Based on the title, you can probably take a wild guess at what this is about. Yes, that is true BUT I challenge you to do more than shake your head in agreement or disapproval. Try it out for once. If there were a package disclaimer, you would read something like “guaranteed to change your life.” Minus the lawsuit. Let’s see…

Take a day off from the screen. That’s generic, but don’t worry, I have ideas. Putting away your phone/device is much more difficult than it seems. Try it. Right now. Take your phone to the other room and leave it. Walk away. How many excuses went through your mind about why you can’t leave it that long?

• I’m expecting a call from someone who can realistically wait an hour for a reply.
• There are notifications that need to be cleared…from people also glued to their phones with updates that don’t matter.
• My battery is low (at 50% or higher) and I need to make sure my phone is charging.
• I need to check the time. What is a clock? Okay, I need to check my calendar.
• My habit tracker or tasks manager is pinging. You know, the one that I swipe away until tomorrow…or next Thursday.
• Some other trivial reason that never mattered until this moment.

How many of these reasons resonate with you? How badly do you now need to participate in this challenge? If none, then how anxious did you get by being 10 feet away from your phone for five minutes or more?

That’s why it’s a challenge. Humor aside, there is a real problem with our attachment to phones. As I write this, I watch a documentary called The Last Tourist. Perfect timing. Warning: you will get very pissed off if you’re an animal lover or environmentalist.

Think about the last time that you traveled. Have you ever left your phone? If safety were not an issue, would you leave it then?

The basic concept of the documentary is that people don’t travel for the experience anymore. We travel for likes, followers, to become viral with the best photo, and to promote any place that we visit (for free). So much time is spent on trying to capture anything social media worthy that everything in-between is missed.

I use “we” loosely. I do not have social media and have not for nearly a decade. I did try for a bit but quickly realized that I was still not missing anything and it only made me feel bad about myself. There isn’t much that’s “social;” about it at all.

Attachments are difficult to break. Habits are hard to develop. You have to be realistic with the expectations that you set for yourself. If you’re someone who does the following with your phone, then you should start off small:

• Eat breakfast, lunch snacks, and dinner
• Shower, and use the bathroom
• Read (not including using the phone for reading)
• Go for a walk/exercise
• Driving (not including directions/GPS)
• Sleep (phone is within reach)
• Walk from one room to another

Start Small. Begin with 30 minutes (or 10 if the points above describe you fully). Introverts and extroverts may have different ways to approach this. Again, be realistic. Breaking away from your phone should not require spending money. Find things that you can do at home because that is when we are mostly distracted by the phone.

• Read
• Write
• Draw/paint
• Pick up that project you’ve been putting off
• Go for a nature walk
• Play soothing music
• Cook something from ingredients around the kitchen

How many times have you been out somewhere and noticed a couple both on their phones? Silent. Or, a group of friends and all five of them are on a phone. Sitting in a waiting room, the same thing. I was recently at an event and a guy was standing next to me scrolling through his phone. I was curious about what could be so important.

Nothing.

He scrolled through Instagram. Exited. Scrolled Facebook. Exited. Scrolled Twitter. Exited. Pulled up Google, didn’t search anything. Exited. Checked notifications. Nothing. Checked Instagram, and the cycle continued.

It was pretty sad to watch.

When we look at our phones, it’s just that, we’re looking for something; anything at all to feel needed or worthy of someone’s attention at that moment. How could we possibly enjoy the company of others, online or in-person, if we can’t sit alone with only ourselves for more than ten minutes without needing that validation from a phone, a distraction?

Change starts within ourselves. If we start small with just 30 minutes a day, then we can increase that to an hour, a few days, and ultimately, daily. You no longer have to worry about being that friend or spouse dedicated to a phone. Committed to a virtual world that does not know you exist.

Remember what is important in front of you. Self-care starts with self-awareness. Be realistic with your approach but do not put it off any longer.

Join me for No Screen Saturday, or whichever day you choose. Empower yourself. Initiate. Implement. It’s all a mindset and you have everything that you need.

You will be unstoppable when you notice the world around you and the opportunities that are often missed! Happiness guaranteed. Subscribe below!