Last Updated on October 19, 2017 by Karen
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #WellYesMoment #CollectiveBias
Here’s what I learned from breaking free of smartphone habits and better balancing my life both online and off.
It’s inevitable no matter where you look. At the coffeeshop, on the morning commute, at the grocery checkout — everyone seems to be checking their smartphones.
Recently I went on a vacation with my sister and about two days into our trip, I realized she was on her phone all the time. At breakfast, at dinner, right before bedtime, and even the moment when she woke up, she was always looking at that bright screen. Confession time: those were the same things I did before I decided to break the bad habit of overusing my smartphone.
That being said, I had a “moment of yes” because I realized what a long way I have come!
Every summer when we head to the cabin in Wyoming, there are several days when we have absolutely no Internet access and phone signals. At first, it felt strange because I didn’t know how to fill the spare time when I couldn’t constantly check on my phone, but after a while, I realized how therapeutic it felt when you’re not checking what other people are doing. Besides, we could all use a few minutes away from our phones, right? Who knew “unplugging” could do so much good.
So what did I learn from saying yes to unplugging from time to time? One thing for sure, I don’t need to be on my smartphone all the time.
I read more. Sometimes I go hours without checking my phone and even days without checking my social media apps. I end up spending my spare time reading books I have always wanted to read instead of mindlessly watching videos on my phone.
I sleep better. Whenever I wake up in the middle of the night, I check my phone and find something to do whether it is checking emails or reading news. I become more and more alert, and then it becomes harder it was to fall into sleep. Now that I’ve kicked this bad habit, I find that my sleep becomes more restful and insomnia more infrequent.
I become more attentive to people. I find it so much easier to enjoy the company of my friends and family when I am not distracted or interrupted by the message notification sound. I can focus solely on listening and talking, and having an engaging conversation with people I’m with.
I feel fully present in my life. Instead of looking down at my phone, I’m looking at something else in my environment. Maybe it’s the beautiful scenery, the sunset, or the friend who’s sitting right across from me. I enjoy my meals fully, rather than mindlessly eating while trying to multitask on my phone.
Today I practiced unplugging by enjoying a bowl of Well Yes!® Italian Vegetable with Farro Soup for lunch. It feels great to not worry about notifications and responding to messages quickly, and I even had time to take a walk after lunch. I don’t realize how much my phone bothers me until I actually put it away for a little while. I was able to savor every bite of my lunch – these are all Moments of Yes for me!
Well Yes! soups are all crafted with care and non-gmo ingredients, and do not contain artificial flavors or colors. It’s easy to say yes when you can choose from delicious flavors like Chicken Noodle and Tomato Carrot Bisque. I also love that Well Yes! soups are made with nutritious ingredients, like chicken meat with no antibiotics, sweet potatoes, kale, and quinoa. Plus, all of the soups contain non-bpa lining so that’s a bonus.
Just say yes to the good stuff so you have what you need to say yes in the rest of your life. That’s right, make confident choices and celebrate your moments of yes!
Remember, your phone doesn’t have to be on all the time and you don’t always have to answer it right away. I am proud to say that I’m in full control of my phone, and don’t let it control my life.
Do you have a smartphone habit too? Have you considered saying yes to unplugging?
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Say no with ease and grace. It makes it possible to say yes to the stuff that you are trying to fit in.
I say Yes by being conscientious of my daily choices and ensuring I look out for the best interest of myself with proper diet and avoiding negativity in any form.
Say yes with respect and understanding.
Six years ago, while pregnant with my youngest son, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. I was forced to suddenly make some pretty serious decisions for my health and for my son. Now, I am dedicated to managing my health so that I can see my kids grow up and be there to be the mom they need.