In the final weeks leading up to our wedding, life was pretty crazy. While this was to be expected, I was surprised just how attached to my phone I felt like I needed to be. Plans were constantly changing and there were people to update and new details to figure out. Having my phone close by made me feel like I was keeping things under control. I realized just before the wedding that my relationship with my phone was getting a little out of hand. By the time our honeymoon came, I was beyond ready to break-up with my phone and unplug. So today I am sharing the warning signs that I have experienced and signs that you too may need to unplug from the technology in your life.
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.” – Anne Lamote
Signs You Need to Unplug
#1 – You feel the need to check your phone every 5 minutes or less! Whether this is an anxiety based action or just a habit, it is not normal to check your phone five times while you watch a movie or eat dinner.
#2 – You let your phone rule the present. If a Twitter or Facebook notification frequently leads you to cut a conversation off with a person you are spending time with, you need to unplug.
#3 – You have a panic attack when you leave your phone at home .. for fifteen minutes! I once had a mild panic attack when I went to the grocery store to get milk. I have also turned the car around to get my phone, even though it made me late to my destination and I had no real use for my phone. This may seem silly, but you will be ok without your phone while you grocery shop!
#4 – You imagine hearing phone noises or seeing notifications pop up on your phone. If you have ever think your phone is ringing or vibrating when it’s really not, this is a big sign you need to unplug.
What does it mean to unplug?
Personally, I think of unplugging like a spectrum. You can unplug for 30 minutes while you workout or for a whole day. Some days I’ll put my phone down in my bedroom for a couple of hours while I clean or do laundry. Other times, like on our honeymoon, my phone was in airplane mode for a whole week and I checked my inbox or social media accounts a couple of times.
For me, my 9 to 5 job and blogging require frequent social media, emails galore and phone calls. Sometimes my relationship with my phone can feel like a love-hate relationship. It enables me to accomplish so much and connect with so many people. But, it can also feel like too much at times — hello wedding planning — ha!
Technology certainly offers valuable ways for us to connect with each other, but it is possible to take it too far. Doesn’t it seem ironic to watch a group of friends or family members at dinner pick up their cell phones or tablets and proceed to sit together while they stare at these devices? Don’t get me wrong – I am guilty of this! And sometimes it is necessary. Sometimes there are emergencies and deadlines in life. But other times, on a normal day, I think it is important to unplug regularly.
Give yourself permission to put the phone down and enjoy exactly where you are and who you are with right now.
Looking out for signs that you need to unplug is key to ensuring your relationship with your phone, tablet, laptop or television doesn’t take away from the human relationships in your life. Technology should enhance those relationships, not take away from them. Lastly, I will add that everyone is different. You may need to consciously unplug every day, while others may be fine with unplugging every week or two. Test out the waters and see what works best for you.
Do you feel like you need to unplug? Have you unplugged recently? Do you unplug when you travel or when you do certain daily activities? I would love to hear all about the unplugging habits that work for you.
Cheers!
Sarah Camille
PIN ME!
These are really great tips! As hard as it can be, I know I need to unplug from time to time. I love unplugging by taking my dogs for a walk.
What a lovely post! These are truly are some tell-tale signs, my daughter recently freaked out because she left her phone in the car. Thanks for sharing!
This is great, I love seeing other people support stepping away from the phone. We always leave the phone off at dinner, and more and more I find myself just letting it die so I can have “time away”.
Excellent points…it’s amazing how our phone sneaks up on us and takes control. It causes anxiety! Great tips!
As a blogger, I don’t feel I have this problem, but sadly my boyfriend feels I am too engaged in my various platforms…perhaps that is an additional sign! When your loved ones ask you to stop for just one night!
I have been terrible at this lately. I do agree with you 100%, we all need to rest and unplug. The world won’t end because we took some time off. It will happen for me and soon.
Gonna recommend my girlfriend this blog for sure. She needs it. Thanks 🙂
I agree with you 100%. Almost all of my waking hours spent on checking emails, social media platforms, creating blog content, checking my phone. Being able to unplug from technology for a day or even a few hours every day is not only beneficial to our eyes (because of radiation) but also to our whole being. We can be able to appreciate our surroundings and our time.
I am there. I leave my phone off of my hand only when I am with my kid, which is half the day. The other half when I am working I am a total addict
Oh man! I have definitely experienced these warning signs. I definitely need to unplug. Thanks for the reminder.
I totally agree with this. Sometimes we just don’t realize how much we’re invested with our phones and tablets!
xo, Sondra
Cuisineandtravel.com
Great advice! I definitely need this. I need to take a moment and unplug sometimes. 🙂
I’m totally guilty of so many of these! I definitely need to unplug more and even have weekends where I leave the phone at home!
I think these warning signs are so accurate! It’s sometimes hard to recognize. This is a good reminder.
Yes to all of this! Unplugging is SO important. As a blogger sometimes it’s so easy to get caught up in the numbers game of social media – I’m guilty of that for sure. But I try to remember to unplug & be present with my family everyday, even if only for an hour or two!
great read! its very important to unplug sometimes. my husband actually told me to do so yesterday because ive been so caught up with writing and checking my posts etc.
OMG, all of those signs fit me!!! I am such a phone addict, and it brings more stress than I’d like, particularly as one of my jobs (blogging) revolves around my phone. I wrote a post last year about resolving to put down the phone, but old habits die hard. I do know that I need to do better about being in the moment and not keeping my phone glued to my hand.
This happened to me these past few months, I learned how to unplug myself from my phone. Its really helpful. Thanks for sharing
I absolutely agree with you about we should unblug the mobile phone for a period of time. I see when everyone put his phone aside the contact between the human will be better.
Hi hi, my phone broke up with me. He just decided that he doesn’t want to work anymore. So now I have an old phone until my new one will arrive :)) I think this is a sign that I should unplug.
Great post. I definitely need unplugging from social medias. Thanks for sharing.
I agree with unplugging, I usually do it a couple of times in a month because it’s amazing how technology can rule one’s life.
We all need to unplug every week for at least one day. Good to know about the signs lists 😉
Yes, unplugging is always a good thing. I agree with you. Sometimes we get caught up in social media and forget to smell the roses.
Ah, so it sounds like I definitely need unplugging 🙂 I now charge my phone in another room before bed and it helps not looking at it first thing in the morning and last thing before bed!
Thanks for this great post. I am guilty of most of the above on a regular basis. I’m starting to leave my phone at home at least when I go to the gym so i can take a break from anything electronic for a few hours!
Oh yes, I think we all need to unplug sometimes. That’s when I pick up a book. I love to read.