Friday, August 10, 2012
List #2
I also started reading the book Almost Amish by Nancy Sleeth a few weeks ago. I've kind of browsed through it, but did enjoy reading it. It's amazing how many of us are so interested in the Amish. Have you seen how many books are out there? Both fiction and non-fiction. Our reason is, we love the simplicity of their life and we want it, but we aren't ready to go get it. I'm not talking about moving to Pennsylvania and never using electricity again. I'm talking about living simply in our own lives. Busy is the norm and the expectation we think we must live up too.
So, I read the chapter on technology and thought about how I could live a simpler life if I just changed a few things. I decided to spend a day (mostly the morning) away from my computer and phone. I turned my phone off (after texting a few friends that might get worried), checked my email and facebook and then shut my computer down. What did I find out?!?!?!
1. We spend a lot of time communicating with others and we miss the voice of the Great Communicator- God!
2. I run my home- not my email or my phone. I used to hear my phone jingle and I would drop whatever to see what it was. I used to check my email multiple times and would get distracted by something I thought need to get done right away. For example, I got an email later in the day from our church secretary. She needed me to check over the Sunday School roster. I immediately downloaded it and started working on it. What if that wasn't my priority for the day? I let my email run my day. I don't need to do that. I pray to give my day to God and not my email.
3. The computer is not my job. Enough said...shut it down.
4. I feel better when I follow through on the priorities I set for myself. I wanted to take the boys to the library and I did that. I would have run out of time in the day if I had let my email and facebook rule my life.
5. People can still find me...I can't shut off my home phone. People have that number. We are a pastor's family and the ringer stays on. I might let it go to the answering machine, but I will hear it if I'm home.
6. It doesn't make me a perfect parent, but I was a better parent that day.
7. I eat better. I made the boys sit for their snacks. I sat and only ate instead of mindlessly feeding my face while I checked my email.
So, I'm signing off for the day because my hubby is home and I have things for us to do.
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I loved this post. Let's face it, it's something we all struggle with! I've found that when I get frustrated at how little I get done during the day it's time to recheck where my time is going.
ReplyDeleteFor me, the best method seems to be to check email and FB after breakfast in the morning, then let it go until the kids are in bed for naptime. I check it once again, then turn it off for the day.
It's great to stay connected, but sometimes we miss out on connecting with our own kids because we're so busy with distant friends! It takes a lot of self-control not to zone out, especially when you're tired, but it's oh, so worth it.
Yup, there are TONS of books on the Amish. And you are right, I do better when I unplug as well. It is so weird how much I cherish my girls, and love them, yet I often put others before them because of technology. It is a lazy habit. A few months ago I made the rule that I can't sit down with the computer until after the girls are down and it has been awesome. I walk by the ipad and check my email quickly, but I don't respond to anything until later. My girls are waaaaaaaay too important for that.
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