Living on Less: Free Yourself from Your Cell Phone and Computer Weekend

For this weekend, let’s take our focus to probably the two most addictive things we all own…..a cell phone and a computer. Let’s take our “Intermittent Fasting” strategy to those two items. Remember from yesterday’s post about the little stressors in life adding up? Would you like more free time to not worry about things like email, returning calls, etc? I know once I shut off my computer and walk away, it’s like I feel 10lbs lighter (not in the sense of weight loss of course….but in terms of it weighing in my subconscious). Ok so here’s the plan, you choose what you want to do, but I guarantee it might be the start of something you will enjoy doing…and freeing up more of your time to go spend with friends, family, outside playing or whatever you enjoy doing. A rested and rejuvinated spirit will always be more productive and give you a new sense of happiness and direction in life. When you quiet the noise of phones and computers for a period of time….you may be surprised what you may be inspired to do or finally get some clearer vision of where you want to go in your personal/professional life. So this weekend….try to:

• Minimize cell phone usage. I know, we communicate with friends and family…but it’s become an excuse for many people to say they need the cell phone glued to their head because: “Well what if someone needs me in an emergency”? Really? How many real emergencies are you getting on a daily basis? If it’s not someone calling you for an urgent reason (and you can tell by the caller ID), do you still pick it up? Are you interrupting time with friends, exercise, doing inspiring work to answer the phone on every ring?
• Turn the cell phone on silent. You have voicemail….if it’s urgent people will leave you a message. Don’t jump at every ring, just go check for messages however often you want to….every hour…every 2 hours…..at the end of the day. Go put the phone down on silent in one place and walk away (don’t carry it with you). Feel free to do anything you want with your time now.
• Leave the cell phone in the car/at home when out with friends. Why do you need a cell phone with you? Is their company not good enough? Are you waiting for some better invite to come along? Are you really able to enjoy the moment you are in if you are looking down waiting for someone else to talk to? What signal does this tell the people you are with and how important their company is? Look around and take notice of everyone else wrapped up in their cell phone…and not enjoying whatever is going on around them.
• Do you really need to check emails on the weekend? How many times? Limit your computer time to checking it once in the morning if need be, get on, read your email, reply right then and delete (don’t save anything for later, file it or toss it), check out any websites you want and then turn it off and don’t come back to it till the next day. Shutoff the computer with no emails left for later (as you will have that sitting on your subconscious for something you need to do). Or better yet…..don’t check email for the weekend! Don’t worry….it will be there on Monday for you to read.

Break free from your addictions, don't be chained to them. Turn it off and go explore the world out there without distractions!

Honestly what you do with your computer and cell phone rests on you. You can choose to never use them on a weekend….or use them in short bursts. The key being this weekend, really become aware and take notice how much time and effort goes into your cell phone and computer usage…take control your time…don’t be under control by it. Try just leaving the cell phone in the car the next time you go out with friends, try not to check the computer for a whole day like Sunday and see if the world stops…I don’t think it will. Find some freedom back with your time….and find other more inspiring activities that can lead to a greater and more rewarding life. I get more work done if I know I have to check email and get off the computer in a certain amount of time…..than if I was checking it every hour during a full day (it’s called the “going on vacation” syndrome…you get more work done when you only have so much time and need to finish it…try it, it works!). Focus, get things done….and then go live the life you want. That’s the key, even for the most successful people who get lots of things done….they have plenty of free time as they just focus on the most important things to be done, do it, and ignore anything that isn’t important. Who knows, maybe this weekend can lead to better weekday habits, more focus with work, more productivity, more income, more success, more opportunities, and more free time to enjoy it all…..you never know until you take action.