Why Not . . . Unplug?

As a blogger, it may sound odd that I am offering up the idea of unplugging from technology, but even someone like me who is constantly looking at a computer screen, checking my smart phone for email and reading newspaper articles on my iPad knows that I function best when I put it down every once in awhile.

The benefits of our hyper-connected society are numerous, and I certainly am not complaining as it allows us all the option of working from home or wherever we prefer to be, remain in contact no matter where our lives may take us and have access to endless amounts of information with the simple touch of a button. However, I would like to suggest to you today to find time weekly or at least monthly to unplug. Carve out time to distance yourself from technology and remind yourself that somehow we did survive not too long ago with landline phones and snail mail to communicate.

While I have a feeling some of you are already on board with this suggestion, more of you may agree, but believe it isn’t possible. Let me share with you the benefits, some obvious and some not so obvious, that I’d like you to consider before you dismiss the idea altogether.

1. An opportunity to recharge. We are not machines, therefore, we cannot function like machines. Our minds, our eyes, our bodies need to take a break.  Just as our bodies need sleep every night to rejuvenate, so too do our minds.

2. High quality work vs. mediocre output. Upon turning off your many devices and leaving them out of your reach, your creativity will start to flow, you will give yourself an opportunity to be in different situations where technology would be a hindrance or unhelpful and ideas will start to percolate, fabulous discussions will begin to occur and you will more likely than not be filled with fantastic ideas to take back to you work.  By limiting how long you are connected, you force yourself to be productive and not waste time, and in your down time away from technology, you are free to let your mind wander.

3. Reduction in anxiety. If you are clear to those you work with and for that you will not be available 24-hours a day and you stick to your guns, you will be amazed how eventually they will learn to only contact you if they want an immediate response during your desired hours. As long as you communicate clearly and follow through, you will eliminate the anxiety you may feel when you choose to power off, knowing that they know you will return at a specific time.

4. Peace and quiet. The balance that I so often speak about is hard to attain when your devices are constantly “dinging”, “singing”, or “ringing”. Perhaps the better solution is to turn off your alerts and only check your email and calendars once or twice a day, but regardless, get away from the sound and the device all together and let your mind relax in a tranquil environment.

5. Strengthen your focus. While convenient, our high-tech world has shortened our attention span which ultimately reduces opportunities for quality experiences.  If we don’t allow our minds time to think analytically and digest all that we are observing one experience at at time, we are robbing ourselves of the ability to reach our full potential.

6. Strengthen relationships. I mentioned last week in the newsletter that for my birthday we rendezvoused out of town to a resort in the country leaving behind our laptops and knowingly staying in a room without television.  It was fabulous! Time was forgotten about and long bouts of reading and conversing occurred. Needless to say, we focused on what was important and chose to control the technology that we appreciate instead of letting it control us.

Now initially, you may have tech-withdrawals. This is normal and to be expected, but what I believe you will find is that the more you unplug and the longer the time is that you remain unplugged you will actually come to covet your time, space and privacy.  In fact, an errant cell phone ring may feel very annoying. This is good.  This is very good.

Choose to use technology to maintain relationships, not build them, and instead choose to build relationship with face to face communication or experiences shared together. Understand that virtual isn’t reality, but it can aid the reality that you wish to create. Once you learn what technology can do for you, make sure that it doesn’t have control over you. The key is to be its master and not the other way around.

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Why Not . . . Read? Part Une

A bibliophile I proudly claim to be, and I strongly suggest (although I have a very strong suspicion you are as well) that you become one as well if you are not already.

I am a devourer of books, magazines and news articles.  My night stand always has at least five books or magazines placed atop it in the evening as to give me options to choose from to suit my mood. And the pleasure derived from this activity is one that I have control over in choosing what I read, how much I read and what I learn.

One of the most empowering abilities reading gives us is that it truly places the world at our fingertips. Whether it be non-fiction or fiction, biography or self-help, historical or culinary – we are all capable of learning anything we decide to set our mind to.

With all of that said, there are many benefits that can be extracted simply by being an avid reader. Since the list is quite lengthy that I’d like to share, I’ve broken it up into three pieces.  The following two lists of benefits will be shared in the subsequent Wednesday Why Not . . .? posts during the next two weeks. But for now, let’s take a look at the first five gifts that reading provides:

Reduce Stress

One of the pleasures at the end of my day, on the weekend or while on vacation is having the time and lack of responsibilities so that I may just read.  There are few things that cause me to lose all track of time than to be lost in a good book or article. Finding the time to read in each of our daily lives is a simple way to reduce stress, calm our mind and remove it from our busy list of to-dos in order to get lost in someone else’s story, life or experience.

Become More Intelligent

One of the most understood benefits of reading is that a person’s intelligence increases, their “smarts”, shall we say, improve because they are learning in-depth knowledge about either an event in history, a person’s background, how something works, the proper syntax usage, and so much more. I would argue that even when the content may be questionable, the value of reading the written word is still a benefit.

Improve Vocabulary

As an English teacher and having many friends who teach at all grade levels, it is quite evident that the simple repetition of choosing to pick up a book, a magazine, or newspaper at night (or anytime) will repeatedly increase one’s vocabulary.  Yes, memorizing words on a list works as well, but reading pieces of literature that include higher level word choice immediately enhancing your ability to absorb something new.  Even if you’re not sure of the exact definition of a word you have come across . . .
Example: obdurate -

“She was so obdurate, that no amount of persuasion could make her alter her stance on on the political issues being discussed at the Thanksgiving dinner table.”

