Turning off Your Cell Phone

» Posted by Judith Geiger on Jul 21, 2008 in 0-mind, blog | 4 comments

We all know about stress and what it can do to us both physically and emotionally. We also know that stress is partly caused by our (ever increasingly) fast paced world. With that in mind I would like to ask you this question: “Who among us can turn off our cell phones for 24 hours?”

It sounds like a simple request that should not be painful but let’s look at this from what I have observed and I would love to hear your thoughts.

The first time that I really saw cell phones interfering with MY life was when my daughter and I were trail riding our horses. We were out for a lovely Sunday afternoon horseback ride enjoying the SILENCE of nature. As we walked our horses slowly down a country road the PHONE RANG! Of course with cell phones it can’t be a ring that your senses recognize but some foreign loud sound. The entire peace of the moment was interrupted while my daughter chatted on the phone. The very wonder of the silence was gone!

Then another wake-up call for me was when I led my first retreat and asked the women assembled in circle to turn off their cell phones. A look of terror spread throughout the room! I have since learned to go slow with them as they discover the benefits of unplugging.

I first ask the women to put their phones on vibrate then we begin to explore ways to make it less painful to actually turn the phone off for the day. Even though the phone is in the vibrate mode it still takes the women out of the retreating process (even if they only check who was calling and not talk). Imagine you are in a guided meditation and you are in a deep state of relaxation when the phone demands your attention. How long will it take you to get back to being that deeply relaxed? The wonder of the silence is broken and you need to start at square one.

How would your world be changed if you turned your cell phone off for one day each week as you practiced self-care?  Do you have a support system in place that allows you the luxury of a day of silence? When I work with my clients on self-care we explore these questions and strategize ways to slow their lives down so they can begin to unplug and enjoy life.

Cell phones have advanced our world in so many wonderful ways and they are becoming a necessity of life but do we control their use or do they control our silence? I would love to hear what others think. Add a comment!

Judith Geiger, ACC
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