Digital Detox: The 10 Best Things

The Digital Detox is coming to an end and my iPhone is in a nearby Fedex truck. I just finished discussing the 10 Things I Missed The Most during the Shavers Family's Digital Detox. I thought it would only be fair to also discuss the 10 Best Things From the Digital Detox. So, here we go.

10. Money, Money, Money: We saved around $150.00 a month when we gave up two data plans and a monthly cell phone bill. This doesn't include the impulsive purchases we make on our phones.We have made changes to our plan and although we won't be saving as much, we ail still be saving money.

9.  A Great Conversation Starter: My husband and I are both considered "tech savvy" people in our respective arenas so, people would always want to know, "What happened to your phone" when the flip phone was pulled out. We both found that most people struggled with similar issues and admired our discipline to giving up our phones to improve our quality of life.

8.  It Wasn't Attached to My Hand: Sometimes it is just a good idea to leave your cell phone at home and disconnect. It was a lot easier to do this with a flip phone.

7.  Increased Awareness: Not constantly having my phone out, helped me to see how often people are on there phones. I noticed it in meetings, at restaurants, and everywhere I went. To be honest, I was astonished at how rude people were when texting/facebooking/tweeting/etc. through a meeting or dinner. I know I was that person before. I will not be that person now. If I notice that I'm doing this consistently, I vow to go back to the "non-smart" phone.

6.  No Notifications: Seeing the little red circle with a number of missed calls, messages, emails, etc. causes me anxiety. I find myself getting anxious and wanting to see what's going on no matter what I'm doing. Not having those notifications was a welcome reprieve and one that I will continue.

5.  Less Wasted Time: You know what happens when you take a five-minute break from working and check your phone. Well, maybe it doesn't happen to you, but I would check Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, ESPN, the news, read a little bit of a book and then two hours later worry about all the time I've wasted. Again. If I start doing this again, I will be returning to a "non-smart" phone.

4.  A Break from Twitter: As I said in the 10 Things I Missed The Most, I have a love/hate relationship with Twitter. I have learned so much and connected with awesome professionals on Twitter, but I have also wasted a ton of time on Twitter. This break has helped me develop parameters around what I will do with my phone. One of the boundaries I am implementing for now is… No Social Media Apps on my phone. Gasp. I know, I know.

3.  Work Email: When I was in college working on a paper or assignment in the evening, I would email my professor. Now, this happens to me and I want to address issues immediately. This means that I end up working all the time with no boundaries. I didn't get email on my phone during the digital detox and I will not be add my work email to my iPhone. Boundaries.

2.  Lived in the Moment: It was awesome to live in the moment and not be thinking about the issue with an online test or a student that needs a response. I have learned to appreciate living in the present in a way that I never have before.

1.  Quality Time with My Husband: Finally and most importantly. The relationship between my husband and I has improved. We can be completely engaged with each other instead of hanging out with each other and our phones. I was awful about giving my full attention because I was always so distracted. I refuse to let a device distract me from my family and loved ones.

While there were several things that I did not like about the digital detox, I must say that, it has been an awesome experience. I refuse to neglect the real word for the world in my smart phone. I am an advocate for smart technology use, but I encourage everyone to try a digital detox for a small time period. Now that I've had this experience I believe I can enjoy the perks of a smart phone without neglecting the most important things in my life. I am so grateful that my husband did this with me. I am a lucky girl.

Digital Detox: The 10 Things I Missed The Most

In January, I wrote a blog post titled, I'm Considering Giving Up My iPhone and Leaving the Smart Phone World. Shortly after that (January 9, 2013), I switched to a flip phone and joined my husband who had already given up his smart phone. In February, we also got rid of cable and started calling this experiment, The Shavers Family's Digital Detox. The detox included "technology free" zones and I also stopped blogging. Our digital detox comes to an end today (June 12, 2013), a little over five months. My iPhone is currently on a FedEx truck headed to my home. Before, I plug back in, I wanted to share the 10 Things I Missed The Most During the Digital Detox:

#10: GPS for Workouts: I like to use mapmyrun and other apps that log my jogging, walking, and/or biking workouts. I used an iPod Touch during my workout, but it just wasn't the same. I could look at the map, but it was hard to know exactly where I was and I did get off track a few times. I'm looking forward to mapping out a 3 mile run and knowing that my phone will show me the route.

#9:   Twitter Access: I have a love/hate relationship with twitter. I have a personal and professional twitter handle (DrMShavers) and I found that I wasn't on twitter nearly as often. This was good for my personal account, but I did miss a few things with the professional account. Despite that, I still think that having a break was exactly what I needed. Now, I can create better boundaries around my Twitter use.

#8:   Google Access: Let's say I'm driving home and I pass the grocery store. I know I want to cook tonight so, I want to find a recipe and look up the ingredients I need... Can't do that on the flip phone. Or, I am at home and I can't remember what time an event starts. Welp... I can't google that either. I had to be intentional and plan out everything.

#7:   Ordering Food: I love that I can place an order at Chipotle using the iPhone app, pay for the purchase, and skip the line to get my order. There was none of that unless I ordered from home before I left.

