the distracting phone
my bedside table essentials – styled by stef
Living a less-distratced life: recognising that my phone is one big “beeping” distraction.
Take a moment to visualise a bunch of parents and kids at the park. Now visualise a bus full of commuters making their way into the city, coffee drinkers at your local cafe, people waiting in line at the supermarket. There’s a lot of phones in that picture, isn’t there.
The smart phone has introduced so much convenience into our lives and, rather ironically, a significant amount of distraction, too. Many of us jump to look at the screen as soon as we hear a beep or a bling, we make notes, take photos, play games and get a real time look into everyone else’s lives (filtered in every sense of the word).
I’m guilty of it – quite guilty in fact. My phone is just a small version of my laptop; whenever I have it with me I’m basically carrying my work load around. If I take it into the bedroom at night and have it on my bedside table I’m spending the night next to a little device that omits some rather nasty energy. It also means I wake to distraction and work every morning – my phone is not the first thing I want to see when I open my eyes.
This week I purchased a little clock that now sits on my bedside table. It has numbers and hands and an alarm. It doesn’t omit harmful energy, it doesn’t light up, it doesn’t remind me about work, it doesn’t send me messages and it can’t take photos. It’s plain and quiet and simple – it fits in nicely with my collection of bedside essentials.
So: spend some time away from your phone, find a replacement clock for your bedside table, turn of some of your notifications and embrace the opportunity to be in the present moment – without distraction.
Read the series :Â practicing simplicity
I've recently done the same. I'm slowly, slowly trying to wean myself from my phone. I'll get there one day! x
I think my phone and I parted company around the time I became a parent, nearly four years ago. It became obvious very quickly that too many things were begging me for attention, so the phone went. I have honestly never looked back, and have such a different perception of cellphones now. Particularly when friends stop to read a message mid conversation, or spend the whole time messaging while we're hanging out. I love that I am off the phone grid. So freeing.
I am mobile phone free. When I moved back to NZ from our busy London life I decided not to get a phone, I wanted simple in all areas of my life. I'm busy with 3 children and find it very freeing not to feel tied to a phone. They are so addictive. My partner did buy me one two years ago as he is an avid user. It is still sitting in the bottom of the draw. x
I just have a really old phone. It doesn't do anything else but work as a phone. And it does take pictures but the quality is so bad. This was a deliberate purchase. I always purchase the cheapest phone with the least amount of do stuff technology.
We have no devices in the bedroom, except my kindle. Phones are put on silent. And definitely NO PUSH NOTIFICATIONS
Goodness, I can't believe that some of you can get away with no mobile. I'm impressed! Whilst I won't be getting rid of my phone any time soon, it's been a relief to strip it back to its basics – incoming/outgoing calls, text messages, instagram (without notifications!) – IG isn't a basic, I know 😉
I have had a bedside clock on my 'list' for ages to replace the phone (clock/alarm). Perhaps this week!
one of our house rules is that phones are left in the loungeroom at night.
i don't think i could sleep with my phone next to me anyway. x
That is a beautiful photograph and I want all of those things on my bedside table! I actually just bought a watch that has an alarm on it so that I can turn my phone off at night – fingers crossed it happens!
I have found in our house, that technology-free times, and sometimes days or weekends, do wonders to renew us. I quit Facebook in Feb last year and it has now been well over twelve-months and I am yet to miss the intrusion and distraction of it. 🙂
Whenever I go out walking or to the park with my son I never take my phone. I leave it behind a lot – going unplugged means I spend more time with my thoughts and present in the moment with Teddy. Much love xox
Oh, My lover often said that mobile phone makes people has less and less freedom.
I haven't have mobile phone for 5 years, and I'm fine:) With less things, I feel much more light and happy.
no phones in bedrooms and wireless turned off at night. we have an old fashioned (rather noisy) alarm clock 🙂 Love all your little bits and pieces. x
my hubby had been hounding me for ages to get rid of the phone from the bedroom. And it's been done finally… yep, quite freeing. But I found it incredibly difficult to find a normal, simple, old school (but not too noisy) alarm clock. I was surprised at how most shops assume that our phones are our alarm clocks. Anyway, found something that is doing the trick and am happier – and probably healthier – for it… xx
I quite agree with this. My cell phone's major role is as an alarm clock in the morning. Thankfully I am such a bad 'phone communicator that I am seldom disturbed late in the evening by a beeping telephone.
