Digital Mindfulness

Do I need to unplug?  Do I use technology mindfully?  When do we need to be more mindful of our technology use?  When are we fully present in our face-2-face relationships?

All of these are questions are worthy of our attention.  By answering them myself, I now want to change my behavior both online and offline.  I want to be productive both places learning how to make that happen is my new challenge.

Yes, I need to unplug more often.  Here is how I know that walking away from technology frequently will enrich my relationships.

In a post made by a young college student,  The Power of Technology a blog post  she shares how technology often defeats her personal relationships. I see where I face the same dilemma.

I will be bold by sharing a short personal story of my experience this morning.

Just a few hours ago I was sharing coffee with a friend and her 12-year-old daughter. I left my phone in the car and missed several calls, texts and e-mails from my husband.  He was very concerned after the first few misses because he is aware I am always online (much like him)!  While having coffee my friend took several calls and both she and her daughter brought Pinterest up on their phones for conversation starters.  What happened to just sharing just a cup of coffee?

I will admit, it wasn’t only my forty-something year old friend or her middle school aged daughter or for that matter my husband. It was me, I had to end the coffee break so I could jump on Twitter and WordPress.

Finding balance between online activity and being fully present in the moment is becoming an issue worthy of open discussion in homes and schools.

I know this morning my friend and I were cut short from fully engaging with one another due to technology.   I lost out on an enriching my friendship because I am tethered to my devices.

I don’t think I am willing to unplug permanently or for even a week but I am willing to walk away from technology for several blocks of hours each day.  My relationships are worth it!