Put Away Your Phone
My iPhone…
We’re joined at the hip, my iphone and me. My iPhone is always by my side. It’s attached to my arm at the gym, it’s on my desk while I’m at work, it’s next to me on the couch while I’m watching TV, it’s on the table next to my plate while I’m eating dinner, and it’s on my nightstand as I’m falling asleep.
I’ll often find myself mindlessly scrolling through my Facebook news feed while Kyle and I are out to dinner. I frequently check my emails while we’re hanging out at home. Instead of enjoying the beautiful views while we’re hiking or skiing, I take pictures to upload to Instagram.
Last night I couldn’t believe it when I looked up and realized that it was already 10 p.m. I couldn’t believe that I had wasted away the whole evening on my iPad and iPhone. I could have spent that time writing, studying God’s Word, and spending time with my husband. Instead, I had nothing to show for the hours that had passed since I got home from work.
It made me realize that I’m more attached to my phone than I’d like to admit. And my attachment to my phone is affecting my marriage.
Today Kyle and I were talking about how much time we spend on our phones, and It makes me sick to think about the amount of time I’ve spent staring at my phone rather than spending quality time with Kyle. Instead of chatting about our day and enjoying our evening together, we spend too much of the evening staring at our phones.
Kyle and I have decided to start dropping our phones off in the entryway when we get home. If we get calls, we’ll still be able to hear them (the plus side to having a tiny apartment?), but we won’t be tempted to waste quality time checking our email inboxes or Twitter feeds. Not only will Kyle and I spend more time together now, but I’ll be so much more productive without that little time-sucker by my side.
If this is something you and your husband struggle with, consider creating a solution. Your husband deserves your full attention, and you deserve his!
[Photo credit: Ed Yourdon, Creative Commons]
