How to Unplug

This Friday is National Day of Unplugging.  Our devices are the tools that help our world go round.  They are amazing and miraculous.  And, they are amazingly addicting.  Answer this: When you suddenly have 10 minutes with nothing to do, what do you do reflexively?  If you’re like the majority, you’re reaching for your phone.

Did you know the average smartphone owner unlocks their phone 150 times a day? 

In my world as a chiropractor the ramifications of this that I see daily are very real: frazzled nervous systems and a ramped-up stress response, with constant input and little time truly at rest.  Not to mention the epidemic “tech neck” that is a problem for adults and going to be an even worse problem for our youth as they age with their devices endlessly in hand.   

Sometimes realizing how much our smartphones control our lives and impact our health makes some of us want to pick up a flip phone and ditch the “problem” altogether.   But alas, the smart phone is still such a great tool.   You don’t need to give it up altogether, but using this National Day of Unplugging as a cue to step away from the tiny screen and into your life could be a small step toward loosening the hold it has on your attention span and moving toward greater balance.  

Here are a few doable ideas for how to unplug on National Day of Unplugging!

-Leave your phone in another room or Physically turn off your phone (what?!) for an hour, without turning on your tv, computer, or other device.   Journal about your feelings of panic about what is going to happen in the virtual world if you can’t check on it (joking/not joking)

-Keep a piece of paper handy to write down all of the things that you think of that you think of that you have do on a device. 

-Read a paper book (smell the pages)

-Get off social media and make plans to meet a real Friend in person (Tell them you "Like" them... but maybe don't "follow" them) 😆

-Go for a walk in nature.  (Take in the 3D sights, sounds, and smells)

-Sit quietly and meditate on something meaningful to you, breath, move, make music, write poetry

Consider making time daily or weekly to create more space to live your life in the world around you.  If you find that there is emotional content that you need help with, don’t hesitate to reach out to a trained professional.