10 Things To Do While Unplugged

I think we can all agree that it's easy to spend an excessive amount of time on our phones.

It’s difficult to live in a world where everyone is constantly posting and sharing their lives on social media. Sometimes we can let minutes or hours go by without once looking up. While social media is fun and has its benefits, like anything, it can become unhealthy to us and our mental health. In order to prevent that, we must establish boundaries.

One boundary you can establish with your phone is taking time to unplug.

This can mean an entire day without social media or a few hours with your phone turned off. It could be whatever you make of it, but taking a day (or even just a few hours) away from social media can be vitally important for us to not forget how to be present.

By doing this, you will begin to realize how much time you spend on your phone, and how often you reach for it when you are bored. Undoubtedly, you will have spaces in your day that you would usually fill with catching up on instagram or phone calls. But with your phone turned off, you have an opportunity to make the most of it. So here is a fun list of what you can do when you’re unplugged from your phone.

Take a walk outside

Get outside and move your body. I think fresh air and movement are so vital to having a good day, although it is so easy to let a day pass by without doing either. Just spending a simple 15 minutes outside will give you a greater sense of peace and energy for the rest of the day.

Read a book

While reading is so good for your brain, it also helps you relax. It’s a way of escaping reality, allowing yourself the time and space to get lost in your imagination. You could read from any genre, depending on whether you would like to be entertained, taught, or understood.

Do that thing you never make time for

Whether it’s learning a new language, painting, playing a sport, facetiming a friend, exercising, or memorizing scripture, you now have time for it! Without your phone as a huge distraction or pressure, you can allow time for that thing you have always wanted to do but never have time for!

Journal

Journaling is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself! Especially after a long day or weekend, it’s important to get your thoughts and feelings out on paper. It reduces stress and helps you rationalize, reason, and understand your thoughts more clearly. You can also write down a list of things you are grateful for each day, which helps shift your perspective onto God’s goodness and blessings.

Make a playlist

Whether you are a Spotify or Apple Music user, making playlists can be a fun and creative task. The drives to/from work can be exhausting and dreadful, so having a wide selection of good playlists is essential. Music has the ability to make you feel a whole lot better,  whether you are listening to 80’s rock, your favorite worship band, or the High School Musical soundtrack.

Throw a happy hour

Invite those close friends over, make some fun drinks, and pull out the card games! Face-to-face connection is so important, not the friends you have on facebook or the amount of likes you have on a post. So gather with your people, eat some appetizers, and have a good time.

Organize + clean

It can be so easy to let your home or workspace become messy and unorganized, which can affect how we feel when we are there. Play some music, sort through the mess, and get organized. You will feel tremendously better, and ultimately get into a better headspace. Getting organized is so important, whether it’s our house, our schedules, or our work.

Cook a meal or bake a dessert

Pull out that dusty cookbook and pick something out to make! Cooking can be a huge stress-reliever and help you feel productive. Cooking a meal is also very beneficial to you, since you will save money and eat a filling and satisfying meal. Maybe make a meal that you used to eat as a kid, or make your grandma’s famous cake. The options are endless!

Write a letter

Letters aren’t very popular anymore because of how convenient texting has made it to reach out to one another. But there’s something special about taking the time to write a letter to a loved one you don’t see often. It shows that you are thinking about them, far more than a text ever would. So pull out a piece of paper or a notecard, and write to that person you haven’t seen in a while. Tell them about your life, ask them about theirs, and show that you genuinely care.

Spend time with God

Last but definitely not least, taking time away from your phone or social media creates space and time that you didn’t have before. Whether it’s the five minutes you’re waiting for your Starbucks drink or the 30 minutes to waste before bed, instead of pulling out your phone, spend time with God. Talk to him, tell him about your day, your worries, what you’re thankful for. Pull out your Bible and read His Word. We can become so busy with our work, relationships, and how others perceive us online, that we forget about the most important One, the one who created us and loves us for who we are in Him.

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