing'. If you read my last blog post, you read that one of the things I've been trying to work on is limiting my phone use. This past week I significantly decreased my time on my phone about 75%. Writing that blog post was a blessing because it helped me hold myself accountable for the week. I didn't get on the internet for the entire weekend and the past few days I have been online less as well. I have noticed that just in this short period of time of doing this that I am experiencing and soaking in life more than before. 

Beside feeling refreshed, I have noticed other changes from using my phone less this past week: 

• I have been more clear-minded. 
• I am sleeping more AND sleeping better. 
• Edward and I have bonded more because I have been able to give him more attention. 
• I have been more patient. 
• I have been more on top of my housework. 
• More cuddle time with my hubby.

And this is just what I noticed in ONE week.

Think about it. How much of our daily lives do we waste on our phone? 

 

Between checking Facebook, our email, checking our trashy websites, checking the news, Twitter, Snap Chat, Zulily, etc. it can get out of hand quick. I can't count how many times at night before bed, at lunch, or in the morning with my coffee I have spent on Facebook for at least 30 minutes at a time.  Then there's that feeling of "crap, I just wasted the last 30 minutes."

 

Don't get me wrong friends.

There are some great benefits to using our phones/internet/devices that I will always take advantage of. Like, Pinterest for example. It has made my life so much easier! I don't ever see myself not using Pinterest. We can also find some great (free) workouts on the internet.  We can get directions, get definitions, check the weather, play music, and so much more thanks to the internet.

Some of you reading this may say to yourself "I rarely use my phone or check the Internet.  This blog post doesn't apply to me." If this is you, then pat yourself on the back! That is wonderful. I was talking to a lady from church a few weeks ago that told me she checked FB once a week. I was thinking to myself how I needed to do the same!

For me, the biggest blessing of being a Stay-At-Home-Mom is getting more time with my child. It's up to me how I spend that time.  Browsing the internet more than I should takes away from that precious time I have with my child. For you working mothers who want to cut back too, this will benefit you greatly as well.  I know your time with your children is very very valuable. For any individual-man, woman, teenager, married, single, etc- using social media  less will probably benefit us all.

 

Yesterday my mother and I were chatting and I mentioned to her about how loud the Flash Flood Warning was that went off on my husband's phone at 2am (TWICE!) the previous morning. Her response was "You keep your phones by your bed?"  To her, that made no sense, but for my generation, using our phone or other device before bed (I would assume) is the norm. 

What about our children's generation? How much more will they rely on their phones and other devices than we do? What will be the consequences of them using our devices too much? Their social skills? What about divorce rate? Will it increase? Obesity rate? How much of their lives will they miss out on? 

If you are wondering how you can minimize your use and want to do this as well, here are a few things that have worked for me this past week. 

1. Be aware of how long you will be on your phone.

For example, If you are on FB, look at the clock and maybe use your device for a smaller increment of time that you would normally be on. 8:00am-8:15am instead of 8:00-8:45 for example. If you find yourself texting or getting texts a lot, try to cut out sending some of the texts that can wait.  When we receive texts, we don't have to reply right then unless it is an emergency of course. 

 

2. Pick a time or times during the day that are best to designate for device use.  

For me, it's when Edward is watching his morning cartoon or before I go to sleep. Pick times that work out best for you and your family.

What if we check our phones and see notifications on our apps? It's so tempting to check them isn't it?! Let's do our best to wait until our designated times to check.

 

3. Don't take pictures of everything! 

 

Yes, there will be some awesome moments in our lives that just need to be documented. The problem with taking pictures too often is that we are in constant use of our phone. We are more likely to check our App notifications when we are using our phone for something else. We also owe it to our loved ones to give them OUR FULL ATTENTION. 

 

4. Leave your phone inside, in the car, or put it on silent if you have to. 

 

A lot of times to avoid phone use, I leave my phone inside when I take Edward outside to play.  If you can't leave your phone and have to have it on you, than putting it on silent will help. It's also good to let people know that you won't be available to talk during that period of time. 

 

5. Find something worthy of your time to replace the device.

 

Sometimes we have downtime. Times when we want to relax on the weekend. Time when the household chores are as good as it's going to get for the day. Times when we are back home from an outing. Times when our child is napping and we can't leave the house. This is a great opportunity for us to...

 

• Read that magazine that's been sitting on our counter for months.

• Reading that book our mother recommended.

• Planting some seeds or flowers.

• CALLING a friend or relative. (Yes, I said calling)

• Exercise.

• Revisit a hobby we enjoy.

• Cleaning the baseboards (Kidding)

• Doing a hands-on activity with your child.

• Baking your favorite cookies.

• Curling up and watching a new movie with your spouse/boyfriend.  

Just don't do this...

Or this...

There are so many more options we have than using our phones! There are so many more activities that we can do that doesn't waste our time, but yet helps us experience life. 

 

6. Don't be too hard on yourself.

Once again, let's be realistic with this. With any improvements or goals we have in our lives, we must know we aren't going to do them perfectly. There are going to be days when we didn't exhibit the self control we would have liked to. This is normal. The key to success with many goals is to keep going and getting back on track. Give yourself credit for making any change for the better even if it's just a teeny tiny bit.

Have a great week everyone!