Living with intention without the screens.

 

 

Living With Intention: Prioritizing People Over Tech

 

You wake up each morning and reach for your phone before your feet hit the floor. Your eyes are glued to the screen as you scroll and tap your way through emails, texts, news, and social media. The hours slip by in a blur of pings and alerts, yet you feel disconnected and dissatisfied. What if you could break free from the constant pull of technology? This is an invitation to live with intention. To look up from your devices and truly see the people around you. To listen and engage without distraction. Your relationships are worth nurturing. The time is now to prioritize people over tech. Rediscover the joys of human connection. Your life is waiting.

 

The Dangers of Technology Addiction

Technology is amazing - it connects us, entertains us, and makes life more convenient. But it can also disconnect us from what matters most - our loved ones.

• It's easy to get sucked into the online world of social media, gaming, and constant stimuli. Before you know it, you've spent hours mindlessly scrolling instead of connecting with your family.
• This tech addiction trains our brains to crave constant dopamine hits. We start choosing screens over real relationships. Our attention spans shrink, and we lose the ability to be fully present.
• Children suffer when devices babysit them instead of parents. They miss out on vital social skills gained through face-to-face interaction.
• Too much technology harms our mental health. Studies link excessive screen time to increased anxiety, depression, and loneliness - especially among teens.
• Make a change today. Limit your screen time and truly unplug for blocks of time. Rediscover activities you enjoy offline.

Scheduling regular device-free family time will be a real gamer changer for your home space and family. Share meals, play games, go for walks. Strengthen your bonds with meaningful conversations. Be fully present with loved ones and make eye contact, actively listen while having these conversations. Teach kids healthy technology habits set the example as we know they are like sponges. Set boundaries and be a positive role model. Life is precious and short. Don't let technology rob you of real connection. In 2024 Prioritizing people, places and things over screens.

Setting Healthy Boundaries With Screens

Stop letting your phone or computer dictate your time. Don't let notifications and alerts control when you look at your device. Instead, decide when you will check your apps and social media on your terms. Disable non-essential notifications to avoid constant interruptions.

• Set limits on screen time, especially during family activities or when spending quality time with loved ones. Put your phone away while eating dinner together or playing with the kids. Stay present in those moments.
• Have tech-free times or days where you intentionally unplug for a set period. For example, keep phones out of the bedroom overnight for better sleep. Or have a "No Device Day" on the weekends to reconnect as a family.
• Prioritize in-person interactions when possible. Rather than texting friends and family, make time for face-to-face conversations. The human connection will nourish your soul.
• Find balance between real life and digital life. Discover activities away from screens that fulfill you like being outdoors( Nature is our medicine and healer of the mind and spirit), reading, or learning a new skill. Don't neglect your needs for human connection.
• When you catch yourself mindlessly scrolling, ask what you really need in that moment. Are you bored or avoiding something? See if there's something more meaningful you could do instead.

Your devices can easily consume too much mental energy. Set healthy boundaries so tech doesn't take over your whole life. Stay true to your values and invest time in the things that matter most.

 

Making Meaningful Human Connections

Take a moment to reflect on how much time you spend staring at screens versus connecting with the people around you. It's easy to get lost in the digital world, but human interaction is so important for our overall wellbeing.

• Make an effort to put down your phone, log off social media, and truly be present with your loved ones. Engage in conversation, make eye contact, and give them your full attention. Small gestures like this show how much you care and that you are committed to bring your attention back on your family and your children and spouse while they too will their attention bring back on you too, because you matter just as much as they do.
• Plan activities that bring people together rather than isolate them. Cook dinner as a family, start a book club, go on walks with friends. Shared experiences build deeper bonds.
• Don't forget the power of physical affection - hugs, holding hands, snuggling up together. Human touch releases oxytocin, the "love hormone" that promotes feelings of intimacy.
• Schedule regular device-free times. At meals, before bedtime, during family game night - be fully engaged, without distractions. Your focus shows your priorities.
• Ultimately, it's the people in your life that matter most. Make connecting with them a priority. Put down your phone, look into their eyes, and truly see them. The rest can wait.

 

Living in the Present Moment

Being present in each moment is the key to experiencing life's simple joys. Slow down. Look around you. Breathe deeply. Take in the details with all your senses - the laughter of your kids, the smell of dinner cooking, the feeling of your lover's hand in yours.

• Turn off notifications on your phone and only check it a few set times a day. Being constantly connected distracts you from the here and now.
• When with your family, give them your undivided attention. Make eye contact, actively listen, and participate. Avoid multitasking.
• Savor your food. Chew slowly and mindfully, appreciating the textures and flavors.
• Go outside. Take a walk and observe nature through your child’s eyes - the shapes of clouds, the colors of leaves, the songs of birds. Let their curiosity inspire your own.
• At the end of each day, reflect on moments that brought you joy. Write them down. Cherish the memory.

 

The present is a gift. By living fully in each moment, you honor yourself, your loved ones, and the brevity of life. Disconnect to reconnect on a deeper level with your beautiful world.

 

Bringing Intention to Your Relationships

Listen guys, take a moment right now to reflect on the precious people in your life. Your children, your partner, your parents, your siblings, your dear friends. When was the last time you were fully present with them, giving them your undivided attention? Right? I'm not here to point fingers, but this is what I also saw within myself. Life pulls us in so many directions, and it's easy to get distracted by work, chores, and yes, even our devices. But relationships are the heart of what makes life meaningful. Let's reprioritize connecting with our loved ones. Schedule regular quality time together this year- whether it's a weekly family game night or a monthly dinner out with friends. At home, put away devices and focus on each other its time. Go for a walk and leave phones behind, so you can really talk.

Ask thoughtful questions and truly listen. Me and boys love going to the Dollar Tree or Five below for fun games and activities. It's cheap and it allows us to connect in a childish way. Don't be afraid to tap into that 8 year self again lol. When you're with your loved ones, be fully there in mind and spirit. Don't just nod along, half listening - engage, respond. Appreciate each precious moment you have together. Your little ones won't be this small forever. Enjoy them.. really enjoy them. Those long winded talks lol or when they grab for your hand when walking. Embrace those moments reconnect with your babies. Your heart will rejoice and your spirit overtime with become calmer and much more at peace. Show your love through thoughtful actions. Surprise your partner with their favorite treat, leave a sweet note for your child, or send a "thinking of you" text to a friend. These simple acts of care nurture relationships. As the saying goes, "people over things." Our connections give our lives meaning and purpose. By living with intention, we can cherish each relationship.

 

At the end of the day

 

We all have the power within us to live more intentionally, prioritizing the people we love over the technology that often distracts. Take time today to reflect on what's most important, then take one small step to reconnect with someone you care about. Turn off notifications, put down your phone, and give them your full, loving attention. They will feel you care, and it will nurture your spirit as well. Living with intention isn't always easy, but it is so worthwhile. Focus on connecting heart-to-heart, and you'll build memories and relationships that truly matter. The people in your life are your greatest gift - treasure them.