07/07/2025
Our weekly blog:
Unplugged: Finding flow without your phone
A few weeks ago, I spent a weekend at a cabin with family and close friends. We played in the water, enjoyed board games, and soaked up the outdoors. When I returned home, I noticed something felt different. I was calmer, more relaxed, and deeply connected. I found myself asking: What was it about that weekend that left me feeling so peaceful? Was it the location? The company? The weather?
After reflecting, I realized it was something much simpler: I had barely used my cell phone. I didn’t check emails, barely answered texts, and completely unplugged. This sparked my curiosity about my relationship with my phone—and how it affects others, too. I did some research and was shocked (and saddened) by what I learned.
According to Consumer Affairs, the average person spends 4 hours and 37 minutes per day on their phone. That’s more than 30 hours a week, adding up to a staggering 65 days per year spent hunched over a screen. Why do we do this? It turns out it’s similar to addiction in the brain. The sounds of notifications and the act of checking your phone release dopamine, creating a momentary feeling of happiness—a reward system that keeps us hooked.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a fan of technology in many ways. I remember navigating with a Rand McNally map before Google Maps (it wasn’t pretty and was probably dangerous!). I love seeing photos of friends and family who live far away, and I appreciate how technology kept people connected during the pandemic. There’s no denying the convenience of paying bills, ordering groceries, or managing health care from a phone.
But for every benefit, there are equally concerning downsides.
The illusion of connectedness is actually making us lonelier than ever. Being in each other’s presence, exchanging energy, and having real conversations are what truly nourish connection and well-being. Increased phone usage has contributed to rising mental health challenges, and social media feeds the narrative that we’re “not enough”—not attractive enough, not successful enough, not living the “right” life. This can lead to depression, anxiety, and even financial distress as we try to “keep up with the Joneses.”
It’s also a time and motivation drain. Have you ever picked up your phone to check something quickly, only to realize you lost 30 minutes scrolling through random content? We wonder why we’re overwhelmed and short on time, but often it’s the device that quietly steals it away. Additionally, excessive phone use can disrupt sleep (thanks to blue light exposure) and increases radiation exposure close to the brain.
A recent study from Heidelberg University had participants give up their phones for 72 hours. Some experienced symptoms similar to withdrawal in the first 24 hours—insomnia, headaches, irritability. But after 72 hours, they found improved focus, better impulse control, greater cognitive flexibility, and enhanced emotional regulation.
We are deep in a cell phone–reliant society, so how do we help ourselves?
Tips to Minimize the Negative Effects of Phone Use:
✨ Unplug when you can. Shut off your phone during meals, family time, or outdoor activities.
✨ Set a schedule for checking your phone. For example, I check messages in the morning, at lunch, and after dinner, which helps prevent mindless scrolling.
✨ Go outside. Be present in nature and connect with people face-to-face.
✨ Limit phone use before bed to improve sleep quality.
✨ Wear blue light glasses to reduce eye strain.
✨ Meditate. Just 20 minutes a day can help regulate your nervous system, lower stress, and improve mental health.
✨ Try the EE System. Our Energy Enhancement System helps regenerate cells, calm the nervous system, and support the body’s healing process. Get $20 off per hour for the entire month of July! Learn more about it by calling us at 651-430-2866 or logging onto our website.
As the saying goes: “Technology is a useful servant, but a dangerous master.”
Wishing you moments of unplugged peace and flow,
Lisa
