Join National Unplugging Day

It’s one of the hardest things to do — yet it can have such a huge benefit.  I’m talking about putting your phone down and unplugging.  Just giving yourself a few minutes to relax instead of compulsively checking your Facebook, emails, Twitter, text messages, apps, games, etc. is really scary actually.  I get that!  Just last week when I was forced to unplug because of a cable company snafu I thought I was going to lose my mind.  But there are many benefits to just taking a breath and unplugging like:

1.Relaxation For Your Mind All day long our heads are buzzing with a million different to-do’s. This mental clutter can cause a lot of stress. So giving your brain a break can allow you to unwind, and de-clutter your mind. I think our hectic brains deserve that every once in a while!

2. In-Person Socializing Is that still a thing?! Unplugging will allow some quality face-to-face time with friends and family (and FaceTime doesn’t count.) It’s so easy to text and email people, that I actually find myself sighing when my phone rings. Actually — I never answer my phone if you don’t have an appointment with me (really -I even have a YouTube video about it! ) But it’s nice to let go of the phone and talk in person!

3. Distractions Be Gone Ever find that it takes you three times as long to complete a task because those tweets lighting up your phone were just too funny not to read? I understand! Well, unplugging can help you to focus on tasks and not get distracted by that next level of Candy Crush.

4. Health Benefits Being connected 24/7 can actually have an affect on your health. Our smart phones pump out electromagnetic radiation, which is linked with cancer. This is why you should kick your phone out of bed, and try not to have it on you for extended amount of times. Your eyes could also use a break from staring at screens for so long.

5. Less FOMO (fear of missing out). Out of sight, out of mind, right?  Unplugging can help ease the anxiety of constantly wondering what emails you are getting , or what photos your friends are uploading to Facebook. It’s nice to take a break from what everyone else is doing and focus on yourself! And don’t worry too much, it will all be there when you decide to reconnect.

Even Randi Zuckerberg (former Facebook exec) who built her career around technology says it’s important to detox every once and a while to help you get reconnected with yourself and the ones you love.  She even wrote a book about it called Dot Complicated: Untangling Our Wired Lives and a children’s book called Dot, which is about a little girl obsessed with electronic devices.

So how do you do it?  How do you officially unplug?  Here’s a kickstarter — tonight marks the start of the National Day of Unplugging.  From March 7th at sundown to March 8th at sundown get off your devices!

That means:

No cell phones
No iPads
No iPad Minis
No eReaders
No computers
No social media

You can join the National Day of Unplugging by signing the Unplug Pledge and disconnect.  The campaign encourages you to connect with people in your neighborhood and have interrupted meals with your family.

Happy Unplugging!

Automate Your Life

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Daily to-do’s can get tedious and overwhelming. I get it! Between responding to work emails, deciding what to do for dinner, paying bills, managing social media accounts, and running endless errands– when is there any time to just relax? That’s why you should let technology work for you and automate your life!

When I interviewed Ari Meisel, master automator and the author of the book Less Doing, More Living:Making Everything In Life Easier (Check out his site here), he told me:

“First of all, people have this false notion that all the things they do in their life, only they can do. You know, like you’re the only person who could possibly schedule appointments for yourself. And it’s kind of a weird thing, people like hoard this. No – it’s because they don’t think about what’s required to do it.

This couldn’t be more true! So I made a list of 5 ways to cut down your to-do list and have your tasks automatically disappear!”

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Apps To The Rescue

Typical scene at a local emergency room

(Photo credit: Wikipedia)

This week I have been all about apps!! Yesterday, I hosted a “Productivity Apps” webinar. In case you missed it check it out here! Today I want to introduce you to a whole new category – emergency apps! (I know, I know, I can’t get enough!)

1. iTriage
If you have any health questions this app will have the answer. You can find medications, diseases, and medical locations instantly! In the app’s new verison 5.9, members of select insurance providers will be able to find medical facilities that are In-Network for your plan. (FREE)

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Tonight’s The Night! Join My Productivity Apps Webinar

iPhone 4's Retina Display v.s. iPhone 3G

(Photo credit: Yutaka Tsutano)

I’m excited to host my second FREE Webinar tonight — dedicated to apps!

Want to learn about the best apps to increase your productivity, and do more in less time?!  Well tonight, February 26, 2014 @ 8 pm EST, you can join me as I reveal some of my favorites.   (just in case you missed the last webinar “Boost Your Productivity in 2014” check it out now)

When I see people using the “Notes” app on their iPhones to keep their to-do’s or tasks, I literally cringe thinking back to when I used to do the same! There are so many great apps out there that blow “Notes” right out of the water. And don’t fear – they are mostly all free!

So, tonight I will give you the full rundown of the best of the best! AND It’s not too late to sign up- so register now! (Even if you can’t make the specific time, there will be a recorded version if you register)

Check out the details below:

5 Reasons To Kick Your Phone Out Of Bed

David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Smartphones have become our sole source of communication, our daily weather updates, the way we unwind with games, and even our cuddle buddies at night. This is mainly focused on the younger generation though, as the only generation that seems to have got it right is the older generation, by only using their phones for making phone calls. I know that not all the older generation just use their phones for taking calls, but some do. There are even these cell phones for older adults, which can make things a lot easier for them. Going back to what I first started talking about though. I know many of you can’t think of another way but to have your phone next to your head at night. However, this is something I’ve never done and refuse to do. I have to set boundaries or else I’d go insane…checking and rechecking emails, Facebook, Twitter, etc. Since getting a Blackberry for work about seven years ago, I’ve always kept all of my phones in the living room, nice and far out of reach. Being connected 24/7 is not only a distraction but it’s also not good for your health. Sleeping is supposed to be peaceful and sacred. Just ask Arianna Huffington — she worships sleep and thinks you should “Sleep Your Way to the Top” — and you should too! 🙂

Anyway, here is a list of why you should dump your phone and snuggle your pillow (or your honey) instead!

1. Lights. When my Blackberry blinks red, my eyes open right up. This isn’t just your inner-email intuition, as I once believed. Artificial lights will disrupt your body’s natural rhythm and acts as a stimulant that will keep you awake longer. The sense of urgency would cause me to pop out of bed and deal with whatever issue is at hand, right then. No good for sleep or my nerves. (more here)

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