How unplugging and disconnecting clears your mind
A lesson on why to unplug
Here is a lesson I learned this morning.
I planned to write a blog this morning at a local coffee shop. Near their parking lot is a soccer field. Empty now during late winter, the field has a track running around it, perfect for my daily 20-minute walk. So I popped in my earbuds to listen to a podcast (Dan Harris's Ten Percent Happier where he explores the power of meditation) and started walking before heading into start writing.
I thought I was doing well. Out for a walk in the sunshine, thinking about mindfulness. Aren't I healthy and good?
As I walked, Dan chatted with his guest about quieting our thoughts, and I remembered Dr. Angela Gorrell’s lecture from the night before. The previous evening our family had attended a Teen Mental Health series talk on the topic of social media.
Social media, according to Dr. Gorrell, is anything that connects us to others electronically. TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, email, texting, Fortnite, Roblox, podcasts. She discussed the good, the bad, and the actionable things we can do to monitor our use of social media.
As I walked, it dawned on me that despite good intentions on a sunny, clear morning, I was still on social media. I was still in learning mode. I was working. My mind was busy.
I was – dare I say – plugged in.
So I took out my earbuds.
Folks, the change was remarkable.
Suddenly I noticed that 3 of the 4 soccer goal posts had nets, but the 4th was bare. What happened to the 4th net? There was a flock of fat robins gathered on a hillside, picking at the ground and visiting with each other quietly. I wondered if they were nesting. There was a path that led up to the nearby community center I hadn't noticed. There were patches of straw strewn on the ground, encouraging the grass seed beneath to stretch and grow in the spring sun.
Folks, the lesson here was clear.
In one lap, I was more present and more aware than any amount of listening to a podcast about meditation would ever provide. No shade to Dan Harris (and he’d very likely agree with me) but you cannot get the benefits of meditation without unplugging.
We must unplug and disconnect to give our brains time to become aware of what is around us.
Unplugging can clear your mind
This is a blog about organizing. The thing is, the real key to being more organized is not a product you can buy or a technique you can learn.
I wish that were the case. It would be so much easier.
Being organized is a mindset. Clear your mind of clutter, wipe away the noise, and what you need to do becomes much more clear.
Of course there are many positives of connecting online. There are things to learn, distant family to connect with, fashion and design and humor and music and joy to be had in online communities. And there are plenty of tips and techniques and tricks to learn from others that make your life more manageable and organized. It's what I do for a living.
But there is also a WORLD out there, friends, waiting for us to wake up and pay attention. Every time we plug in – whether it's Facebook, listening to a podcast on a walk, or reading this blog – we are choosing to remain plugged in to the noise.
And missing out on everything online is not bad. Don't give in to FOMO. It will still be there when you’re ready to plug back in.
Unplug and enjoy the view
Take a break and enjoy the space you’re in right now.
When I unplugged, I saw what I had missed. And you can, too.
I am here if you need me, friends. I am happy to talk through strategies that help you lead a better and more fulfilling life at home and work.
In the meantime, go ahead. Unplug to clear your mind.
When you're ready to tackle your tough organization project, I am here to help you learn how.
Let's RETHINK organization together.
For more information, visit the RETHINK website today.
Mandy Thomas is a professional organizer fulfilling her lifelong passion for creating order out of chaos. She finds joy in helping people tackle their most overwhelming spaces and collections to create the optimal living space and enjoy their homes.
RETHINK organization is on a mission to help you develop long-term patterns of organization that you can maintain and feel good about long after our work together is done.
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