Winding Down in Technological Warfare
I spend 10+ hours in front of a screen every day. Whether it’s a my phone, computer, iPad, television - that’s a lot of screen time and a lot of screens.
Our technologically chaotic world started as a time saver and is rapidly turning into a time waster. I have found it constantly difficult to switch off particularly with the demands of work, life, play and a very long list of Instagram account faves.
I’ve started to implement a few different ways to ensure I’m switching off for at least a solid 1-2 hours per day starting here:
1. DO NOT check your phone when you first wake up in the morning.
Shake yourself out of your slumber without the help of your toxic blue lighted phone. Has the internet blown up over night and you’ve missed it? Maybe. Has Donald Trump said something else stupid or has Kimmy K popped it, locked it and polka dotted it, naked in a New York fountain? Maybe.
Stop. Relax. You’ll have all the time in the world to peruse our jilted news stream on your daily commute.
For now, make sure your alarm is calming and gently wakes you. My alarm song has been Dice by Finley Quaye for the last five years and it puts me in an exceptional mood every morning.
Make sure your window is open and fresh air is pouring in. Take a sip of water and start your day.
2. Set an alarm on your phone that dictates when you should go to bed and when you should wake up.
Apple does some good things. They gave us the hot pink nano iPod then the iPhone 7. But they really stole my heart when they emphasised the importance of the almighty slumber. New iPhone software allows you to answer a short questionnaire which determines how many hours of sleep you need at night, when you need your phone to switch off and various alerts leading up to that point.
I’m an 8-9 hour a night gal. Always have been. ALWAYS WILL BE.
My sweet little lullaby alarm goes off at 9pm every night alerting me that it’s time to start getting ready for bed. Off I go to Slumber Town.
3. Turn your phone on Airplane Mode.
Every night at 9pm when my magical lullaby hollers, I switch my phone to airplane mode. No incoming calls, messages, notifications, NADA. What freedom I have embraced. It gives me a solid 1 hour prior to sleep time where my eyes aren’t looking at a screen but instead reading, writing and winding down.
4. Turn your notifications off.
I genuinely don’t think it is necessary to have any notifications on your phone except for phone calls and messages. I’m sure we have all experience the anxiety of the light up, vibrate ensemble our phones perform at the mere sight of a Snapchat or Instagram like. GET IN THE BIN!
Phone on silent, notifications off. Reduce the noise and the disruption
5. That classic breathing trick.
You know the one, right? Where you inhale oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide. THAT OLD CHESTNUT!
No matter the time of day, I find it super helpful to be conscious of my breathing. When it’s resting, when it quickens, the ebbs and flows of breathing that often match how I’m feeling.
Put your phone down. Take three breaths and remember how good it feels when you’re brain receives oxygen and not a screen assault.
Repeat after me, I am not a slave to my screen…
I am not a slave to my screen…
I am a temptress to my screen…
I am a submissive to my screen…
I am addicted to my screen…
STOP. SCRATCH THAT.
Just make some time for you, yeah?