Remember what life was like before smartphones? Sitting in an airport departure lounge recently, I found the scene around me almost eerie. Almost every person had their faces glued to a smartphone or tablet whiling away the wait time. It made me wonder: have these devices taken more than they’ve added?

Are we now incapable of just sitting and thinking? I see couples in restaurants with their faces in their phones. I see kids in strollers playing their favorite apps.  In line-ups, on park benches, during commercial breaks… we’re all reaching for our smartphones. Is it possible that these gadgets are causing us to unconsciously zone out rather than tune in especially when it matters most?

Smartphones arrived in our lives with an unlimited number of apps that have, no doubt, made all of our lives a little easier and sometimes more fun. But they didn’t come with the discipline to turn themselves OFF. This must be practiced and self-enforced. 

So, here’s my challenge to you: next time you find yourself in a pause—line ups, waiting rooms—before you grab your phone, ask yourself, “what is something worthwhile I could be doing instead?” Maybe it’s picking up a magazine or chatting with the person next to you. Perhaps it’s thinking of a few things you’re grateful for or mentally checking in with some of your goals.

The point is, you have a choice when you begin to be mindful about how you spend your moments.

Question

Try turning your phone completely off for a few hours and let me know how it feels. No doubt very liberating.