Hands-Free, Hearts-Full

Five ways to get out of your head and back into your life.

Technology has helped us in so many ways. It’s ushered in a new era of work for one thing – with almost half of the US and UK workforce now consisting of freelancers¹. This is mainly thanks to technology allowing us to stay connected whilst being physically absent from the office.

But the flip side of this is that we can also feel more disconnected than ever before. You see, although we may have more friends on Facebook, we’re generally lonelier than ever².

With 85% of us indicating that we spend over 30 minutes on social media every day (in a recent Wonderful World Survey done on Home Tester Club), this is an issue that hits close to home. As important as our devices are, they’ve become weapons of mass distraction; side-tracking many of us from the power of really being present to the present.

So what’s the solution? If endlessly scrolling isn’t as fulfilling as we all had hoped – what can we do to get our hands a little freer and our hearts a little fuller? Here are 5 tried-and-tested tips I’ve gleaned from multiple studies and experts. Scan over them, then join me in putting them into action in the comments below!

1. Start by deciding to be all there.

To be really present to wherever we are and whoever we are with is much easier said than done. That’s why it’s a decision we have to consciously make… to refrain from living vicariously through other people’s stories, to stop beaming ourselves out of our present situations as a means of escaping the mundane or stressful. And to start bringing all of ourselves (mind, heart, not just body) to every moment we find ourselves in. This may sound pretty straight-forward, but look around… it’s far less common (yet more rewarding) than you may think.

For further motivation, check out Simon Sinek’s compelling message on the subject of smartphone addiction and why it’s so pervasive.

2. Consider not having social media on all your devices.

This has been a small change that’s made a big difference in my life. I still enjoy checking social media, but not having it on my phone has given me the healthy breathing space I didn’t even know I needed.

3. Start a no-phones-at-the-table policy.

This one’s going to make you wildly popular at the office and at home, I know. But the rewards are worth it. And the research in its favour is stacking up. Pile the cellphones in the middle of the boardroom table during meetings, or in a box when you’re having dinner. That way, people will be switched off to the outside world and switched on to the people and ideas around the table. Many high functioning companies like this one have begun to do just that. Perhaps it’s time to follow suit.

4. Switch off to really switch off.

You’re going to hate this one too, but here it is anyway: don’t go to bed with your phone. Oh, I know –who doesn’t go to bed with their phones these days right? But truly, more and more studies³ are finding that the light emitted from our devices has a devastating effect on the quality of our sleep (not to mention our sex lives⁴). Get a good old-fashioned alarm clock and rather leave your phones in another room. If you simply must have it beside you, turn it onto airplane or sleep mode.

5. Occasionally, switch off stronger.

Apart from the already-mentioned moments in your day when you untether yourself from your devices, make plans to radically switch off from technology every now and then. For most of us, this will only happen when we’re on leave and we know our family is either with us or safe, but when those blue moons occur – make them count! Leave an out-of-office reply on your emails and a similar one on your phone and social media accounts, then enjoy the forgotten thrill of the truly hands-free, heart-full life.

What about you? Are you keen on trying any of these tips out yourself? Join a Mumversation below and let us know if you’re all in. Then check back in and let us know how it’s going and what changes you’ve noticed – we’d love to hear from you and feel a little more connected.

Written by Julie Williams: Lifestyle Editor

Sources:

1. CN Traveller estimates that by 2020 around 50% of the UK and USA workforce will be freelance.
2. According to https://www.abc.net.au/health/thepulse/stories/2011/11/03/3353184.htm.
3. https://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/09/health/smartphones-harm-sleep/index.html
4. https://www.menshealth.com/uk/sex/a758419/why-your-smartphone-is-affecting-your-sex-life/