💡 Leave Your Phone in Your Pocket (Issue 109)
It's okay to experience occasional boredom
We’ve all seen those couples who have their phones out during dinner, ignoring each other and mindlessly shoveling food into their mouths.
We’ve also seen people missing unforgettable moments in life because their phones were in front of their faces.
While many of us would agree that’s not good, I bet we have no problem whipping out our phones when we’re alone and feeling bored.
While in the bathroom
Eating alone
Watching a show alone
Riding the train
Sitting in traffic
Before smartphones existed, we had many moments when we weren’t being constantly stimulated, dopamine-boosted, and entertained. Sure, we occasionally used those moments to read newspapers, magazines, and books.
But, let’s be honest, reading is nothing like the mindless doom-scrolling we’ve all been doing lately. That’s terrible for our mental and emotional health. I’m feeling it right now!
It is healthier to fill moments of supposed boredom with something better:
Deep thinking and daydreaming
Appreciating the world around you
Writing thoughts in a notebook
Reading a good book and learning something
Talking with other people
Going for a walk or working out
Meditating
Singing!
For example, when I shower, I don’t have my phone with me (obviously). My mind wanders, and I think about my businesses, books I’m writing, ideas for new products, and new stories I want to write.
Once I get out of the shower, I quickly jot those ideas down so I don’t lose them. But let me tell you something… If my stupid phone is available, I check messages, read news feeds, and look at social media instead. And when that happens, no creativity happens!
So, I’m trying to force myself to leave my phone in my pocket more often. Out of sight, out of mind. I want to be a creator, not a consumer. I want to be healthier and less stressed.
I encourage you to do the same. Challenge yourself to leave your phone in your pocket more often and see how things change in your life.
I’m Larry Cornett, a Freedom Coach who works with you to optimize your career, business, and life. My mission is to help you become a more "Invincible You" so you can live your life on your terms instead of being controlled by someone else's rules. I live in Northern California near Lake Tahoe with my wife and our Great Dane.
