5 Reasons to Get Excited About Input Cleanses
Don't worry, no juices or soups involved here. Find out what an "input cleanse" is in this post and reasons why you should schedule them into your regular routine.
What in the world is an input cleanse?
I thought the same thing when I heard it for the first time on The Good Life Project podcast. Don't worry, it doesn't have anything to do with juices or soup detox programs. You're actually already familiar with the idea - it's all about unplugging and stopping the consumption of "inputs."
We have so many inputs coming at us from dozens of angles ALL the time now.
How often do you check your phone? Your email? The news headlines? Celebrity gossip? Social media? Sometimes I'm not even watching the media and I get texts from family members about who died or the latest outfit a celebrity wore. Emails that need to be attended to right now. Checking how many people commented on my post. Sometimes it's even the music we're listening to or the advertisements we think we aren't paying attention to in the background. All of it just keeps coming, with no end in sight.
Awareness about all of these inputs is the first step to making progress.
I love all the research that is coming out about our smartphones being a "slot machine in our pocket" because of the variable rewards we get when we pay attention to them. Dr. Cal Newport tells us to give up social media completely for a lot of good reasons. Personally, I prefer keeping a healthy balance and living within moderation (although there were those 18 months I lived without a smartphone).
I bet you have a lot of excuses about why you can't unplug on a regular basis.
I hear these excuses all the time (and I know I've said them myself at some point):
I need to be available for emergencies.
I might miss something.
I get bored standing in line or waiting for things.
Everyone else is doing it, is it really a big deal?
I don't think I have it in me to actually do it.
First, most smartphones now have advanced settings where you can let certain contacts disturb you, no matter what, even if your phone is on silent. That can absolutely be helpful for emergencies of all kinds.
Our smartphones have also created a "fear of missing out (FOMO)" feeling. But trust me, the more you unplug, the more you start to realize you aren't missing anything. You'll catch up.
If you get bored standing in lines, try to use the moment to think mindfully and take deep breaths to help you relax and stay present.
Sure, everyone else is plugged in all the time and consumed by all the inputs, but you're committed to self-improvement and becoming the best version of yourself, isn't that why you're reading this?
And I absolutely know you have the power to do this - embrace your growth mindset and accept the challenge. You'll hit stumbling blocks, we all do, but small, incremental changes can add up quickly.
Now that we've addressed the excuses, let's talk about 5 reasons to get excited for your next input cleanse:
You will actually get things done on your to-do list. Sounds obvious, but seriously. Aren't we all trying to reclaim our time for a purpose? The amount of time you're paying attention to inputs right now is more than you think. You're reading this blog post, it's an input! Some of you will find you need to start with an hour and build from there (I go one full day once a month - at least). Once you start to embrace the time, you'll really be able to delve in and get things done.
True conversations and relationship building emerges. Doesn't it drive you crazy when someone is distracted while you're trying to talk to them? An input cleanse helps prevent those moments. You'll actually talk and listen with the other person. Deeper conversations and moments can happen.
You will probably buy less "stuff." I know I've really found that when I stop the advertisements and constant promotions in my email, I buy less stuff (Unroll.me is a free game changer here). That's why we get all of these ads and promos - so we buy more stuff. Taking an input cleanse always helps prevent the, "But I NEED that feeling," I get about products sometimes. Out of sight, out of mind.
You may even feel better emotionally. We've all had that "meh" feeling after scrolling through the highlight reels of everyone else's lives on Facebook or Instagram. There's building evidence social media is influencing our mental health and research studies about the topic have exploded in recent years. Letting ourselves get upset about so-and-so's uninformed commentary isn't really helping our day to day lives. So pay attention to your emotional health after an input cleanse day or weekend.
Others will end up joining you. At first, most people are skeptical. But then they'll see how you'll benefitting and want to try it out themselves. And that leads us back to more interactions, more real time with each other, and a positive spiral of momentum for all of us. Who doesn't want that?
Unplugging is a great way to minimize distractions so that you can get the work done. Looking for more ways to put an end to procrastination? Get access to my tips for reclaiming your time with the form below!
