By: Rosie Battista
If you take the time to look around in a restaurant or anywhere for that matter, what you’ll see is an army of people all in the same position. Head hanging low. Not because they’re sad, but because they’re heavily involved with their phone.
Besides the phone being a device that distracts and disconnects us from engaging with real people, it has now become a serious health risk. Did you know that “text neck” is a real medical issue, suffered by countless people?
When your head is in a neutral position, facing upright and forward, it weighs about 10-12 pounds. The stress on your neck increases from the degree you flex your neck when looking down and texting, making if feel like 27 – 60 pounds! Hanging your head forward is heavy stuff. The average person spends 2 – 4 hours in this position. YIKES!
So what can we do about our necks? You can make a slight adjustment and hold the phone up closer to eye level, but that may make your arms tired or your shoulders sore. You can take more frequent breaks from it, tucking it away so you’re not reaching for it or holding it in your hand.
It’s not just your health that suffers, it is your wellbeing. The way you communicate and the way you interact with other human beings is affected in a negative way. Have you ever been in a conversation with someone who is always looking down at their phone? It doesn’t make for a good connection. Maybe you can even think of times that you’ve done that to someone else. I’m sure it doesn’t feel good to them either.
Read, ‘Seven Simple Steps For Springing On Self Care’, by Rosie Battista: http://bit.ly/2HkEcwv
Consider that there is much you are missing out on when you have the phone beside your dinner plate. Are you even present to the person you are dining with? Or to the food on your plate? Distracting, disconnecting and being somewhere else other than where you are is not good for your body, heart or soul.
It’s very easy to blame the technology for our distractions and loss of connections as if we have no choice in the matter. But we do have a choice. We can choose the way that we engage with our magnificent smart phones. And then consciously and consistently make the changes we know will make us healthier happier humans.
One possibility is to designate a technology-free time. Perhaps dinner time is the time to shut the phone down for the evening.
The good news is that when you put your phone down, you’ll be hands free to take your health and wellbeing into your own hands.
Here are 8 ideas that will help you LOOK UP. Practice doing these anywhere and everywhere. These simple changes will make your spirit, your neck and your connection to the world so much better.
1) Look up – into the eyes of the coffee barista and smile when you ask for your order. Thank them by using the name on their name tag.
2) Look up – at the person standing next to you on line. Say good morning.
3) Look up – from your desk and be still. Take a moment and breath in as you appreciate your surroundings, the space and place, the warm building, the comfy chair, the people around you, your coworkers or customers.
4) Look up – into the night sky and notice the brilliant stars shining down on you to brighten your night.
5) Look up – when you lie down in bed at night and thank God for the gift of a beautiful day.
6) Look up – at the brighter side of things. When things feel down and you feel low, look up, raise your head to the sky and know that this too shall pass.
7) Look up – and be still, staying in the present moment, giving yourself the gift of just being.
8) Look up – into the eyes of the person you live with, the people you love and fully engage in a loving conversation.
Cheers to putting down your phone, looking up and taking a positive step towards creating better health and wellbeing for yourself and everyone you meet.
Rosie Battista, Sleeping Naked After 40, is a Life Stylist/Coach helping midlife women create a new lifestyle that works for their new stage (age) in life. Allowing them to live the best years of their life in the best of health, peace and joy.
Email rosie.battista@gmail.com or follow her on Instagram @rosie.battista