Next Time I’m Leaving My Smart Phone at Home

I keep lots of gadgets around; I love them. Too much, I think. No matter where I am or what I am doing, I usually make sure to check my smart phone for any messages, keep tabs on work, catch up with online friends I’ve made from all parts of the world, post my status, etc. It’s great that I can do that from just about anywhere – even when hiking in the hills around my home in Kentucky.

It’s also a problem, because I do it too often. If I’m not careful I can get caught up in the sea of data streaming in from my friends from all over the planet and can end up focusing on that instead of things right in front of me. Sure, it keeps me “informed” but what did I accomplish? Where was I all day? Was I in the moment? Or was my mind scattered across the Internet?

I didn’t really give this much thought until a couple weeks ago when I was on a trip to the lake with some friends and forgot my phone charger. Worse, I didn’t realize my blunder until the phone battery was almost drained. By the end of the first day my fancy “smart phone” was neither “smart” nor “fancy.” It was just a chunk of silent plastic. I figured my weekend was ruined.

But, I was wrong. First, without my phone by my side, hiking in the woods, walking along the lakefront, even sitting on the deck was more enjoyable. I wasn’t spending blocks of time staring at my phone, typing notes, etc. Instead, I was taking in the beautiful surroundings and talking with friends who were right there with me. I was actually more relaxed, more focused, and – in a sense – more productive. I enjoyed myself very much.

Sure, at the end of the day I would sneak away for a few minutes to fire up my laptop and check my mail, etc. But overall I spent much less time online; and much more time in the here and now. And by the end of the weekend I was relaxed, refreshed, and ready to tackle the week ahead. I was also ready to make a promise to myself. I vowed that the next time I went on a relaxing weekend trip I’d leave my smart phone at home.

Written by: Mike Amundsen of Conecture Technologies, LLC