Turn off your gadgets once in a while, will you?

Hello!

Today I share my thoughts about electronics (cell phones, iPad, iPod, iwhatever)  and how important it is to unplug or stay away from them once in a while. We do live in a world where technology is pretty advanced. Who would have thought fifteen years ago than in 2015 people walk around with smartphones and pay their bills wherever they are, at any time with their phone with their finger? I did not. Another crazy example is that my two-year-old son knows how to swipe- on an iPhone. He just knows. He has his own iPad to watch his shows. I know, you guys, I did not buy him an iPad; it is my old one but I don’t use it anymore because I received a new iPhone. See a pattern here? New, new, new. Faster, better, greater! And this is why it is important to turn off the phone and be unreachable once in a while.

I am guilty as charged here. I do realize how many times I check Facebook, read the news, take pictures, Instagram my way through the day and look for new books and reviews. And this is all okay, too. But to be on the phone or computer all day long is just not okay or healthy. The first thing you reach for in the morning is your phone? Before kissing your partner good morning? Not cool! The first thing you put on the table at a restaurant is mostly your phone? Also not okay! While you wait of the waiter you can check your updates and emails quickly. Or share what you are up to, or where you are and take a picture of the location. And when the waiter comes you put your phone down, order your food and then you are back on it. Sad but true! You might have missed something. I might exaggerating a bit here, but also, really not. And the worst is, if you are on your phone constantly when you are at the restaurant with someone.

Do we have to use these gadgets to the extend we currently do? I don’t think so. And I also do remember the time when I received my first phone:

Remember these? I was so happy and took it everywhere I went – text messaging everybody. And before that? I was fine without a phone. It was all okay. I had my walk-man with tapes and listened to them. But what I did more than anything else was talking to other human beings in person. You met and you talked to each other. Without cell phone “bing”- interruptions. And when we scheduled a movie-date, you actually met at the theater and did not cancel via text message/whatsapp five minutes before. I am getting off on a tangent here. My point is that it is almost a must to unplug and to give yourself a break once in a while. And I am not talking about turning off your phone  before you go to bed. I mean, imagine a day without your phone! Crazy, no? Could you handle it? I know how uncomfortable I get when I don’t have wifi for a day or so. We all know Maslow’s hirachy of needs pyramid on basic human needs, right?  I would add two more things to it and my husband would agree:

I am trying to unplug from social media, my phone or sometimes even the entire world at least one day a week. But it is difficult, simple because I want to write to my husband to see what is going on with him in Congo. How did we do it before, I wonder. I do need my computer to maintain my website and write daily. However, I could schedule posts and articles in advance to have one day off. We do live in the 21st century and we cannot turn back time, obviously. We do have all these gadgets around so we might as well use them because they are helpful as well. But I think it is important to do everything in moderation and find some sort of balance. What I am working on is: If I play with my son, I play with my son. I am with him 100% and don’t play on my phone all the time. Nothing is THAT important ever. Unless you are a surgeon and need to go to your next brain surgery asap because you are on standby. Or police, or firemen. If I eat, I eat. I don’t want to check my phone while I enjoy a nice dinner at a restaurant. If I read, I read. To simply  not be available at times does not make the world around you collapse, you know? It is all okay. Try to turn off your phone for a couple of hours or leave it at home and see how you feel. The other day I was outside with my son and of course I was on the phone checking things while he played. My son comes up to me and says: “C’mon mama. Phone, bag!”, while he grabs my hand with his tiny one and pulls me along to the playground.I would love to hear your thoughts on this one.

Thank you for reading my blog.