Mindfulness means paying attention to the present moment, on purpose, without judgment. When we are mindful, we are fully engaged with the life around us and within us, with focus, awareness and acceptance.
How can you possibly engage and communicate with real people including yourself if your neck is bent toward the ground and your eyes are focused on your phone? How can you connect with nature and her magnificence if she goes unnoticed?
Drop the phone and Live in the Moment. The amazing benefits include reduced anxiety and depression, improved attention, increased happiness, greater self-awareness and self-compassion, improved health and immune functioning, and many more. Doesn’t that sound fabulous?
You are waiting to be heard. Your thoughts, your body, your intuitions, and your dreams want to be heard. They have a lot to tell you but you need to take the time each day to listen.
You eliminate any chance of hearing the needs and wants of your body and soul when you keep your human sensors riveted to your phone?
While you’re on the phone, your posture is not open to listening. You’re scrunching the base of your neck where it connects to your brain. You’re creating a blocked line of communication which negatively affects your emotional, mental and physical wellbeing.
When you put your phone down you open up communication between your body and brain. You open all our senses to let it all the goodness. You become fully mindful.
See — Look around. Stretch your neck and look up, way up. What do you see? Focus on the sights, the colours, the changes and the movement that is happening right now.
Listen — When your phone is silent, you can clearly hear the natural hum and rhythms of your body and mind. You can hear the sounds that inhabit your life in the current moment.
Feel — Take a deep breath and feel the air in your lungs. Feel the expansion of your lungs. Feel the oxygen bringing clarity of mind. Feel the outside air touch your skin.
Focus on the moment. Create and nourish a fabulous, healing connection with yourself.
There was a time not so long ago that your phone was connected to the wall in your house. If you went out with your friends, family or just for a walk, your phone stayed at home!
When the phone was attached to the wall, you survived, business carried on, family crises happened, your kids arrived at their destination, and anyone and everyone was free to leave a message. You would get back to them at your leisure.
You were free to simply enjoy the moment, the activity, and the people.
Disconnect and Kick the Phone Habit — you will be a new person in a very short time and you will look forward to your “no-phone time”.
Designated no-phone time is one of the keys to living a peaceful, contented, and blissful life.
Action Steps to Live Phone Free
Leave your phone at home, in the car, or the office for 15 minutes each day.
No cheating — putting your phone on vibrate or turning the ringer off, does not count.
Make a date with “phone-free” time in your calendar.
When you meet up with family, friends or take a walk in the park, leave your phone at home.
While you’re phone-free, focus on the moment, what’s happening right now. Breathe and relax. Be present in your life.
After 7 days, increase the amount of time you leave your phone behind.
Take Time Every Day to Turn Off Your Phone and Be Mindful
Originally published at medium.com