Our phones are often the first thing we interact with when we wake up and the last thing when we go to bed. We check it at all hours of the day to remain connected and fill the empty moments.
There is rarely a moment that goes by in our busy lives when we don’t have access to technology. It’s quite literally in the palm of our hands! But is this 24/7 access to it healthy? Is it doing more harm than good? It’s often not until we start intentionally unplugging from it that we realize how much it was taking from our lives.
My guest, Hannah Brencher, has experience with slowly putting technology back in its place as she has navigated the tug-of-war between staying plugged in and powering down. She is a writer, a TED speaker, and an entrepreneur. Hannah was even named one of the White House’s Women Working to Do Good.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- How to cultivate a lifestyle that unplugs
- The power of presence
- Some first steps to striking a balance with technology
- And so much more…
This is a super practical episode that I know you will love!
(As we start into our fifth year of the podcast, you’ll start hearing a shoutout at the beginning of each episode. This is an opportunity for us to celebrate our listeners, and specifically the transformation and celebrations in your life. Want to reach out to us? You can contact us here on our website or text our new No More Perfect hotline at 309-431-1718.)
Resources mentioned in this episode:
- The World Needs More Love Letters
- [BOOK] The Unplugged Hours: Cultivating a Life of Presence in a Digitally Connected World
- [BOOK] Living With Less So Your Family Has More: Redefining Your Priorities To Put Your Family First
- [BOOK] Real Moms, Real Jesus
- Connect with Hannah on her website, Instagram, or Facebook
- Join me at the Empty Nest Full Life Retreat!
- As a thank you for listening, get your 3 free eBooks.
My Key Takeaways:
1) Technology is hard to turn off. It’s integrated into almost every aspect of our lives from staying connected to our family and friends, staying in contact with our kids, and even our work life requires us to be plugged in. The problem is that technology sets a pace that we can’t keep up with. We are often driven by the fear of missing out, but in actuality, we are missing out on what is happening right in front of us
2) Start by looking for points and junctures you want to be present in. This is not an invitation to quit technology cold turkey. Instead, the goal is to find a balance and work toward being more unplugged. It’s easiest to look for times when you want to be more fully present and practice putting technology away during those times. This could look like putting away or turning off your phone during dinner time, when you are picking your kids up from school, or in the evenings.
3) Practice checking in rather than checking out. We can turn to technology like social media, movies, shows, and more as a distraction. When we do this, it prevents us from checking in with ourselves—noticing physical needs we have, processing our feelings, and recognizing what is really going on with us. Practice checking in with yourself by going for a walk, spending time in prayer, journaling, eating a healthy snack, or drinking a big glass of water.
About Hannah:
Hannah Brencher is a writer, a TED speaker, and an entrepreneur. She also founded The World Needs More Love Letters, a global community dedicated to sending letter bundles to those who need encouragement. Hannah was even named one of the White House’s Women Working to Do Good. She lives in Atlanta with her husband, Lane, daughter, and resume pup named Tuesday. When she isn’t writing or creating, you can find her going for walks, reading a good book, or visiting a local coffee shop.
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