As if a mom’s life wasn’t crazy enough, technology raises the bar to just plain overwhelming sometimes. We’ve got laptops, smartphones, iPads, iPods, GPS systems, DVDs, DVRs, and more that we need to keep up with. Not every device is with us at all times, but most of us don’t leave home without our trusty smartphones. We take them shopping, in the car, to the playground, out to dinner, in bed, and pretty much everywhere else.
In fact, 74% of parents in the U.S. with children under the age of 18 own a smartphone.*
Our phones won’t let us forget about them. They bing and bong constantly, whether it’s an email, a FB message, a Tweet, a text, a news update, or any other immediate notification. Do you ever feel like it’s too much? Like you’re being pulled in a million different directions? Like you can’t concentrate or finish a conversation?
Solution: Turn off the notifications on your phone.
We know what you’re thinking: “What if someone needs me?” Just try it. If someone needs you that badly they will call you. It will be hard at first, you might suffer from withdrawal and check your phone constantly to see if anything’s there. But this too shall pass.
This newfound freedom will allow you to have a relationship with your phone on your own terms. And you’ll be surprised at how much missed time you’ll get back. How organized and focused you’ll feel. Your kids will notice too — and they’ll appreciate it.
*Source: eMarketer.com
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Mary-Margaret Walker
January 23, 2014 @ 7:47 pm
I did this a long time ago. The funniest thing happened. Many, many people in my work wondered why they weren’t able to reach me. They never picked up the phone. I decided that they didn’t really need to talk to me badly enough. 😀