Learn to Disconnect

Do you remember what you did as a kid?

There are times when you just need to unwind, but what do you do? You open up your browser and look for things to do. Maybe watch a video on YouTube or Vimeo. Maybe read the newspaper or look on Facebook at what your friends do.

Just to make it clear, the intro to this text is not an extremely poor attempt for a rime, it just turned out that way.

We are a busy generation, are we not? We are always surfing the web or looking at Facebook or Twitter, I’m as guilty as either one of you. But there is a difference between people and people, in more ways than one, but I want to emphasize on one part. Maybe the most important part of all.

Some of us, me included, sometimes have trouble to unwind and just go with the flow. Though I really try to disconnect as often as I can, it’s not always a possibility. As I work from home and run my own projects via the internet, it can sometimes be hard to really disconnect. Especially since you always have something to surf on wherever you go, be it your smart phone or surf pad, you can always pick it up and look at directions or places to go. While some of us call it to disconnect the soon as you leave your computer, I say it’s not.

If you take just one hour a day, a single hour of your day is equal to 4% of your entire day, to just step out of our comfort zone and turn off our phones and computers and go for a walk your quality of life will improve. Disconnect, if only for a single hour every day, be it morning or evening or afternoon, just disconnect. Turn off every piece of electronic you own. Turn off your TV, computer, smartphone and surf pad, turn them all off. Put on your sneakers or loafers, jeans or cargo along with a t-shirt or shirt, put on your jacket and open the front door. Take a few steps until you have reached the outside. Are you scared? Why? You shouldn’t be.

If you’re older than 20 there is a chance that you remember how it was in a time before iPhones, iPad’s and computers. A simpler time. A time where you were never home, but always outside on your bike or playing with your friends. Building Treehouses or going to the beach. Skateboarding or just playing on your own with your action figures or Barbies. These are the times we need to remember when it comes to unwinding. Though I fully understand there are people who’s had horrible upbringings or childhoods, but to you I still want to ask to try and look back at the times that were happy, times when you felt the joy of hanging out with your friends or just being outside. Because chances are that you probably spent more time outside than inside if you’ve had a horrible childhood, as outside was your haven and gave you the possibility to escape whatever was home waiting for you. Remember how you felt when you were outside playing with your friends or climbed trees. Travel back to those times, remember how it felt to be there at that time.

Now I want you to compare that to what you have now. Keep the feeling of joy from when you were a kid. Look around and really think of what you do now to unwind. Scary, isn’t it?

Because back in the day, when you were always outside, you always relaxed even though you were running around or climbing trees. It was relaxing and fun at the same time. You were a kid. It was a simpler time. But it don’t matter if it was a simpler time back then, or that you might have had more time to do the things you loved or more time to hang out with your friends. If you just take one hour a day to go out for a walk, sit in your hammock or go to the beach or maybe climb a tree, you will feel a sensation of peace surrounding you. This feeling will enhance if you get flashbacks of fun times with your friends or family.

I want you to try this for a month, or a week or even a day. Leave your phone at home and leave any thoughts of it behind and go out. Do whatever. Go to the mall or go to the beach, but whatever it is you do, I want you to leave your phone and any piece of electronics at home. Do this for just one hour, be it today or tomorrow, but at least try it out. Forget about work, forget about the things you need to do, forget about the hard times and live in the present. If only for one hour a day.

You will be a happier and more relaxed person by doing this. I guarantee. You just need to let go and leave all that at home and enjoy the downtime.

Thank you for reading! Now be awesome and hit that recommend button and share this post with everyone you know ☺

Hit me up on Twitter if you feel like it, you can find me @larssonpatrik.

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