#6:   My Address Book: It was just too difficult to input my address book in my phone. I tried the different syncing options, but none of them worked. So, I used my iPad as an address book to reference numbers. How annoying.

#5.   Getting Directions: Those who know me personally, know that I struggle with directions. I have a GPS in my car, but I rely on both my GPS and smart phone to get me places. Let's just say I got more lost than usual with my phone.

#4:   The Simple Things: During the Digital Detox, I read Steve Jobs by Walter Issacson and I finally understood why I love the iPhone. It's simple. The navigation makes sense. You can do almost everything in less than 3 clicks. The navigation on my flip phone was annoying and there were so many irrelevant alerts and menu buttons. Steve Jobs said it best, "Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."

#3.   Sporting Events: We gave up cable in February and then March Madness happened. We suffered. I watched games from my laptop, iPad, and we went to Sports Bars to watch the games. We couldn't do that again during the NBA playoffs. So, I'll come clean. We got cable the day the NBA playoffs began.

#2.   Texting with Ease: Had did I ever text before smart phones. I used to be a "texting guru," but I found it to be extremely inefficient and annoying on the flip phone. Additionally, I had to work really hard to push down the buttons. Who does that? Let's just say I'm looking forward to a QWERTY keyboard and a touch screen.

#1.   Taking Pictures: The pictures are the things that I missed the most. I could probably deal with everything else, but the lack of a camera was hard. I have a great digital camera, but it's bulky and it's less convenient than my cell phone. I even considered buying a small camera, but I couldn't find one that was small, inexpensive, and had iPhone quality pictures. I got the iPhone 5 when it was released and when I gave up my phone in January, I'd taken 2,000 pictures. Since then, I've taken less than 100. I miss being able to capture those unexpected shots. Most of all, I am looking forward to having a quality camera with me.

Despite missing these things, I have gained so much from this Digital Detox experience. I wouldn't trade it for the world. 

The Shavers Family's Digital Detox

It's official! The Shavers Family is on a digital detox. I wrote a blog post in January where I said that I was considering giving up my iPhone and leaving the Smart Phone world. Well… My husband decided to get rid of his smart phone and I could feel him silently challenging me. I'm not one to back down from a competition so, I jumped on board and here we are. Our detox has evolved since giving up our phones and these are the parameters:

• No smart phones. Our phones can only be used for making calls and text. We have both sold our phones (Samsung Galaxy S3 and iPhone 5) and both have flip phones. The picture above is my husband's phone.
• No cable. We cut off our cable and right now we don't even have local channels. We are currently trying to figure out what people did before all of this technology.
• Designated "no technology" times. We both have jobs that demand that we use technology. Josh works in IT and I teach online and conduct research on social media. It's unrealistic that we will have no technology, but their are set times where we cannot use it.

We are three weeks into this challenge, but this is our first week without cable. We are committed to three months and may extend the time.  I hate to admit it, but my husband seems to having an easier transition than me. I miss my smart phone so much. I am definitely going through a withdrawal period. I am constantly thinking about the things I could be doing if I had my phone. It's a little surprising how much I rely on it. However, my digital detox has increased my awareness of how often we can become like zombies with our phones.

What do you think about our digital detox? Could you do it? Below is a video of some individuals who did it for two weeks. What do you think?

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I'm Considering Giving Up My iPhone & Leaving the Smart Phone World

I am the first one to talk about the benefits of an iPhone and I use my phone for EVERYTHING. I just finished telling my husband that my iPhone has become part of my hand. It has become such a natural part of me that allows me to respond to emails, text, surf the Internet, post tweets, browse Facebook, read a book, take pictures, pin on Pinterest, post on Instagram, and so much more.

So, What's the Problem? 

The problem is... I am doing all of those things, all of the time. Up until recently, I have believed that I am a pretty good multi-tasker. I have participated in an on-line conference call, while responding to emails, getting directions, and sending a text message to a friend. Pretty impressive. Right? However, I am beginning to realize that this multi-tasking comes with several costs. 

Cost 1: My productivity is compromised. It takes me longer to complete multiple tasks at the same time then it would if I spent time on one task at a time. I constantly worry that I don't have enough time. If I want more time, maybe I can learn to use it more efficiently. This video highlights the issues of multitasking.

 Cost 2: My relationships are compromised. It is hard for me to be engaged in a conversation with my husband when I am checking emails or reading a book. A new research study shows that just having a phone nearby (without checking it) can decrease the intimacy connection between two individuals.

Cost 3: I find myself becoming more anxious.  Even when I turn my phone notifications off, I'm thinking about work and all the other things I am missing from not having my phone. When my phone is on, I am constantly aware of issues at work, student concerns, even stressful news updates. 

I'm sure some of you may be thinking, "Stop using your phone so often." "Create boundaries." "You're a counselor, you should know how to change." I have said these things to myself a million times. However, as I stated earlier, my iPhone has become part of my hand and a natural part of me. I hate to say it, but I may be addicted to my iPhone and all of it's amazing features. If this an addiction, I may need to go cold turkey. So, am I willing to give up my phone, social networking sites, camera, Internet, GPS, books, videos, music, and the list goes on? Should I remove all of these things from the tips of my finger?

