This post was written by David Damron, author of PROJECT M-31 & The Minimalist Path.
(Article is ~400 words)
Constant Communication. Information Overload. Societal Demands. These are all aspects in many of our lives today and we are losing control and power over our life because of them.
Over the last few months, I have been trying to disconnect more and reconnect with life. I have been going to all extremes to eliminate tha
t which has interfered with my productivity, my health, and my time. I had lost the balance in my life and this called for radical change.
I write this today to express my concern that all of us are not properly balancing our lives. We are more connected today than just a year ago, yet we are 10 times more disconnected from our immediate surroundings and condition. Losing this balance is unnecessary and must be reversed before irreversible effects are seen.
The following are just five of the small actions you can take to start balancing your life…
- Get rid of your smart phone. Sure, some look cool and can do a lot, but do you really need to be playing Pocket God for 30 minutes/day. You once lived without it. Try it again. When I walk down the street, I see more and more people looking down…at their PDA. Out of the 100’s of out-in-the-world tweet’s I read daily from home, a small fraction of them actually entertain me. Stop wasting your precious time outdoors and reconnect with nature.
- Write something (ANYTHING) on paper for 10 minutes. I hate wasting paper so what I have done is cut full sheets down and jot notes or thoughts on them. It is so nice to reconnect with my thoughts instead of mindlessly typing. It doesn’t matter what you write either (i.e. love letter, birthday card, thank you note).
- Go to a park, close your eyes and just breathe. I don’t do this enough. However, when I do it is extremely relaxing and helps me reconnect with my body and nature.
- Do something other than check your email when you wake. This is another that I am trying to work on. Grab a glass of OJ, step outside and watch the sunrise. Just try not to feed your internet addiction while the morning sleep is still in your eyes.
- Take 10 minutes/day and just listen. It doesn’t matter where you are. Just be aware of how chaotic the world is around you. Listen to how much is going on that doesn’t need to be. It may open your mind to the unnecessary noise, literally and figuratively, around you.
Click here to get a copy of PROJECT M-31: Simply Your Life in 31 Days
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