I too have writen a post about Proustian alertness… I think summer lends itself beautifully to living in the moment.
Warmest, sunny wishes,
Stephanie
I have yet to get a smartphone so I'm not in this loop yet. (I have yet to get a cellphone that takes photos!) I'm not going to lie, I'd love to get one, but part of me is glad I don't have one yet. The computer is enough distraction.
(And I just read an article yesterday about a study that found something like 20% of young people use their smartphones during sex. Say what!?)
I am loving this series Jodi. It's really speaking to me right now. I have actually taken the 'live without my phone more' challenge too recently. Last Monday I made the decision to only check emails/IG once in the morning, when Josephine is napping and then in the evening (and I'm trying to cut down the number of times in the evening too!) I am doing it more because I feel I'm missing time with Phiney because I'm on my phone in some way. It's been a relief to take a step away from it this last week and I'm definitely going to continue xx
I am really loving this series! I chuckled at the words "'beeping' distraction" because of how true it is. This inspires me to start using a bedside alarm clock again.
Great reminder that we all nee to unplug once in a while (regularly if we can!). I often find myself (whether intentional or no) without my phone, and the disconnect and quiet has a wonderful freeing effect on the mind.
Emily
Anyone got a good suggestion for a spiffy clock that doesn't click too loudly and is without a belligerent alarm tone? I'd love one with glow-in-the-dark hands. My 10 month old daughter works quite well as an alarm clock, for now. 🙂
by 'beeping' i trust me you mean to sensor the 'f' bomb. Very controlled, darling.
xo em
p.s hope you've made coffee today
x
can't resist a profanity disguised as a pun 😉 x
Today I accidentally left my phone at home when I rushed out for an appointment, and a slight panic ensued when I discovered this as I had left Everly with the grandparents and like to be contactable. I knew they could reach Mark in an emergency so that was a relief. Then I was meeting a friend for coffee and it turned out she was over 30 mins late (it's unusual for her to be late), so I found myself sitting in a cafe not quite knowing what to do, wondering if she was ok or if she wanted to meet elsewhere instead but couldn't reach me – all these things churning through my mind. Eventually I decided to order a coffee before heading home, and she turned up shortly after. It really made me think what we used to do before mobile phones existed! How the world has changed! x
It was only a couple of days ago that i was thinking about getting an alarm clock to put beside my bed. I've been weaning myself off checking my emails & facebook on my phone as it was starting to stress me out too much & i was spending far too much time in the online world instead of being present in the real world. I also don't like the idea of having a mobile phone sitting just one foot from my head while i sleep emitting goodness knows what, especially since i often have my 9 month old baby in bed with me.
Simplicity. Such an important concept that keeps getting forgotten. Lovely post!
I've been feeling this same way lately. Especially since I'm about to get a bigger, newer phone next month. I will take this advice heavily, and disconnect as much as I can! Thanks!
bwaterloo.wordpress.com
so true. the phone is like carrying a load with you everywhere. off to tidy the side table and make some more room to breathe. x
Oh, wow – I've just done the exact thing, ditching the phone beside the bed and replacing with an alarm clock/radio thingy. It's definitely working so far, two nights in. Fingers crossed for better sleep…
This post is fabulous. I'm loving this series, and think that we are far too caught up with technology. I wonder what our children will think of it when they grow up!!
do you know jodi i have never got the mobile phone thing! I only ever run with mine to snap running pictures (and it's ancient not a new fangled one with a great camera!) in 3 years I have only used 1 minute of call time and sent 3 texts!! i am not guilty of distraction with a phone xxx
I lost my phone last week and after the initial panic (why?!) I really enjoyed it. When i found it hidden in by sock drawer five days later, I was actually abit disappointed. It's kind of an added pressure being so overly contactable in this age!