Getting Tech-Free When Your Life is Online - Part One

Feeling like your phone is stuck in your hand? Getting those tired techy eyes? Frustrated by all the negativity coursing through social media?
 
You are not alone.
 
This sounds like a great sales pitch where I unveil my wonder juice that is going to make it all better AND leave your skin super soft and hydrated! It isn’t – I am as confused and befuddled by it all as you are. Worse than that, it’s my job to be online all day.

How do you balance social media management with reducing the amount of tech in your lifestyle? 
 
I’ve been looking at this in detail recently while feeling increasingly demotivated by online activities, so I’ve set up a plan to start getting tech free whilst still staying on target for all my clients.
 
Remember, a good marketing consultant is a happy marketing consultant – like a puppy or a small child, we need to eat right, get plenty of fresh air and have regular breaks. Here’s the plan:
 
Reduce the phone time
I hate the fact that I get lost in a scroll spiral too often, whether it’s Twitter, Instagram or Facebook. I am taking baby steps with this one, as obviously I need my phone near me for my client accounts and also my own life (analysing Ru Paul’s Drag Race each week is like a fundamental human right, yeah?) but for now, I’m not turning to it as soon as I wake up and it’s being put down at least an hour before I go bed. Boom!
 
Declutter the desk
Technically, is this techy? I don’t know, but it is helping clear the fuzz from my brain… especially as a lot of the decluttering involves spare leads and wires and who know what. Also, if you feel more productive, as a clean and tidy workplace promotes, you are less likely to procrastinate away reading news on the Guardian. Clean desk, clean mind, people.
 
Take regular breaks 
Step away from the laptop! A break means getting away from a screen, not eating a sandwich while checking Twitter. There is nothing relaxing about checking Twitter any more. So, I am going to try to have breaks away from my desk, and luckily I have a dog that loves walks so that should be fairly easy.
 
That’s only three things, but I think that’s enough for now. As the title of the blog suggests, this is just the beginning. I’m going to be reporting back on my process as we go along, and also working out how this affects the marketing activities I carry it out every day and how stepping away from the tech can make it better.
 
If you have any comments, tips or strategies for reducing the amount of tech time in your life please comment or contact me with your ideas – I’m going to need them!