Is Your Phone is Stealing Your Valuable Time?

Ok, I'm going to ask you to do something super simple real quick! Go onto your phone and go to settings. If you have an iPhone, scroll down to screen time and click on it. If you have another phone, I'll be honest... I know nothing about them! 😂 I'm guessing they have a screen time app in the settings as well! Now, take a look at your average hours a week and do some quick math on your calculator (or in your head for you mathematically inclined geniuses!) and multiply that weekly average by 52. Thats how much time you are losing to scrolling a year. 😳

How much was it? Days, weeks, maybe more?? How much of your valuable time are you losing to the mindless scrolling? It’s sobering. I know. I feel it too.

This month I am kicking off my first official newsletter (yay! click so you don't miss out!) and focusing on the routine of a self care practice and how to help you create your own personal mindfulness daily schedule, if you don't have one already. And this got me thinking and reflecting on what my personal routine looks like these days. Let's just say, I wasn't super proud of what mine looks like. I need a little refresher course in mindfulness and presence. If I'm being honest, and I always try my best to be, I've gotten a bit lazy these days.

I will be the first to admit, I’m totally guilty of getting lost in the scroll! Especially lately. And I realize, not only does it steal my valuable time, which is a precious resource for us mamas, but it steals my focus, my creativity, and my ability to reflect and learn and grow when I don’t allow myself that time to think and just be! It does that for all of us. It does not allow us to check in with ourselves. Instead, it has us checking out... spacing out... and often becoming discouraged by spending more time looking at other people's highlight reels. And if you didn't know this already, social media is designed to be incredibly addictive… which it is. If you haven’t watched The Social Dilemma, I highly suggest it. Oh boy, is it an eye-opener!

So here are 3 things I’m doing that you can do too.

1. I’m taking that number I found in my settings and cutting it in half for starters! If you dont have an app on your phone (for non iPhone users) that tracks your screen time, including social media, I suggest RealizD - which works for Android.

2. I’m practicing mindfulness every time I pick up my phone and asking myself, “is this important or necessary? Is this account someone I really care about or absolutely need to know something about?" I’ll tell ya, 99.9% of the time the answer is no.

3. I’m finding ways I can batch social media posting, emailing, and other photo activities without dragging it out all day by setting certain times to get that done.

Now, make a list of all the things you could be accomplishing in those days and weeks you are going to get back by putting your phone down and stopping the scrolling! Get creative, move your body, lunch with a friend, write that book, organize your closet, organize your bookshelf, paint, play with your kids, paint your nails, paint your kids nails, pick up a new instrument, pick up an old instrument, take a class online, get CPR certified... the options are endless! Now pick one and get to it! I'm going to go back to using my creativity! It's time to pick up a paint brush and work on a new fence mural!