Dare to Disconnect

Whatsapp messaging, texting, and calling; it seems our smart phones have become our end all, be all. And the sad reality is most of us are not even aware of how much we miss while glued to our gadgets. Clinical Psychologist Dr. Saliha Afridi explains why it has become imperative we take a break from the WiFi.

“We (and our children) are more self-absorbed than ever before, and we believe that people should know what we eat, where we travel, and who we met for coffee as if it were the only important news of the day. Something is very wrong with this picture. So, now that March is here and spring cleaning begins, I suggest we all take a challenge of turning off our WiFi and our phones and start turning our hearts and our eyes towards each other.”

Tips to Disconnect

  • Keep your phone in your purse/bag/car: Yes, there was a time when mothers and very important business men didn’t respond to a cry for help right away. Research shows that even a turned down cell phone negatively impacts the quality of the conversation because it fragments your mind and attention. So leave it off the table.
  • Feel the freedom: Try going one day (or a few hours) without the phone and see what happens. You can inform all those who might need to get a hold of you that you are away from your phone for the day. You will be anxious at first, but once you get through the initial negative reactions, you will feel more present and liberated. In all cases, you will become aware of how addicted you are to your device and how mindful you actually become.
  • Set an out–of–office response: Only check your email two or three times a day. Have designated times and let people know that you will respond only in those times. Take the control back!

Credit
Dr. Saliha Afridi
Managing Director/Clinical Psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia, Dubai
www.lighthousearabia.com