Put your phone down, and what do you get?
Our little glass boxes are enticing… even addictive. So many of us have retreated from the real world. Our necks are craned downward, fixated on this device for hours. And then we wonder where the time went. But the real world awaits. It’s calling out and inviting us. Is it worth it? Should we lift our heads up? What do you get when you put your phone down?
Actual connection
Sure, texts, snaps, and tweets allow us to “chat” with whoever isn’t in the same room. But isn’t it better to engage with what’s actually around us? There are good times to be had, live and in the flesh. There’s nothing like seeing your partner’s face light up when they see you. Hearing your friend’s crazy laugh that always makes you laugh. A hug. A kiss. A knowing glance from a friend that you’ve known forever. It’s an active, open, forward-facing stance towards life, as opposed to withdrawal and isolation.
The beauty around you
Even if no one that you know is around, allow yourself to behold the richness of your senses. What will you take in? Those narrow rays of sunlight peeking through the clouds. The beautiful smile on an attractive stranger’s face… that smile may be meant just for you. The architectural marvels of an old building. Your discovery of a new song to be obsessed with. The energetic buzz and hum of city life. Or the precious silence that your brain craves. Whatever it is, it just might be interesting, relaxing, or even uplifting.
The wonderful world of daydreaming
It’s not just the external world that awaits; pulling yourself from the grip of that little screen can lead you to the wonderful world of daydreaming. It seems to be a lost art, right? But whoever said that it’s exclusively reserved for kids?
How often do you start walking with no set destination, just letting your mind wander? It’s amazing what you might come up within this unencumbered state: Fanciful musings. Play. A tune that you quietly hum to yourself. Memories of fun times that make you smile. Answers to issues or challenges that have vexed you for a while. And there may even be cognitive benefits; at least one study has suggested that daydreaming exercises working memory, enabling you to juggle multiple thoughts simultaneously.
Self-discovery
Where are you headed? What are you aiming for? What do you value? Do you like what you’re doing these days? Questions like these take time. To take stock of things and guide yourself, you need to free up some bandwidth. The answers may come to you on your bike. On a trail. On a sidewalk. Even on the couch as you sit in silence. The point is to let this part of your brain do its thing.
Self-reliance
What if instead of playful musings or meaningful questions, it’s worries that are on your mind? Perhaps you habitually turn to your phone as your primary source of comfort. Fear not, dear readers. When you put your phone down, you’re showing yourself some serious self-reliance. You’re teaching yourself that it’s okay to be alone with your thoughts. You figure out a way to get by, whether you’re taking a deep breath, accepting that anxious thoughts are going to happen, allowing them to be there before they float away, or telling yourself that it’s going to be okay.
Venturing into the great beyond
You may have heard a song or seen a video telling you to put your phone down. You may have noticed the frustrated look on someone’s face as they try to connect with you while your head is pointed down. You’ve undoubtedly read countless articles about screen addiction. It might sound preachy. But turning your attention to the physical world may be freeing, even empowering. So even if it’s just for a few minutes at a time, luxuriate in the openness. For those few minutes, your world expands beyond the narrow confines of a five- or six-inch box. From boredom, there may spring creativity and connection. You might find yourself enjoying your time more than you could with any app.