I have always loved the summer. The last day of school was the best day of my life other than the birth of my kids and when I got married of course. Why did I love that day so much? FREEDOM. The rules, homework and daily grind would give way to waking up late and starting the day with a clear agenda. On the start of the last day of school, there was an energy in the air that everyone felt and would cause kids to spontaneously combust into yelling in the hallways. Then getting on the bus and looking out the window at the kids I wouldn’t see until the fall gave a sense of a new chapter in my life that felt like adventure.
Unfortunately, I haven’t had an opportunity to experience the bliss of summer since high school. On rare occasions, I might get a sample of that ahead of a long vacation but it’s never been the same. You see when we are in sales you feel that you are only as good as the last month of sales. And if you are always chasing sales, you never get to fully relax.
This summer wasn’t much different. Each summer I attempt to give my family an experience that exposes them to new cultures and sites. This year’s trip was to Peru.
But I did something much different than years past.
I wanted to try to remove an old habit I’ve noticed lately that has been a problem for me.
My phone.
Not that the phone was the issue, but what I was doing on the phone that was a problem.
Over the years I had developed a reaction to breaks in my day or when I encountered stress to grab my phone and browse my social media and news feeds.
That was the habit I needed to break.
So going into this 10 day vacation I was going to focus on connecting with my family and the culture around me.
The only reason I would pick up my phone was to take pictures, research history of the area I was visiting, or journal in Google docs.
Not using my phone was fairly easy while on vacation. I was happier, much less stressed and a more engaged husband and father.
But at the end of the week, the digital wellbeing app on my phone alerted me to something that rocked my world.
The app stated that I used my phone 24 hours less than the week prior.
That message hit me like a ton of bricks.
I’ve wasted on average 24 hours a week on total BS on my phone.
The feeling of guilt and disappointment came over me. For all the wasted years of energy I’ve put into my device that for the most part doesn’t add to my life.
I was addicted to wasting time and distracting myself on my phone. This electronic drug has been a major cause of my anxiety and stress.
And not to mention the fact that I had a chain of 75 cell phone stores called Absolute Wireless where I sold these things.
I was kind of like a “drug dealer” of sorts pedaling a device for communications but which most people are abusing.
Looking back, I was aware my customers were abusing the drug but I guess I didn’t know what could be done about it.
I see now what can be done about it. And how I can help.
It starts with how I use my device for good by disciplining myself.
It’s about prioritizing what my phone can and should do. Like connecting with loved ones or customers who I need to say hello to. Using CallProof to prospect and complete my follow-ups. (Yes I sell too). Maybe watching YouTube on some motivational messages from John Rohn or doing a meditation to get my mind right for the day to move me to that next level up in life.
Of course sometimes I relax with a good Netflix show or listen to some tunes on a walk. But the news and social media is out for me, and so too is my stress and anxiety.
You see I’m just shifting my wasted time into quality time spent growing and evolving to be a better dad, husband and CEO.
24 hours of extra production per week adds up to a 38% increase on what I can accomplish with the same time.
Since I’ve been back from my trip I can report I’ve made a complete shift in energy available for who I care about in my life and my focus has been amazing.
Do you want to make a shift too?
Take a moment and look at your digital wellbeing on your phone. Just by realizing the block of time you’re wasting, you’ll quickly see the opportunities that are waiting.
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