Monday morning… I had a 7:30am client switch to my 6:30am small group personal training session. No big deal. The conversation started as
client “…didn’t you get my email?”
me: “No I did not. What time did you send it?”
client: “9:30pm” and it is now 6:30am.
me: “No I didn’t have time to look at email this morning as I had clients at 5:30 am and I go to bed by 8 pm. Plus I don’t look at my email or phone an hour before bed or first thing in the morning”.
Now I am sure many people look at their emails at night or on their computers until bedtime but is this habit necessary or healthy?
We have created bad habits …we have our phones glued to us all day long then we are on our computers or Ipads the other hours of the day then the TV. Do we need to be online and available all day long from when we awake until we go to sleep?
I don’t think so.
My personal solution has been to unplug more often and I am loving it!
1. I eliminated all of my notifications on my Iphone and Ipad.
2. I charge my Iphone and Ipad in the kitchen over night.
3. I stay off computer and devices one hour before bed (ideally).
4. In the evenings when I get home and the weekends I stay away from my phone unless expecting a call.
5. I don’t check my email before bed or first thing in the morning.
Two plus years ago I used to wake up at 3:45 am and leave my house for work (Fitness Forward Studio) at 4:30am just so I could read emails at my studio around 4:45 before my busy day started (client appointments) until clients arrived at 5:15 AM. That was messed up.
We are becoming way too connected and available. We don’t need to respond to emails or text immediately…or should we expect a response immediately or get upset if someone doesn’t respond to an email within 8 hours.
Look into the future…
What is going to happen to our health as our stress levels increased (wired all day long) and our sleep is disrupted?
What can you do to change and improve you cell phone and computer habits?
How can you unplug more often?
I have been there and I don’t like what it did to me… time to spread the new habit of unplugging more frequently and be present to the people you are with including yourself.
Coach Deb
