Do you ever miss the old days?
You know the ones… where phones were attached to our homes instead of our hips.
I do.
I mean, I like the convenience of having Dr. Google, a camera, my phonebook and music all in one spot but this week I realized exactly HOW connected I am. It got me thinking about how it makes me feel.
* * *
As I’ve mentioned I have an Apple watch and it serves me well. During my yoga classes I can teach with ease knowing if my men should need to get a hold of me I’ll be able to see it and otherwise not be interrupted. When I’m bar tending there too I can relax and not check my phone every five minutes.
However…
Since everyone knows I’m connected they also expect me to respond RIGHT AWAY. This drives me crazy. If I don’t respond within two minutes, my mother will send follow up texts one after another looks something like this:
call me.
(30 seconds later) Well?
(30 seconds later) WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
I’m working mom. I’m busy being a mom, mom…and bringing pins to Easter is not an urgent need; so calm down MOM.
* * *
Earlier this week, I got a text message from someone I’ve been trying to get a hold of for weeks and they haven’t responded to any one of my attempts. I’ll admit, I saw the message and wondered why his request was more important than mine.
Since I couldn’t figure it out, I just didn’t respond.
I felt REALLY guilty about it. I mean, it was while I was working but still. Should we feel guilty when we are hitting the technology pause button in our lives just for space to breathe? Or is the new normal for humans to be at everyones beck and call every second of the day? Maybe I’m off the rocker and this is just a form of Minnesota nice.
Whatever it is, for me it HAS to stop. I don’t want the anxious feelings of being called out when I don’t respond.
In a world where time is more precious than gold, doesn’t a five minute phone CALL better than 35 minutes of texting? It probably takes people hours to text, if you’re counting reading between the lines, because let’s face it tone is not transposed through written words.
* * *
The benefits I once saw in my watch are now slightly annoying.
Technology is making us listen to devices rather than our bodies. My body knows when it needs to sit down and rest. I don’t need my watch to ding at me and tell me to get off my ass, especially when my ass is exactly where I want to be.
I also don’t need an accessory to tell me when I need to move my body or breathe.
It’s VERY possible I’m a little irritated that I was actually moving and exercising and my watch didn’t count it was exercise minutes. WTF?
The collection of all of this is really making me question when we stopped being adults and started needing a “mother” tied to our wrists.
“Breathe honey.”
“Your family is calling.”
“Stand up!”
“Get moving!”
“The school is emailing.”
“Did you remember…”
“Wakey, wakey….”
* * *
Everything circles right back around to balance. Balance your technology with your down time.
But if you have to choose between being connected or not, make sure you tune inward and really listen to what YOU need. While mothers are great, we are the only person that knows what WE need.
Namaste,
Jes xoxo