Disconnect to Reconnect - The A, B, C's of detoxing
Last night I spent the 60th day without my iPhone. Getting ready for bed with a combination of cleaning up after dinner with my journal reflecting on a day interacting with clients and my family. No devices to pull at me.
I am actively continuing to practice the art of disconnecting to reconnect with my wife, my children, my family and most importantly my life. In some circles it is said we collectively consume up to 270 full Sunday newspapers a day. (For those that don’t remember what the Sunday newspaper looks like – think cartoons). It’s astonishing to think that our days are being spent being locked into the digital world through device addiction, porn addiction and social media “dread scrolling”.
My call to action today is to wake up and disconnect to reconnect from digital to reality.
Below are the A-B-C’s
A – is for Action - Social media, porn, and digital dissociation is all ways to become immobilized by the devices. Take a baby step and step into moving the body.
The benefits of moving the body are.
Increases brain size. Not only does exercise make the existing brain structures healthier, it can increase the size of the brain. ...
Prevents memory loss. Moving increases oxygen and blood circulation throughout the body, including in the brain. ...
Improves sleep. ...
Reduces anxiety and depression. ...
Boosts mood.
B – is for Balance – I am not asking you to go back to the 1800’s let alone the 90’s for that matter. Even though the cellphones and pagers did rock. The invitation is to balance, recalibrate and find a new foundation to explore the “real” world; Furthermore, giving space outside of the Internet, the phone and social toxicity of social media.
Exploring Balance can come in the form of internal and external balance. Consider one or two from each area.
Internal balance
Mind
Body
Spirit
External balance
Work, career, & financial freedom
Social relationship
Family
Fun
C – is for Co-create – Consider this one of the most challenging and yet cleansing opportunities you can do for yourself today. In the age of excess, consumption and the contradiction of connecting with others only to feel more isolated. I want to engage talking about your interest in disconnecting and reconnecting. Tell your partner, spouse, and a family member. Create a game of it. Remember, the goal is to connect, not kill you.
The value of sharing your story…Finding similarities with other people helps us live happy and healthy lives. Your life may feel ordinary to you, but it might seem extraordinary to someone else. Every story shared is a chance to make someone feel less alone.
Every Friday afternoon during the month of October I am holding a group focused on digitally detoxing and disconnecting to reconnect.
Join the workshop! Disconnect to reconnect to your friends, your family, and most importantly to yourself.
Please email me at ryanwestrum@gmail.com to sign up for the group.
