Could you take an electronics free day?

It’s a very simple question, but the answer is not that simple! Could you go a whole day without your laptop, tablet or phone? If you work anywhere in this world, the answer would be a resounding NO, business comes to a complete standstill without electronics. Our everyday business use makes sense, but when we leave work and relax with our families, it’s time to put them away and connect on a personal level.

Have you looked around when you’re out in a restaurant? What do you see…husbands and wives not talking to one another, but individually looking through their phones, texting or making a call, families with cell phones in hand, not saying a word to one another. What we call “social media” is really making us all very anti-social. If you have a teenager, you will be asked to text them, not call them because they do not take calls. In case you haven’t noticed, when you text there’s no voice inflection or body language, so your texts may often be misinterpreted by the recipient. Also, sometimes you simply need to hear the voice of the other person; again, we’re losing the human aspect of comradery, comfort and companionship. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and more are all consuming, stealing our children away if we’re not careful. Parents have to be ever watchful and protective of what’s available to their children. Yes, be the helicopter parent…hover and keep circling, they’re worth it!

Set an electronics free time every day in your home. Talk to your children about their day, you might be surprised how much they have to tell you. Shut everything off, not “I have to take this” or “Let me just look at this text”, nothing! Really listen, look at their faces and look into their eyes! They need you, they really need you!

Take your spouse out for an electronics free evening. Tell them what you’re dreaming about, goals that are burning inside you. Ask them what’s on their mind! It can be an eye opening experience. It’s wonderful to discover new and exciting things about each other.

I am as big a technology buff as anyone, but if we’re not careful, this great thing can be our undoing. So disconnect for a while, let’s be social, really social!