Various studies demonstrate that unplugging from technology can do wonders for your interpersonal relationships and in-person communication. It encourages you to connect with others off screen and to compose your thoughts, instead of relying on a text-based medium. Technology makes communication convenient and quick, but it removes many important elements of communication such as body language, tone, and other factors that help us to bond and understand one another.

When the pandemic hit, things came to an abrupt stop for everyone - including me. I lost a job that I really loved. I was good at it and I believed in what I was doing. I worked in outside sales for an energy bar company, and I was also a Brand Ambassador for many different health food brands and wellness companies. These had always been areas of interest for me, and I learned much during the years that I was doing this work. I was passionate and suddenly, I was without anything to do and I had nowhere to be.  

I decided (with intent) to take this extra time and spend every minute I could outside; gardening, playing with my dogs, hiking with my husband, laying under trees, eating outside in the grass, walking barefoot. I called our mowers and told them that I didn't need their services anymore, that I secretly always wanted to mow my own yard, and that I couldn't believe it took me this long to figure that out. They laughed and we happily parted ways. 

I spent most of that spring, summer and fall outdoors. I was exhausted each night and so were my pets. I pushed that mower around the yard more times than I can remember, created little areas for the bees to thrive by hovering over wildflowers, got over the perfectly manicured lawn, and I yielded to all the creatures that need us to be more aware of what they need. When outside I almost always left my phone behind. I was alone with the birds, the grass, the sunlight, and at times the light rain, the river in the background, the silence, the peace. 

I had an extended period of disconnection. I never had this opportunity previously and when I did it, I couldn't believe how many magical moments passed me by as the result of living in a world that is one click away from everything, and yet a million miles away from everything that really matters. To be clear, I need my phone like you all do - and I work on a laptop. I'm talking about the benefit of disconnecting for periods of time, and the health and wellness benefits that will be discovered. You don't need to throw your phone in the river, although I’ve had many moments when I wanted to.

It's a small step approach to living in the present, seeing things through the lens of being in the present moment instead of letting that next text message or call ring instantly pull you away from what truly matters. It is a freedom that you don’t know you are missing until you rediscover it.