Fellow of the American Psychological Association, Media Psychologist, and Author
Memoir Writing, Blogging, and Ghostwriting​
Weekly Doses of Pop-up Psych
We all make cringey mistakes and deserve to move on, rather than feel confused or regretful after an icky social situation. Each week, I will dissect a murky social, life cycle, or pop culture topic to help you understand, learn, and move on. As a former academic, I am a super-picky consumer of research (and you should be too) as well as the content I create and share, so those new solutions, data and/or additional resources have certainly met my approval.
Unplugging in the Midst of Chaos and How to Do It
We are busy. We are so busy that our smart phones are blowing up about everything: winding down the summer season, starting the new school year, closing out the fiscal year, managing transitions, dealing with emergencies, signing contracts, making big purchases, and whatever else dominates our world. Although it’s late August as I am writing and posting this blog, is there any month of the year that doesn’t come with its own flavor of chaos?
One of the blessings and curses of smartphones is that it helps us manage everything from the palm of our hands. Where we go, our phone goes, so stimuli and to-do’s never leave our side.
Why Everyone Needs to Unplug (for a little while)
Every single human who consumes digital content and participates in digital activities needs to unplug. We might be accessible, unlike when we had to rely on landlines and dial-ups, but should we always be available?
Unplug to alleviate pressure
In a constant stream of information, messages, and accessibility, the to-do list is never-ending. Information needs to be consumed, messages answered, and tasks get piled up. The more you look, the more you are reminded of everything that is waiting for you, so don’t look!
Unplug to be in present presence
The people spending time with you IRL (in real life) deserve to look in your eyes and not the top of your head. You can read and respond later.
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Unplug to keep yourself safe
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, there were 3308 people killed because of device-related distracted driving in 2022. Whenever I see someone walking down the street with their heads down deep in the screen, they have an invisible sign over their head that screams, “mug me", let alone the accidents, like knocking into people or walking into traffic.
Unplug to stay productive
How can you really do something in a timely manner when trying to read or write a message at the same time? It’s hard to get anything done when your focus is splintered in different directions. Multitasking does not really contribute towards productivity, since the mind and body were not designed for heavy simultaneous functioning.
Unplug to give body a break
The device has to be recharged and so do you! Not just when you are sleeping. I don’t need to bore you with stats and chemical activities to tell you that your eyes start to hurt, your brain feels mushy, and your body needs to stretch.
Unplug because nothing’s going anywhere
The updates will be there and waiting for you after you have taken your much needed break. You will read through faster, respond more appropriately, and make less mistakes if you give yourself the break you need.
Unplug because you’re probably not missing much
You don’t need that much of a break to restore yourself. How much are you really missing by being offline for a few hours or days? Although anything can happen in an instant, at least your mind, body, and soul might be more equipped to deal with the issue after a well-deserved break.
Tips for Unplugging
Good device management is when the user controls how often they feel like they have to check. How do you know when it’s too much? The short and easy answer, when it seems like an electronic leash that rudely interrupts your flow, sense of peace, relationships, and productivity.
Unplug by silencing notifications
It’s very distracting to get pinged and beeped on a regular basis. Only permit the notifications that you would need to respond to immediately, rather than ones that might interrupt your flow.
Unplug by embracing nature
Go outside and take in your surroundings. Recharge your senses with fresh air and find options to enjoy the scenery.
Unplug by finding other hobbies
My dad always says that “distraction is the best medicine”. Discover other hobbies and activities that will send you into flow, when you are so engaged and locked into whatever you are doing that nothing can really knock you off track. For me, it’s writing with pen and paper, yoga, walking, hiking, swimming, biking, shopping, and when I’m organizing something.
Unplug in small steps
Unplug in small increments. If it seems excessive, start with 15 minutes. Set a timer, put your phone away, and do anything else. Fold laundry, work out, cook, take a nap, garden, look for something you might have misplaced, shop in a store, or do anything else that does not require a screen.
See additional support
Unplugging can be tough. Many people struggle with device management-here are some stats that should not be very surprising. You can always contact me (link below) and I will point you in the right direction.
What can you do when you are unplugged?
Hi Beautiful Readers and thank you for reading this! I'm Dr. Joanne Broder, Media Psychologist, Author, and Fellow of the American Psychological Association. Please consider me to help you write your memoir, blogs, speeches, e-books, as well as coach you on your dissertation or thesis. Click here so we can connect!