The Unexpected Benefits From Giving Up My Smartphone
People are always surprised when I say I gave up my smartphone almost 18 months ago. Of course, it is cheaper and I'm not as distracted. But what other benefits are there to "going back in time?" Read this article to find out more.
About eighteen months ago I did the "unthinkable" and gave up my smartphone.
I had been using a smartphone for over five years at that point. And I realized a few things. First, I was always connected, online, and available. I have Wi-Fi at work and home. I didn't really need to be spending $50+ on my smartphone. And maybe I'd even feel better and more productive if I gave it up. That seems obvious, right?
Most people react with horror to the idea that I only have a flip phone.
I get a lot of the same reactions when people find out I don't have a smartphone. They think I never had one and refuse to "give in." But I did give in, for almost five years. Or they think that I must be deprived. Don't worry - I still find a way to watch ridiculous videos on YouTube. I'm still almost always connected, just not 24/7. And I get to control when I am connected. Some people decide that it is nice for me to do this, but THEY could never give up THEIR smartphone. Well, you could. If you wanted to.
Without a smartphone, I can spot someone who is addicted from a mile away.
Most people I meet are addicted to their smartphones. It's something you notice when you don't have one. They get distracted during conversations. They pull it out when they are bored. I'm left standing there, enjoying nature...or trying to be present in the grocery line instead of distracted. I don't wonder where "the time has gone." Or "what just happened" at an event. If you have a smartphone, and don't think you're addicted - I'm here to you that you probably are. Smartphones help feed the "attention residue" problem Dr. Cal Newport writes about. It's hard to get back on track even after "just checking" your smartphone for a second. Or hearing it buzz in your backpack, as many of my students do in the classroom.
I have been building up my ability to "unplug."
Since I've given up my smartphone, I've been able to go for longer and longer times of unplugging. No email, internet, or related distractions (people could call me in case of a big emergency). Sometimes I take just a day. The world does not end. No one needs to talk to me online that desperately (much to my surprise sometimes). I've even gone unplugged for an entire week. And I already wrote about my silent retreat weekend. I'm not sure I could have gone on that trip if I had a smartphone. It's really great to be able to walk away from technology for awhile, as you can imagine. Most people would probably start shaking after an hour. You have to build yourself up to long stretches.
I have found replacements for the parts I really miss.
I do really miss being able to video chat with my sisters. But I make up for it by intentionally calling them more often. And of course, actually going to visit.
Texting has just turned into back and forth emails. For people I want to text, of course. If we want to stay connected, we'll find a way.
I thought I would miss my running app, that tracked every step and told me when to run and when to walk (when I was first starting). But now I just run. Not every run has to be timed or perfect.
Traveling can sometimes be problematic. I want Google Maps for directions or I want the Yelp app to evaluate a restaurant for me. More often than not, I'm with someone who has a smartphone, so it is fine. But even when I'm alone, I find I figure out the road myself. Printed Google Maps directions left off five steps? I can figure it out!
I still have a Kindle Fire at home. I use it when I don't want to open up my laptop. But often I find myself saying, "No more screen time tonight." I've had enough. It makes me pick up that book I want to read. Or the craft I want to work on. Or just spending more time petting my dogs. And that feels great.
I don't wonder where the time has gone.
I know where my time is going. I am always trying to be more present. Less distracted. Actually focused on my tasks. Not having a smartphone helps me with those goals. And yes, I still marvel, "that was TEN YEARS ago?" from time to time. But I'm not shocked or startled by it. I'm spending my time the way I want to. I know what year it is and what goals I have for the rest of the year. Yes, Christmas will always be here before we know it. Be present in the mean time.
And maybe eventually I'll return to smartphone land.
Once you have that extra $50 in your pocket, plus phone costs, it is hard to imagine going back. But I can't Uber without a smartphone. I can't Instagram. Most text messages from companies now are links. Eventually, I'll probably have to rejoin the world of the smartphone. And there will be many great things about it. But for now, I'm doing just fine without it. And the best part is I know I can live without it.