Practicar la atención plena dejando el teléfono
Hoy en día, nuestros dispositivos están prácticamente pegados a la cadera. Miramos constantemente el teléfono. ¿Qué hora es? ¿Qué dice nuestro próximo recordatorio? ¿Quién acaba de enviarnos un mensaje? ¿Hemos respondido a ese mensaje de las redes sociales?
We spend so much time on our smartphone, in fact, that we often forget about the rest of the world and what’s happening around us. Perhaps finding some peace of mind is as simple as committing to this…
Haz más cosas que te impidan mirar el teléfono.
It’s more of a challenge, really. Can you do it? Can you find things that interest you enough to keep you away from running to the screen the next time you hear that infamous ding?
¿Hay cosas que podamos hacer que sean más importantes? Claro que las hay.
Así que aparca tu dispositivo por un momento y considera la posibilidad de dedicarte a actividades que no sólo ocupen tu tiempo, sino que añadan sentido a tu vida.
Pasar tiempo con la familia y los amigos. We’ve all been there. You’re invited to a family gathering and everyone recoge. Sin embargo, nadie interactúa. Todos están, irónicamente, sentados en el habitación familiar on their phone or mindlessly attached to the TV. When did it become taboo to have your device at the dinner table but totally acceptable to drown out a family gathering in the family room? These should be areas filled with laughter and good conversation, offering space to chat and catch up… not over messenger but face-to-face. We’ve totally lost the concept of meaningful connection.
Participa. Una vez más, nuestro nivel de activismo social a menudo empieza y termina uniéndonos a grupos de redes sociales y añadiendo publicaciones. ¿Realmente te preocupa un tema? Por supuesto, 200 "me gusta" en un foro de grupo pueden ayudar a correr la voz, pero ¿qué estás haciendo para abordarlo? Tienes que pisar el acelerador para crear verdaderas olas. Participa en eventos locales, actividades, grupos de defensa física y clubes sociales. Conoce de verdad a tus vecinos interesados en las mismas cosas. Conecta con ellos y propón ideas.
Enseña a los demás. Believe it or not, there is still capacity for in-person teaching. Kids are still going to school, sitting in a classroom and following instruction. Yes, there are many resources online, credible ones. And, yes, you can learn a lot sitting at a computer and sharing this information with others. But, you are also contributing to the loss of socialization in society. We are teaching the next generation that knowledge is power but networking is nothing more than nice to have. So, students are entering ‘the real world’ with zero communication skills. They are checking their phone in the waiting room before being called in to an interview and asking to finish a text before they head back. They are sitting across the table from industry influencers and clamming up, because they cannot consult their phone when answering questions. We are promoting introverted personalities because ‘connecting’ over a device doesn’t truly count, thus allowing the concept of power in numbers to completely die out.
Sírvete mientras puedas. By allowing yourself to continuously check your phone everywhere you go and in everything you do, you are fueling an addiction. And it’s a powerful one. The more this becomes acceptable to you, the more you will crave the dopamine released from the brain every time you do it, and the more irritable you’ll get whenever you can’t check your phone. This is a very real, physical reaction to something the body believes it cannot live without and is no different from the effects of any other addiction. It’s a vicious cycle that will only lead to depression and anxiety, which will both intensify over time. So, while an addiction to the perceived must-haves on our computer or phone may seem harmless at first, we are truly hurting ourself. And we cannot logically condemn the behavior of someone who is addicted to sex, shopping, a toxic relationship, or substances while fueling our own demons. It’s total hypocrisy. We only have control over our own actions and need to self-reflect to improve.
Try to turn off your phone more and more throughout the day and keep it out of reach. Create pleasure elsewhere, so you can live a happier life. It’s that simple.
