Consciously Removing Barriers To Change

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Our 10-day Digital Detox starts this weekend and everyone on the email list will be receiving a fabulous guidebook soon! Are you signed up?

And let's be reals - it's not necessary to completely eliminate digital resources; rather, we are focusing on reducing our time with them little by little and re-turning to another inner world: the natural world, your inner world, creative world, the closest playground!

In order to change an unconscious habit, we need to implement a substitute conscious habit in its place - so that's our strategy!

Here are some questions and points to consider so you can prepare for a wonderful digital detox by clearly identifying your intentions:

How does it feel to you to be unplugged? Is it uplifting or does it create anxiety? (Remove those barriers below.)What does your perfect day look like?What do you want more clarity about in your life?Where do you SOURCE joy from naturally?How can you....Spend more time outside. Read a paperback instead of watch TV. Create with your hands. Learn a new skill or talent or hobby. Stare at the great outdoors. Go to a museum. Attend a lecture. Become curious. Wander and wonder. Yoga, pilates, tai chi, stretching.

Are you feeling a few barriers about doing this digital detox? Then good news for you - here are some solutions!

Life Is Busy

Technology makes our lives easier. Faster. More direct and simpler.  The convenience factor is huge, which is why we all use our phones and devices so much!

But the intention of this digital detox is about re-balancing what you genuinely need to do with technology (answer emails) and what is ultimately a waste of time (any app that involves brightly-colored animals).

Fix: You are reducing your online time, not completely eliminating it. You are consciously saying to yourself, “I will spend 30 minutes answering emails and interacting online, then I will step away from my devices to re-connect with other sources of joy, happiness, delight.” Woot!

 

Relationship Connections

Online friendships and connections are awesome! How can you possibly give them up for 10 days!

 

Fix: Let people know what you’re doing – “I’ll be offline more than normal over the next 10 days in order to re-balance my life and re-prioritize my time” – but be clear that you’re still AROUND. “If anything important, big, or special happens, please let me know! I’m still around and happy to connect as needed!”

And invite your online friends to do the digital detox with you! It could be exactly what they need in their busy-crazy lives, too. Plus ,it will give you even more things to talk about and share next time you are together – online or in person.

 

Kiddos

School’s out and the kids are at home! I need to entertain them, or check in on them, or keep them occupied, and technology helps with all of that.

 

Fix: Include them in this project. In fact, chances are your kids are your teachers over the course of the next 10 days because they do not have modern technology habits (hopefully?). Invite your child/children into this process by asking them to join you, to lead the offline activities, or to brainstorm with you how to spend more time together. Maybe develop a day-long activity with them, or create your own version of summer camp.

Resistance To Change

Routines and habits solidify our lives. They provide comfort and a known direction. You may like the idea of a digital detox, but actually taking the steps to do something differently is another thing.

Fix: The 10-day Digital Detox is a progressive system of change. Doing a little each day will help make a new routine stick, and you reduce the shock of completely eliminating it all together. The idea is to do a little bit MORE of one thing so you don’t realize how much you are not on a device. It will probably be easier– and more fun! – than you think.

 

Afraid Of Missing Out On Something

When you are offline, it is a given you will ‘miss’ some things. You won’t see every post, update, tweet, trending headline.

But let’s look at that deeper… what are you missing that really matters?

Think back to a week ago. Was there a Facebook post that was so important it changed your life? Do you remember what a friend shared that enhanced everything? Or does it seem like you wasted one or two hours a day with nothing to show for it?

Fix:  You’re consciously re-prioritizing. And re-turning to you. Over the course of 10 days, you will actually discover MORE things that matter to you, plus feel more powerful about how you spend your time.

Just like with relationship connections, you can let people know that you’re still around if anything BIG happens. But you may be too busy LOVING YOUR LIFE to care – and it’s everyone online who is missing out on that experience!

 

There’s No Theme Song

Maybe you only do things because there is a theme song associated with it. In case that is one of your barriers, I have you covered!

Fix: You remember the glory of living the simple life in the 90s, right? Then you’ll want to jam on this.

 

The guidebook will be on its way to you soon!