Single Tasking
This summer there have been a lot of things that I've been wrestling with as a mother in the "information age." Modern technology is everywhere, in the palms of ours hands, constantly tempting us to interact with it. While there are serious pros to how much easier our lives have gotten because of it, there are the obvious complications that follow. "Superficiality is the curse of our age. The doctrine of instant satisfaction is a primary spiritual problem. The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people." - Richard Foster "A Celebration of Discipline"
We went on a family hike last weekend, got to the top of the mountain and there was a group of teenagers sitting on some rocks, behind them the most incredible view. Stunning, really. They were on their phones. Our kids are looking up at us, are they constantly seeing us phone-in-hand? It's something that I've been haunted by, that we would be so distracted by computers, iPads, phones, whatever... that we'll miss it. This one life. I'm tempted to get a flip phone. In order to curb excess interactions with my phone I have taken IG off and have to physically download it every time I want to use it, this may not be necessary for you but it is for me. I also try and keep my phone playing music most of the day so I'm less likely to use it. Do you have any phone rules? Always interested to hear!
For years we've glorified multi-tasking, put it up on a pedestal. I'm here to say single tasking is my new multi tasking. I'm purposefully choosing to focus on just doing one thing at a time, ie talking to a friend, playing with the girls, just riding in the passenger seat, sitting on the front porch listening to the sounds of the earth. Sam and I watched the Secret Life of Walter Mitty and we both had to check each other from peeking at our phones, it's hard. I did actually watch the movie though and loved it. It's a powerful story and I highly recommend it. I watched a movie, no laptop or phone involved. What an accomplishment (and how sad is that?!).
Do you think there will be a revolt? A rise to stand up against the distractions? A throw back to simpler times where people gathered around tables and ate (no phones allowed), where they read books at night instead of surfing? It's something I think about. I think about how to proceed as the girls get older, what screen time is allowed and what isn't. I also check myself in what I'm releasing to the wild and what I want to get back, what I'm filling and nurturing myself with. BTW I'm on the lookout for inspiring blogs.
Also, a little humor...
I signed up for this tonight if anyone is interested!
top photo from my brilliant friend Erica's shop: Yes Ma'am Paper + Goods
other photos from Instagram
twitter/ facebook/ pinterest/ instagram/ bloglovin'
We went on a family hike last weekend, got to the top of the mountain and there was a group of teenagers sitting on some rocks, behind them the most incredible view. Stunning, really. They were on their phones. Our kids are looking up at us, are they constantly seeing us phone-in-hand? It's something that I've been haunted by, that we would be so distracted by computers, iPads, phones, whatever... that we'll miss it. This one life. I'm tempted to get a flip phone. In order to curb excess interactions with my phone I have taken IG off and have to physically download it every time I want to use it, this may not be necessary for you but it is for me. I also try and keep my phone playing music most of the day so I'm less likely to use it. Do you have any phone rules? Always interested to hear!
For years we've glorified multi-tasking, put it up on a pedestal. I'm here to say single tasking is my new multi tasking. I'm purposefully choosing to focus on just doing one thing at a time, ie talking to a friend, playing with the girls, just riding in the passenger seat, sitting on the front porch listening to the sounds of the earth. Sam and I watched the Secret Life of Walter Mitty and we both had to check each other from peeking at our phones, it's hard. I did actually watch the movie though and loved it. It's a powerful story and I highly recommend it. I watched a movie, no laptop or phone involved. What an accomplishment (and how sad is that?!).
Do you think there will be a revolt? A rise to stand up against the distractions? A throw back to simpler times where people gathered around tables and ate (no phones allowed), where they read books at night instead of surfing? It's something I think about. I think about how to proceed as the girls get older, what screen time is allowed and what isn't. I also check myself in what I'm releasing to the wild and what I want to get back, what I'm filling and nurturing myself with. BTW I'm on the lookout for inspiring blogs.
Also, a little humor...
I signed up for this tonight if anyone is interested!
top photo from my brilliant friend Erica's shop: Yes Ma'am Paper + Goods
other photos from Instagram
twitter/ facebook/ pinterest/ instagram/ bloglovin'