Put your hand on your heart and admit it honestly: when were you last fully present on a holiday or a day out without fiddling with your phone?
In today’s world, where social media and being online have become such a part of our lives, it is hard to break away from it, and before long we can barely live without it. But sometimes you have to call a halt, put the device down for a while and live the moment!
How can you do that?
Above all with a lot of willpower, but let’s look at a few activities that take your attention away from the world of the phone and help you to leave it alone for a good while.
Read a book
Do you like a good story, film or series? Then read a nice novel, and you will see that you enjoy it more than the film, because there you have to rely on your own imagination!
Go into a bookshop and ask the assistants which books they would recommend for your taste. If you have friends who also like reading, ask them for advice, or borrow the book they love most and sit outside with it.
It will hold your attention better than any series, and it develops your creativity too!
Keep your hands busy, live out your creative side
If you sometimes reach for your phone automatically even though you have nothing to do on it, then occupy yourself with an activity where you cannot keep grabbing for the phone.
Take up painting, go to a painting course or to a programme like that, which you can even do with your friends. If you are not good with your hands, you can try paint-by-numbers, diamond painting or any other creative activity that holds your attention. And meanwhile you will hardly think about your phone or reach for it, since you do not want to smear your brand new, fancy case.
Sport is not only healthy, it is also a digital-free activity
You can keep your hands busy with other programmes as well — for example, have you ever tried climbing? It is a very demanding and exciting sport, worth trying at least once! But you can choose any other sport too, such as horse riding, cycling, tennis or swimming; in none of these will you be able to get your phone out.
You will be far too busy taking on the challenge in front of you while you work your muscles and try to master the activity.
Family and friends getting together
Have you noticed too that when you are having a good time, it does not even occur to you to get your phone out? Play board games, talk to each other, or go on a trip and do something together. The point is: if you are having a good time, you will not miss social media or checking straight away who has messaged you on chat — especially as everyone you would be waiting to hear from will be there with you.