Radio Silence
This past weekend, I went away for a relaxing getaway. Before you go ahead and imagine me being on an exotic island or sunbathing on a boat, let me burst that bubble for you and tell you that my weekend away was in Downtown Toronto. There is nothing relaxing about busy streets, walking everywhere, and crowded shopping centres. Yet, it was the most relaxed I have felt in a while.
So what made it so relaxing? For the first time in a very long time, I went ghost. That is, I barely looked at my phone all weekend. No phone calls, no texts, no e-mails, nothing. Hell, I didn't even use my phone for GPS. And guess what? I survived. The last time I had done this was in Greece when I had no choice but to leave my phone behind as it served me no purpose. But this time was different. This time, I chose not to look at my phone. For once, what was around me was much more interesting than what I would find in the palm of my hands.
This is what I gained over the weekend:
1. Appreciation for what was around me - I was surprised at how much I "saw" when I wasn't looking down at my phone. You notice so much more. From the dude with the super tall hat and sparkling cowboy shoes to drunk Yankees fans hollering in the streets, to reflections of the CN Tower in every building around you and to the endless number of dogs that you cross paths with. You. notice. everything.
2. Confidence- Without having to look through my social media all weekend, I wasn't comparing myself to what I saw on the interwebs. I went shopping at Eatons and I generally have inhibitions when it comes to trying out new clothes because I become super self-conscious. Though I did feel it this weekend as well, it was definitely to a lesser degree.
3. Great conversation- It's difficult to have conversation in silence and silence is usually there if one of you is on your phone. Without this silence, our conversations did not skip a beat and they reached a level of interest and secrecy that was yet to be discovered. Achievement unlocked.
What I lost over the weekend:
1. FOMO- Fear of Missing Out. By not plugging into social media and seeing what other people were doing, I, again, had nothing to compare myself to. I didn't have to see what my friends were up to and the fabulous life they were living. Instead, I got to enjoy the one that I was living.
2. Stress- Now that I have stepped foot in the business world, every e-mail, phone call, notification, can be a new client, business vendor, bad news, good news, whatever. This weekend taught me that your career does not have to consume you. Sometimes we take life way too seriously that we forget to enjoy it when it counts.
3. Track of time- Anyone who knows me knows that I am super time sensitive. Every minute is accounted for and I know exactly what is coming next. This weekend was different. Without having to check my phone to see the time or have anything scheduled, or have reminders popping up with what needs to be done, I was relaxed enough to do whatever I felt like I wanted to do. There were no rules, deadlines, or expectations. Nothing but doing whatever felt right in that moment. Before I knew it, the day was done and I was ready to get to bed.