I’m turning my phone off… for dinner. Sorry to scare you. I’m taking baby steps.
Actually, it’s part of a suggestion from Michael Hyatt, 44 Things to Boost Your Energy.
I consider myself an “On-the-Go Professional.” If my phone vibrates and it’s my boss, I could have a new project within the hour. It’s the beauty and the curse of a flexible work schedule. Because of this, I went with, yes, the standard, iPhone 3GS. It’s great. And it allows me to stay connected and aware all the time.
All the time. Funny, it started out that I only checked it at regularly scheduled intervals. And when nothing was there, I put it away. All of a sudden, I noticed, “I’m out with friends at a restaurant and I’m glued to my iPhone.”
In all fairness to me, they typically have a similar problem. But after reading suggestions numbers 38 and 41 on Michael Hyatt’s Post: “Have dinner with a friend and be fully present.” and “Turn off your mobile phone.” I hit upon an idea. Combine the two. Turn off my phone and be fully present while at dinner with friends.
It’s really quite simple. I just use airplane mode.
So far? Results are great! Once you get over that initial “twitch” to reach down and check for new mail, it’s perfect. When I enter the restaurant (after I’ve found my party) I switch my phone over to airplane mode. When I leave, I turn it back on and get caught up with everything I missed. Or rather, everything I didn’t miss. Because I, unlike so many of you, enjoyed my meal and time to myself, with my friends.
So, ready to boost your energy? Enjoy a meal with no cell phone.
