I have been talking about my many New Year’s Resolutions (too many to count!) and one of them included wanting to be “unplugged for a day a week“. Last week was my first try and I have to say it was an AMAZING day! I felt like a junkie in the morning because I knew I couldn’t touch any of my devices and it made me want to even more!! Other than a phone call from the hubs and my mom I needed to take I did pretty well staying away!!!
It is funny how much time checking email, surfing the net for an answer to this question or that, blogging and chatting on the phone really does take up in a day. I had SO much more time at my fingertips and was much more focused than I usually am. Although women are great multitaskers, it is difficult to keep your cool when you are trying to get lunch together for your toddler, while telling them they need to go potty and get in their chair, keep an eye out for the little guy that likes to roll and roll and never stop, all while cathching up on a phone conversation or finishing up some last minute computer stuff. If you were more in the moment your fuse may not be as short and instead of yelling at the kids to do XYZ you may be able to use a calmer voice to get what you want.
I came to many realizations that day which I will talk about over the coming weeks. The first thing I really realized from my day of being unplugged is how much I miss when I am plugged into everything. I really can’t be in the moment when I am trying to do 20 things at once and when I can really focus on what I am doing, I enjoy life, my kids and myself MUCH more! I was much more calm and happy and so was Cody. I really saw a huge difference in him. Of course, part of that was because he was getting more attention from me…you know how your kids save all their meltdowns for when you hop on the phone or computer?!… well he does the same so we had less of that, BUT I think a huge contributor to that was also because I was more focused on what I was doing and was much more intentional with my parenting and my daily tasks.
My first lesson from all of this is to be more intentional and in the moment with all things that I do. I do realize that we have to make phone calls, research things on the net and veg out in front of the t.v. in our daily lives and I certainly don’t think that going totally unplugged would work in this society (personally, I would go insane!), BUT there is something to be said for being more aware of how much time you spend plugged in to all of these things (you and your kids) and what effect it truly is having on you and the family as a whole.
My daily goal for plugging in is to put a time limit on it. If I need to make a phone call or hop on the computer I can find something for Cody to do and let him know that I am going to set the timer (we utilize the timer for everything in our house) for 15 minutes and when it goes off, I will finish what I am doing. I think this will cut down on the tantrums when I need to get something done and it will help me so that I can cut myself off!! I know that I can save any t.v. shows I want to watch for the evening once the kids are on bed and I can limit Cody’s shows pretty easily as well. Also, NO answering phone calls when we are eating at the table. We have some pretty good conversations around the dinner table and I don’t want to miss a word of it!!
It all boils down to balance, which we are all trying to achieve. I have to say that being unplugged shed an entire new light on me and I have felt amazing and wonderful ever since!! I will keep you updated on how things are going and what I learn along the way!
It is all worth it in the end if my boys are happy!!
If becoming more of an intentional parent is part of your goals for 2012, head on over to the Beech Acres workshop this month Intentional Strength- Based Parenting. I have heard them speak on this topic and it gives you a lot of insight into being more intentional with your kids and focusing on their strenghts instead of what they are doing wrong.
Have you ever considered unplugging?? What else do you think you could do with that time?
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