Today I am doing a FB Live on Mindful Cellphone Use….you have heard me rate about “nuking your nuts” and the harmful effects of cell phone use, but it goes deeper. We are now creating unhealthy relationships with our little phones. We take them to bed, to the bathroom, to dinner, on walks…They go with us everywhere!
How is this affecting our ability to be present?
Can we connect on a meaningful level with the world around us if we are plugged into our phones?
How is this affecting our relationships?
In and out of my office I witness the addiction. New studies exemplify our lab rats nature eager to get dopamine rewards each time we log on to social media! It is fascinating how the dopamine burst every time we get “likes” strengthens our addiction. When we don’t get the “likes” we keep looking for the high. It creates a stress beyond the issue of always being able to be reached, a major block to being relaxed and present if you are concerned about incoming messages that need your instant reply. Yes, there is a pressure to return calls, emails, messages, etc, coupled with the dopamine addiction plus the fear of missing out, that is creating a monster in our pocket. Cell phones possess an impact on our wee gray matter greater than we realize. Creating more happiness in our lives means becoming more present. Focusing on the here and now, banishing the need to compare, eliminating the feeling of urgency, connecting with the ones you love, enjoying nature, and the list goes on yet
Creating more happiness in our lives means becoming more present. Focusing on the here and now, banishing the need to compare, eliminating the feeling of urgency, connecting with the ones you love, enjoying nature, and the list goes on yet our cell phones may do the opposite of all these things. There are more distractions with easy access to the world via our phone. There are constant comparisons in our heads when we look at social media. You get the idea. We want our hike to be amazing like the one we just saw overlooking the waterfalls in Bali. We long for that amazing dinner that was posted on Instagram. It is difficult when inundated with lovely things to stay grounded in your gratitude for what you have. When you disconnect, it all just dissolves.
Want to see how addicted you are? Try doing unplug time. In my free download is an exercise and apps to help you be more mindful. Grab you free Mobile Mindfulness worksheet now!
If you would like a good burst of dopamine mixed with a little oxytocin, try giving someone a juicy big hug!
Health, Happiness and a bit of the Mystic 