I confess, I've been glued to my phone lately.
Way worse than normal.
With constant news streaming in about virus developments and the ever-changing economy, I've felt compelled to stay updated. Checking my phone with each buzz. Texting with my husband. Scrolling longer. Then, yesterday, I let out a sigh in response to more unsettling news and my 9-year-old asked me, "Did you read more bad stuff on Facebook?"
Oh dear.
I was caught. In the best way. Her question was the wake-up I needed to put my phone down. Especially now.
My disconnect from home, as I've fallen into the cyber world of worry, has transferred some of those fears to my kids.
Time to course correct. Immediately.
Phones are tools. They don’t own us. They can’t. We have to set boundaries and manage them well so they don’t negatively impact us or our families. After my daughter’s question, and my realization that being on my phone has become synonymous with bad news, I’m taking drastic measures.
Now it’s pretty much my goal to only pull my phone out for photos of all the fun we're having at home. During daylight hours, I don’t need it for much more than that. News reports and social media updates from friends living through this pandemic can wait until after bedtime.
So, going forward here’s exactly how I plan to put my phone down, because yes, it matters — especially now.
Create "no phone" zones
Rather than have times I can and cannot access my phone — I definitely need it for occasional calls and the gobs of alarms I have set for Zoom meeting reminders — I’m choosing specific "no phone" zones: no phone in the playroom, our school space, or kid’s bedrooms since that is where we often gather to read and play.
Keep it charging
My phone doesn’t need to live in my pocket. I have a charging station in my room and in the kitchen, so depending on where we are during the day, I can keep it in one of those two places. I have easy access when I need it, but it's not attached to me.
Update my notification settings
Every buzz draws my attention. By updating my notifications I can stop the near-incessant buzz.
Delete some apps
It has become second nature to open my phone and tap a social media app. But if I can access those portals on my computer at night when the kids aren’t around, do I really need them on my phone tempting me all day? I’ll be paring down the apps on my phone to help keep things in check. Maybe just for a season, maybe forever.
Vocalize what I’m doing
When I do pick up my phone I’m going to tell my kids what I’m doing. “I’m using the calculator," "I’m texting Daddy," "I’m ordering groceries.” Hopefully this will help rewire the whole phone = bad news mentality.
