Time Thieves, Devices

We are surrounded by electronic devices contending for our attention; smartphones, kindles, iPads, computers, TV screens, and more.  They travel with us these days, in our pockets, bags or even on our wrists.  They have successfully connected us to the world, 24 hours a day.  While that is wonderful in many ways, that connection has stolen much of our time.  

For example, the expectation that we are available at any time day or night. Family and friends express frustration if we don’t respond to their calls or texts right away.  We never really leave our jobs, our employers or employees can reach us any time of day or night.  When we sit down to rest, we waist time in front of a screen designed to draw us in with content that is hard to resist. It is so very easy to spend hours in front of those screens without realizing how much time has passed.  

I have a challenge for you.  Spend three days without looking at your computer or television and watch what happens.  I have tried this and am a bit embarrassed to admit how hard it was for me.  The thing I discovered though was how much time I had.  I was amazed at how many projects I was able to accomplish.  Maybe you have more self discipline than I do and have not fallen into this trap. But maybe you will discover as I did that you can begin to reclaim hours of time spent doing things that are truly satisfying.  

May I also suggest that you set some boundaries regarding your availability and let people know those boundaries. It is healthy to schedule time each day that is for you alone. Another helpful tip is to establish limits for your screen time, use a timer if you tend to get lost in cyberworld.  If you accept my challenge, I would love to hear what you experienced and any helpful ideas you have to share. Whether you accept my challenge or not, learn to protect yourself from device time thieves.