I’m one of those people whom is always busy doing five things at once. You might call me an overachiever but I enjoy accomplishing things to help other people. I have so many responsibilities that it’s difficult to find time to breathe or make time for myself. I’m incredibly happy with all of the things I do but once in a while I need to make time for myself and disconnect from the world around me.
It’s easier said than done but it’s so rewarding to disconnect. A couple of weeks ago I was sick for a week and then went on a small family trip the next week.
When I was sick, I made it through work every day but had the evenings to myself, especially because being around people was simply exhausting. I had no idea how I would spend all of this free time, but I did things I didn’t normally do. I thought about myself and let my mind wander when thinking about my future and who I want to be. I thought about the people in my life and how lucky I am to be surrounded by them. I wrote about the emotions I experienced and the ones I hope never to experience. I turned on Netflix to watch a movie and wasn’t preoccupied with all of the items on my to-do list. I took the time to relax and relaxation is what I needed.
When I was with my family, I put away my cell phone as much as possible––sparing a few pictures of scenery of course. Putting my phone away allowed me to take in my surroundings and focus on the experience rather than trying to capture it. I missed my friends and kept in touch periodically, but I didn’t want to be so caught up in parts of my life that I was not presently experiencing. Putting away my phone allowed me to truly appreciate the environment around me, the time with my family and the memories we were making.
I never think about how much of the world I’m missing when my nose in buried in my phone screen until I disconnect. I often forget to pause, breathe and take things in. I’m not saying we should all get rid of our phones for good––they are incredibly helpful to have for communicating with others, but I do want to challenge every one of you reading this to disconnect for a little while. It doesn’t have to be days, but try to do something you normally do, just without your phone. Walk to class without checking Twitter, go to a fair without taking selfies, spend time with the friends you’re with instead of texting the ones that are absent––do something without your phone. Stop. Take a look around at your beautiful experiences. I’d love to hear about them.
