I wrote a post last year about how it was important to me to be intentionally present with my life. To not get sucked into my phone and miss out on what really matters.

Living that intention out has been a continual effort. I think we grow accustomed to being stimulated and having entertainment at the click of a button. And truthfully there are many times that I really do appreciate my iphone. So I’ve been working to find a balance.

One thing I’ve found that really helped me disconnect from my phone is setting a limit on checking my email & Facebook. Many days I would find myself absent mindedly clicking the mail icon, just in case there was anything important (is there really ever anything that important?), and aimlessly scrolling through Facebook. Then when there was something I needed to respond to or take care of, I wasn’t at the place to do it at that time anyway, and the habit really made me feel less present. Not good.

So for the past month or two I’ve been checking my email at 8, 12, 4, & 8 (roughly, the time often passes. Sometimes I’ll check an extra time if I’m waiting on a reply about something. And many times I’m busy doing other things and forget about email, which is totally fine!) Setting specific times to do that though has really made me feel less attached to my phone, and I like that.

The bottom line for me is that I want technology to compliment my life, not compete with it. I love the way Pinterest gets my creative juices flowing, how Instagram keeps me connected with my family, and the way I’m able to stay in touch with friends around the country through Facebook.

Just working on the balance 🙂