. . . by searching for context clues, you are becoming a more active and engaged reader, thus, improving your intelligence and consequently improving your vocabulary one word at a time.

(answer – stubborn)

A Feeling of Satisfaction

Upon finishing a challenging book or a classic you have heard people allude to time and time again, only to be unsure of what they were referring to until you yourself read the book is a priceless feeling of satisfaction. The act of completing something that pushed you a bit, asked you to consider something you hadn’t thought about before or presented something to you that you had never heard of, is a way to bring more satisfaction into your life. I still have the goal of reading all six of Jane Austen’s books and believe me, when I do, I will be dancing on the moon.

Refinement of Life

One of the things that excites me about picking up a new book or the arrival of new magazines each month/week in my mailbox is that I may just find ways to further create my ideal life.  I am notorious for ripping out pages with articles that I want to never forget because of the ideas they share or the topics they discuss.  I swear to this day, that I learned the detailed fundamentals of giving myself an at home facial by reading Teen magazine as a pre-teen. Reading exposes our thoughts to new and different ways of doing things or inspiring us to try something new that we may never had considered before. And that is why I wholeheartedly believe that if you are an avid reader, you’re life has every opportunity to be rich and cultivated no matter where you live or what your circumstance.

Click here to read Part Two with even more benefits of incorporating reading into your life will be shared.  Have a lovely Wednesday!

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Why Not . . . Create Your Own Simple Ritual?

Humans, for better or for worse, are creatures of habit.  Sometimes the routines a person becomes accustomed to are mundane and uneventful, yet necessary, like putting the trash out on the curb every Sunday night. But there are other routines – rituals, as I like to call them – that one can incorporate into their lives to add luxury to each day.  While certain luxuries are grand expenditures, there are so many other luxuries that cost nothing or next to nothing, yet bring a tremendous amount of joy.

Each week in The Simply Luxurious Life newsletter, I highlight a few readers and ask them to answer the question that will be expanded upon today – what every day luxuries do you enjoy?  Each one that I have received has been a delight to read and share. What I find is that each person’s luxuries are uniquely their own, revealing a glimpse at their personality and charm.

Often times, the hustle and bustle of daily errands, jobs, meetings and responsibilities impede upon one’s ability to take a few moments to breathe, slow down and enjoy, so today’s post will focus on sharing ideas on how you can bring a ritual (or two) into your life with the sole intention to fill yourself up – replenish your spirit and remind you that you are more than worth the time and energy to unwind, relax, and appreciate pleasurable things.

Beauty

Nothing reveals a woman’s opinion of herself like the way she cares for her appearance, and one aspect of this is her beauty regime.  Creating beauty rituals that you attend to just before turning in to bed or upon awaking in the morning are an easy way to bring a ritual into your life that has many benefits and makes you feel as though you are being pampered. Examples: use moisturizer over your entire body immediately after stepping out the bath/shower, remove all make-up before bed and apply a rich facial crème to hydrate your skin (eye cream too, if you’d like), a spritz of your favorite perfume, and of course a blissful night’s sleep to restore and invigorate not only your skin, but your body and mind.  Here are a few more beauty rituals you might want to consider.

Fitness

You do not have to be as bouncy as Jane Fonda to include the daily ritual of fitness into your life.  View fitness as an opportunity to improve your life, to restore more energy so that you can do the things you wish to do. One ritual that I enjoy every morning is taking a walk with my dogs.  Now some mornings, it is a very vigorous, long walk, but other times, it is just a stroll to allow the dogs to frolic and play. Either way, it is a ritual that I try to continue, and it makes me feel good. 

Bedtime

Above was mentioned a few beauty rituals that can be done just before bed, but what do you do that turns that switch in your mind conveying the message to start winding down, to get ready to be lulled to sleep?  Whether you go to bed early or late, reading a book in bed, watching your favorite comedy (even if it’s a rerun – for me Frasier), sipping a bit of tea, tucking your kids in and reading to them out of a lovely children’s book, sitting on the porch with a cup of decaf, any of these and so many more communicate to your body and more importantly the mind, that you are about to give it some rest.  Think about something that brings you pleasure that you could envision yourself doing nearly every night before you drift off into dreamland.  Something to think about.

Morning

If you are not a morning person, this one might be a bit more difficult to introduce into your life, but I’m going to venture to argue that you still can bring a bit of ritual to your morning routine.  Whether it’s stopping by your local coffee house and chatting with the barista behind the counter, reading the paper while you sip your morning cup of joe, perusing through your favorite blogs, looking at your daily calendar to remind yourself of the day ahead and making a note to find some time for yourself each day, whatever you choose to do, make sure it’s something that you look forward to and lifts your spirits just as you are about to embark on a brand new day with no mistakes in it.

Weekly

Some of the best rituals endure because you don’t get to enjoy them every day.  Now due to the fact that they aren’t every day, they can be a bit more decadent if you’d like.  I know a handful of couples who reserve Friday nights as their dinner out – and typically reservations at a fine dining establishment. What a beautiful way to end the week.  No matter how rambunctious it may have been, this provides a time to celebrate its culmination and reflect on successes that may have occurred.  How about a weekly trip to your favorite book store, a weekly gathering of good friends for brunch, coffee or a walk, or allow yourself the indulgence of purchasing a new bottle of wine that you’ve never had the opportunity to try and pair it with a decadent homemade meal? Find something that knowing in the back of your mind is going to take place every week provides a bit more motivation to push through your work and do your best.

Okay, now that I’ve shared, I am dying to hear from you.  Please do tell.  We can all gain inspiration and ideas from one another.  Have a wonderful Wednesday!  You’re halfway there

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