What do you give your attention to in a day?
Let’s attempt to answer this question with honesty.
Do the things you give your valuable time and attention to in your day reflect your top priorities or do you find yourself getting distracted by the less important things—your phone, your email, the latest notifications on social media, and that news headline that just popped up?
If we consider these things less important, why would we let them dictate how we spend our time?
This is possibly a “timeless” question that is asked these days, with everything at the touch of our fingertips, and the world able to reach us 24/7.
It’s not a new message, but I want to encourage you today to find beauty in carving out space to be present and “unreachable.”
Silence your phone, turn off your notifications, and allow yourself to experience your day.
Often when I feel like I’m being pulled in a million directions, my instinct is to seek distraction or an escape from the day—browsing online, checking social media, or listening to a podcast.
But I’ve found that it’s the silence and turning things off that actually helps slow everything down!
Here’s the flip side of turning off your notifications—it allows you to be distracted by the good things that are right in front of you.
There is so much of the beautiful simplicity and joy of life we miss out on when we’re constantly digitally distracted.
The rays of sun coming through your windows, the cute things your kids are doing, the first sip of your morning coffee or tea…or maybe you just feel free enough to feel really grateful for where you’re at in this moment. Whatever it is, that peace and freedom is worth it.
Here are a few ways you can move toward unplugging today:
- Turn your text notifications off (if there are people you need to be available for, you can turn on a custom notification just for them, everyone else can wait until you have time to get back to them!)
- Turn off all notifications for the apps on your phone (social media, email, etc.—the fewer reminders you have to check them throughout the day, the better!)
- Put your phone in a drawer if you’re feeling especially distracted (out of sight, out of mind!)
- Find a great playlist to listen to, or choose nothing at all! (if your mind is feeling distracted, music or silence can both be great ways to refocus)
- Set specific times of day to check your messages, social media, or emails.
- Go for a walk (there’s something about getting outside that reminds you about what’s really important).
Little Minimalist on the Prairies 