Disconnect

I have a confession: I’m addicted to my phone. And by addicted, I mean, I must check my phone hundreds of times per day. I check facebook at least twice every hour. Instagram gets three checks every hour, or more, depending on whether or not I upload pictures. My email gets constantly checked because recently it doesn’t notify me when I’ve gotten an email and since I’m on the job hunt, I need those updates. I check pinterest “just because” and then get sucked into the world of idealism and compare my boring life to the pins I see of models and people traveling or wearing amazing clothes. Sometimes it’s just not worth it. Truly, I may find that I have more “me” time instead of filler time with my phone.

So, I want to disconnect more often. That does not include disconnecting from this space, because I am still trying to grow it and develop my writing style and improve my photography. At the same time, I need to step back from my phone. You know, turn it off, take a break, and sit out in my eno and read.

Turn.

It.

Off.

My palms just got sweaty as I typed that out. Last time I really disconnected was on the Fourth of July and it was so refreshing to just breathe and not worry about where my phone was. I felt like I had amputated a vital limb that was really dragging me down. Of course, when I got back to civilization, my phone was right back where it had been and it was as if nothing had truly changed.

I am starting to believe that in order for me to be successful in anything, be it blogging, my marriage, even my walk with God, my phone needs to take the backseat.

I don’t want to be “that couple” sitting at dinner, both too engrossed in our cell phones to really connect with each other.

I don’t want to be so busy checking my phone, that my quiet time and my prayer time with God really is nonexistent because I keep getting distracted by what I *may* be missing.

Lastly, I don’t want to be so busy checking out other people’s lives, that this space I’ve created really doesn’t go anywhere because I’m consumed by comparison and busyness on my phone.

That stuff out there, it really isn’t that important. People have lived hundreds of years without phones and the internet, and they survived and thrived. I don’t think I am prepared to get rid of my phone just yet; but I want to leave it off and go live my life.

What about you? Will you join me and spend the extra time you’ve gained in your day, letting yourself grow and learn and be profitable?

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