Inika Superfoods - March 24, 2024

How to Break up With Your Phone and Be More Present

“The past has no power over the present moment.”
Eckhart Tolle

Did you know that the average smartphone user checks their phone a staggering 47 times per day? I’m guessing you don’t even know why you’re checking your phone most of those times… About five weeks ago my phone decided to break down on me while my boyfriend and I were in Bali. I knew we wouldn’t be back in New Zealand until mid-September, and I was not about to buy a phone in Bali, meaning I was facing five weeks without a phone… Oh, and I’m self-employed and work online, so I thought not having a phone was impossible.

But when life gives you lemons, you make lemonade, right? So, I bravely (and without any choice) started the journey of five weeks without a phone. While also being overseas, might I just add. The first couple of days it bothered me to no end that I couldn’t check my emails, messages, do Instagram, have a GPS, google anything, look up exchange rates, order a car, scroll through social media when I was waiting…

But then something happened.

I found myself being much more present.

I actually noticed what was going on around me. I started saying hello and good morning to my fellow human beings. I watched life go by as I was having lunch, I felt a spark of inspiration and creativity, I was much more calm and grounded, and overall I was just happier. Could this all just be because I didn’t have a phone? Well, yes. The thing is if you check your phone 47 times per day, it is actually almost three times per hour (if you only count the hours you’re awake). That makes you incredibly unpresent. How will you ever feel calm, present and grounded if you’re constantly reading the news, scrolling through Instagram, reading emails and replying to messages?

Naturally, now that I’m home again I need a new phone, but I refuse to go back to my old “phone habits”. So I’ve made some “rules” for myself so I don’t become addicted to my phone and instead remain more present and more happy.

I’m hoping these “rules” or tips will inspire you too, and perhaps you even feel called to integrate them into your life. Who knows, perhaps breaking up with your phone will be the best decision you make this year.

Airplane mode

Putting my phone on airplane mode at 10PM and not switching it on until 9AM.

No emails

No emails on my phone, whatsoever. I’m not just talking about turning off notifications. I don’t want to have access to my emails on my phone at all. Not being able to check my emails on my phone for the last five weeks has been such a blessing and a real gamechanger, and if I can do five weeks without email on my phone, then I really see no point in going back.

Designated times to check Instagram

Designated times to check Instagram. I only want to check Instagram twice per day. This will be to check messages, post/work, and scroll. Twice a day is more than enough. Anything else is just mindless scrolling (for me)

Putting the phone away

Putting my phone away when I’m working, watching a movie, talking to people, reading a book… I personally find that the habit of checking my phone while I’m doing other things is so detrimental to my productivity and sense of presence and grounding. So no more of that. When I’m writing, I’m writing. When I’m on Instagram, I’m on Instagram.

Give yourself permission

Give myself full permission to not reply to messages right away. Oftentimes I feel that I have to respond to people’s messages right away. However, this is simply not true. It is very rare that something requires my immediate attention. So I will chill out, breathe, and take my time to reply.

I hope these five “rules” or tips resonate with you, and I hope they will help you feel more calm, grounded and present in your life.

Love,
Heidi for Inika Superfoods