The Day I Forgot My Phone

The date was March 12, 2019.  It was what I thought to be just another Tuesday morning as I was in my car making my 30-minute commute to work.  But then, out of nowhere I realized… MY PHONE!  I had left my phone at home on the charger.  Dang it!  I was already 15 minutes from the house, so I began thinking to myself…

Do I really need my phone today?  I can text my wife from my computer and let her know that I left my phone.  I think I should be fine.

So, I strolled into the office that Tuesday with no phone, and I then learned a few things along the way.  Here are my observations and a few tips.

A Desk-Free Zone

I never realized how much I turn to my phone for no reason whatsoever.  When my phone is sitting next to me, it is a habit to pick it up and look at it every time I have a free moment or a pause in my work.  With my phone not being by my side, I instead would stop and think or pray or even rest.

Tip #1: Try putting your phone far enough away from you at work where you can’t reach it.  Make it hard on yourself so going to your phone is not the default.

Notifications Are Distracting

On this Tuesday I didn’t have my phone sitting next to me dinging or vibrating every time I got an email or text or call or GroupMe, etc.  No notifications of spam email.  No notifications on what time to have my son at baseball practice.  It was quite peaceful.  Adam Alter explains in his book, Irresistible: The Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping Us Hooked that “70 percent of office emails are read within six seconds of arriving.”  We live in a world where it is normal to be slaves to our notifications and feel as if we need to respond to everything immediately.  I learned that if I don’t control my notifications then they will control me.

Tip #2: Cut down on notification interruptions!  Go on your phone and turn off as many notifications as possible.  You can also remove the numbers that pop up on your apps that let you know how many emails you have, etc.  This may help you not be tempted to check and respond as often.  If you have a computer that you work on, you may want to shut down your email and schedule times during the day that you check and respond to email so that you are not always “on”.

Quiet Time in the Car

I don’t know about you, but I tend to be a podcast junkie.  Having a 30-minute drive to and from work is a great time to listen to podcasts (in 2x speed!).  However, on this given day, the podcasts were not available.  Instead I took advantage of the time and prayed over my trips to and from work.  It was sweet time with God, and I also noticed some of the beauty of His creation.  It is amazing to step back and take in what God has done and is doing.

Tip #3: Prioritize time daily to spend in silence and solitude before God.  Your drive to or from work could be a great opportunity to meditate on what you have read from God’s Word, pray, worship or just take in the majesty of God.

Focused Time Around Others

Currently, Unstatus Your Quo® is a small operation.  We work out of an office building with other small businesses, and it is not always the easiest thing to develop relationships with others.  When I bring my lunch, I usually go to the kitchen area to heat it up and then head back to my office.  In that area, I usually encounter people who are usually on their phones, and I tend to jump on mine as well.  However, with no phone in hand, I engaged in conversation.  I met a lady who was engaging in a new diet with her husband, and she began explaining all their new tricks.  I found common ground with her, encouraged her in her journey and made a friend.

Tip #4: When are you around others where you look at your phone instead of engaging in conversation?  Leave your phone in your office, car, etc.  Initiate conversation.  Find common ground.  Be awkward if you need to.  Build relationships and display the love of Christ to others.

A Slower Pace

The people around me know me as being super speedy.  As I mentioned above, I cannot listen to a podcast that is not on 2x speed.  My wife will describe times of me getting in “super speed mode” as I accomplish tasks around the house.  I remember back to a teacher I had in high school who said, “It is not about how much you know, but how fast you can recall what you do know.”  I really took this to heart!  I love working fast.  I love being efficient.  That can be great sometimes because I can accomplish a lot, and I can free myself up to invest in important things.  However, this “super speed mode” can also lead to an unsustainable lifestyle, and my phone contributes to that.  On this Tuesday, I was forced into a slower pace, and honestly, it was so much more restful and fulfilling.  Often times, less is more.

Tip #5: Find and plan times to break away from your phone.  You don’t always need to be “on” or responsive or know what is going on.  The world will be fine without you!

Forgetting my phone turned out to be a good thing.  I learned a lot about myself and where I still need to grow.  How about you?  Are you too attached to your phone?  Maybe try leaving it at home one day!

Noah

Need help taking small steps towards reducing and eliminating bad habits and starting better ones?  The Unstatus Your Quo® Growth Plan helps Christians clarify their purpose and take small steps to fulfill that purpose without making you wake up earlier! Start Session #1 for FREE by clicking HERE.