I am leaning towards... Yes. But, I am still hoping that I can come up with another way to resolve this issue. Are you attached to your smart phone? How do you incorporate your smart phone into your everyday life? What would you lose if you gave up your smart phone?

I would love to hear any ideas or feedback.

Until next time...

Why I Blog

I have been away from my blog for over a month... Again. I've thought about different things to blog about (e.g. Thanksgiving, life events, Bible in 90 Days, books, etc.). However, every time I thought about blogging... It was just that. A thought. I was frustrated with myself for not blogging more often and it was beginning to feel like a chore. Now, that the semester is over and things are slowing down, I have been thinking a lot about why I blog. Here are five reasons:

1. Blogging is therapeutic. A colleague and I recently presented about this at a counseling conference. Expressive writing helps people to feel emotionally and mentally better. Similar to journaling it can help us release emotion that we typically keep locked inside. 
2. Blogging deepens the process of self-analysis (Lent, 2009). Blogging helps us to move past the quick thoughts that we have regularly and forces us to slow down and focus on what we are discussing. It pushes us to analyze our thoughts, actions, behaviors, and relationships.
3. Blogging encourages reflection. Discussing a topic on my blog pushes me to reflect on that topic and look for significance. For instance, blogging about my missed posts has helped me to reflect on the benefits of blogging, along with some of my obstacles. Reflecting on experiences leads to a deeper understanding and can produce change.
4. Blogging helps to build community. When you blog, you attract readers who are interested in similar topics. This allows you to build a community or a network. I'm always interested in creating community and growing my network.
5. Blogging allows me to be self-absorbed for a moment. I often present at conferences on Web 2.0. Inevitably, someone in the audience says that "young people's" use of social media is a bit narcissistic. While I can't completely disagree, I will admit that it can be fun to spend time thinking about myself and assuming that someone out there actually cares to read my thoughts. Those who know me personally, know that  I am royalty in my own mind. Blogging helps to validate my royal lineage for a second. 

Just the process of typing my reasons for blogging is motivating me to spend  more time doing it. I can always make time for one more project at work. So, I am working on making time for the things that I know are beneficial. **Uh-Oh** I just had another idea for a blog post. This means you should hear from me soon.

I would love to read your comments: Do you blog? Why or Why Not? Will you start blogging?

November is Academic Writing Month

I am in my second year as an assistant professor and I am learning that the academy awaits for no one. It is easy to get bogged down with teaching, grading, mentoring, committee work, service, and so much more. When I find myself feeling overwhelmed and rushing through the halls of academia, the first thing to get pushed aside is my writing. I love research and I love writing, but sometimes those two things are the first to go. I am assuming that this happens to many professors, which is why there is a need for Academic Writing Month. This is a movement, using #acwrimo on Twitter, designed at getting individuals to encourage and support each other into a month of high productivity. This is exactly what I need at a time where I feel as if I am being buried in grading and committee work. Today, I am completing the first two rules of this month by deciding on a goal and publicly declaring my goals. In the month of November, I will...

1. Spend a minimum of 30 minutes writing every day except Saturday.
2. I will complete and submit three manuscripts. 
3. I will select a grant and begin developing the proposal.
4. I will blog at least 2x a week.

It's time to get busy. Please leave words of encouragement or support. You can also consider joining me. 

“If you wait for inspiration to write; you’re not a writer, you’re a waiter.” – Dan Poynter

Follow me on Twitter (@DrMShavers) or Subscribe to my blog to see my progress. Thanks in advance for your support.

Reading the Bible in 90 Days!

Last year in July, I decided to read the Bible in 90 days with momstoolbox.com. I had been trying to establish a more consistent routine of prayer and studying and this seemed like the perfect opportunity to spend time with God and challenge myself. My life since completely my Ph.D. has been just as busy, but not as predictable. Starting this challenge shortly after I started life as a professor was a great way to provide my life with some structure. It was nice to read stories that I had heard all of my life and to read things that I hadn't heard or read before. But what struck me was the underlying theme of love through out the Bible. The Bible is very entertaining, but I was constantly reminded about how much God loves us. When I read the stories in the Bible about people who constantly turned their backs on God, I am overwhelmed by God's ability to stick by us no matter what.

So often we can become consumed with religiosity and trying to be a perfect "Christian." We may measure this by going to church, participation in church committees, keeping the Sabbath, not breaking the 10 commandments, and so on. But so many times we often forget the importance of love. When the man asked Jesus, which of the commandments is the greatest he replied, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-38). So often we forget about loving others. We gossip, we judge, we complain, and sometimes we are just down right rude. Reading through the Bible reminds me of God's love for me and my responsibility to love others as I love myself.

I am hoping that reading through the Bible in 90 days this time will help me to increase my intimacy with Christ. I am also praying that I take on more of Jesus's character. I believe that immersing myself in the Bible will help me in my struggle to become more Christ-like. My decision to serve as a mentor was made because the mentor I had during the first challenge was essential in helping to keep me motivated and on track. It's not to late to join us. Message me or check out momstoolbox.com for more information.