This week I have really learned the importance of disconnected (from the world) time. Last week I was talking to my husband and I told him that I miss him and felt like we've been so busy that we haven't had very much time to spend together, with just me and just him. The more we talked about it, the more I realized that I wasn't taking advantage of the small time that we had together because I was so distracted from social media or other things on the internet, including Netflix. It made me feel really sad to think that I was wasting my time doing useless things like checking instagram over and over again or watching 3 episodes of Burn Notice (even though it was with my husband) when I could spend my time more wisely in the real world strengthening my relationship with the real people around me.
It's sad to know that sometimes (unintentionally) I care more about the fake online than I do the actual things that are happening around me! How much am I missing out on because I am too glued to my phone or the latest Netflix series.
I having been making more of an effort to check my phone/instagram/facebook/whatever less and not care about what is going on there. In the past, my husband and I have run 2 half marathons together. We trained for it all together and both agreed that that is some of the best times that we have spent together. We have really liked it because we really are completely away from the world. There are no distractions on our runs. Not to mention that exercise releases endorphins that make the body feel better and make you happier. So we have decided to start running together again BEFORE we turn on whatever our show on Netflix is at the moment. And let me tell you, those two things have made all the difference. I have felt a million times better and happier this week!
Also, if you would like some good reading, hit up this talk from general conference last weekend! It talks about avoiding the "fake" online world! I really enjoyed it!
Really great advice. My wife and I do the same things. We got into a bad habit of watching Netflix during dinner. It's a hard habit to break. I like the idea of pushing ourselves to sometimes be disconnected. Maybe I should try and actually be disconnected (leave phone at home, turn it off, etc.). Thanks for the great post.
ReplyDeleteThis is great stuff. While I don't have a wife with whom I don't feel very connected with, I do like social media! Well, maybe me "liking" social media is an over-statement. I really don't like it that much, but its what everyone likes, so for some reason I have to like it as well. When I got my new phone, I just decided not to download anything on my phone that I could consider a "time-waster." The only thing I have on there is Instagram! Which I love. I look mostly at really awesome photos from professional photographers. BUT! I tell myself that I am not allowed to look at it until I get home at night, same with Facebook, and that has made a significant difference in my life. I LOVE not looking at that stuff! It's seriously so liberating! I feel proud of myself and I feel like I'm ten times more productive during my time at school. I love it!
ReplyDeleteBut I love how y'all go on a run. I think that is a great way to substitute that time that you were watching netflix with. Good stuff.
Basically I loved your post. Thanks.
This post is so great! Now that I think about it, my husband and I watch Netflix together all the time. There are definitely better things that we could be doing with our free time. Media can be so consuming of every second of our free time. We all definitely need to cut back on it. Thanks so much for posting this!
ReplyDeleteI just posted about the exact same thing! Check out my blog and watch the video I posted. "Disconnecting" from social media is something that I believe is so important and I definitely need to work on it. When everything is at the touch of your fingertips it is so hard to stay away! However, I know that our relationships will grow stronger and we can become stronger individuals if we use our time wisely and electronics/social media for things of importance.
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