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?
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 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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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...
Spend a minimum of 30 minutes writing every day except Saturday.
I will complete and submit three manuscripts.
I will select a grant and begin developing the proposal.
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.
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.
My god-daughter, Jada is 3 months old. Needless to say, I am a bit delayed on blogging about the baby shower, but "It's better late than never." We decided on a "Born to Be Wild" theme with hot pink, orange, green, and zebra print. I was a little nervous about the wild theme, but Sequena Monet, the mom-to-be (at the time) and one of my best friends, has always encouraged me to be "less boring." After planning this shower, I am convinced that I should be an event planner, LOL. Well, I hope you enjoy....
I have always said that my home, is a direct reflection of my mental status. Well, I have become a strict, disciplined, homemaker. Lol. Hilarious, but true. My home is usually always organized, but every once-in-a-while, things get CRAY! This has changed since married life. I have had to be more organized and disciplined since we moved into our new home and it has helped to keep my home organized most of the time.
I have FINALLY mastered this so, I have to wait a while before I can add a baby to this madness. (For those who want to know when we are having children. *wink*)
Anyways... This mess has now infiltrated it's way into my technology home. This is a screenshot of my desktop.
This only shows half of the picture. You can't see the emails that I've flagged, the 7 to-do lists I have created and all of the things that I have saved in delicious to read later. I say all of this to say...
I need an assistant. I can pay in therapy (this is a joke for my counselor friends and the counseling board). I can also pay in filtered water, organizational tips, and hugs. This is the best time to get in because when I make it... So will you.
