Having worked as a nurse most of my life, up until recently, bringing my work home was never an option, therefore not a problem. Since January I’ve been teaching at the college, which allows me to bring my work home and so I do spend more time plugged in while at home than ever before.
It used to just be my phone that I was tethered to, scrolling social media and texting friends and family. But now my laptop is in the picture as well which I use for work purposes but also because I am currently enrolled in an online course. The one thing I don’t use my laptop for is social media. And I’d like it to stay that way.
I feel that I do waste way too much of my time scrolling on social media. If it weren’t for that, I feel my use of technology is balanced and I wouldn’t have a need for unplugging. I tell myself all the time that I’m going to spend less time on Instagram and FB but it never seems to come to fruition.
As far as my students having access to me, either by phone or laptop, I feel right now that’s necessary all the time. I’m still new to teaching and want to be as available to them as possible. Also for my three older kids. I can’t just turn off notifications and put my phone in a drawer for the day. We don’t have a landline so I need to keep my phone handy.
Scrolling FB and Instagram is such a waste of time. I really need to start putting limits on that for myself. Getting outside is a great way to unplug for sure. Unfortunately when I’m at home and doing yoga or working out, my darn phone is right there and sometimes I’m having conversations via text or checking notifications during yoga, so ridiculous. I need to stop that.
I think what I should do is just leave my phone on the charger in my bedroom and carry on about my day. Only going in to check on it every half an hour or so. It’s just that we’re so used to immediate responses from each other that if I didn’t answer my kids in half an hour they’d be thinking I’d dropped dead.
bloom.planted.north 
Leave a comment