BY: JANICE HUTTON
Tech junky? Gadgets…phones…tablets…laptops…selfies…
tweets…go – go – go…Sound like your life? Do you respond to every
ping and buzz? Let me invite you to power down and refresh your soul.
Try some of these off-the-grid suggestions to power down your lifestyle:
POWER DOWN
FRIENDLY FUN
:
GET MOVING
For every 60
minutes of
sitting you
should get
up from your
desk and go
for a walk to
regenerate your body and refresh your
mind. Sitting for long periods of time is
hazardous for your health as it increases
your risk for chronic disease and obesity.
Moving reinvigorates your brain and
your body. Leave your phone behind.
No distractions. u u u u u u u
FOCUS
Change your personal email signature
to read: “Please don’t feel obligated to
respond after 5pm or on weekends”.
This gives you and your co-workers
permission to disconnect from work life
once the day is over and encourages
reconnection with your personal
lives. After hours emails actually
damage productivity, creativity and
team morale. Give everyone time to
disconnect daily.
Buy a beautiful journal
and fill the pages with
funny doodles, a bucket list or
plans for your next holiday – no
googling. Research has shown that
a tech-free walk in the woods can
boost creativity by 50 percent.
MAKE FAMILY MEAL
TIMES NO TECH ZONES
HOLIDAY OFF
THE GRID
PERMISSION
GRANTED
Clear your space of all technology and pay attention to
one thing only. Read a book, colour, listen to the birds,
watch the sunset (no photos!), work with your hands,
dig in the garden, walk your dog (no headphones) and
notice the world around you. It may feel strange to
focus on just one thing, but in reality your brain function
actually improves with a lower demand of information
processing. Turn it off and tune in to the moment.
GET CREATIVE
For your next girls night, date night
or couples dinner party agree that
everyone pockets their technology
for the night. It’s a great way to
actually connect with others through
uninterrupted conversation and lively
debate. The first person to reach for a
phone pays the tab!
Plan an international trip without
the expense of the offshore data
plan. Just go with it. Rest, read,
recharge and retool by taking time to
sharpen your skills and refresh your
creativity. Going unplugged is
actually a very powerful
experience. You can use
hotel internet if you have
to connect with family, but
go to the beach, relax, enjoy and play.
JANICE HUTTON
THE CLUB CO-MANAGER AT THE CLUB AT WHITE OAKS, JANICE IS A
VETERAN FITNESS INSTRUCTOR AND PERSONAL TRAINER AND IS A
RESPECTED INDUSTRY SPEAKER. SHE HAS PUBLISHED NUMEROUS
ARTICLES IN HEALTH MAGAZINES AND CERTIFICATION RESOURCES USED
WORLDWIDE. SHE IS AN ACTIVE PARENT OF TWO YOUNG MEN.
fall 2015 | wo magazine | 51