Extract from The Mindful High Performer book by Chelsea Pottenger
Chelsea Pottenger is a leading international motivational speaker and one of Australia’s most popular corporate wellness presenters. An accredited mindfulness and meditation coach, as well as a Mental Health Ambassador for R U OK? and Gidget Foundation Australia, Chelsea founded her company EQ Minds back in 2016 with the goal of introducing high-performance mental fitness to the public and corporates. Who better to share her expert advice on mastering a Digital Detox. Chelsea shared an extract from her book The Mindful High Performer.
We know that technology can have amazing benefits and will continue to enhance our lives, as long as it’s not taking priority over real human experiences. If you feel you are losing your grip on the real world, meaningful conversations and just being in the moment – perhaps it’s time to get some strategies to unplug for a while and nurture a healthier relationship with technology.
A healthier connection with technology creates a healthier connection with yourself. It gives you the clarity to take control of your thoughts and your feelings instead of letting them be dictated by the information you consume digitally. Limiting your exposure to external stress and helping you reduce anxiety.
Chelsea’s Top 4 Tips for Doing a Digital Detox:
1. Disable notifications
This one is crucial for productivity as notifications are a constant source of distraction. We check into our social media accounts more than we should, so do we really need another trigger when someone likes a photo or makes a comment?
2. Leave your phone at home
Next time you’re going out for dinner or for a lunch date with friends, leave your phone at home or in the car. This may sound difficult or challenging at first, but the reality is, once you arrive at your destination, you will be truly engaged with your friends. At a minimum, don’t allow phones on the table.
3. Don’t check your phone first thing in the morning
You already know how I feel about this, but remember that when you look at your phone before setting your intention for the day or express- ing your gratitude, you’re handing your power to your phone.
4. Go off the grid
Can you switch your phone off for the whole day? I do this on Sundays. It feels like the 24 hours lasts for two weeks. If this is too drastic, try powering down for two hours on a chosen day. Baby steps first, if you feel like an off-grid day would make you anxious.
Remember, nobody goes through life unscathed. It’s inevitable that each one of us will go through trials and tribulations. Many of them will be our own fault and many of them not. Mindfulness is a key part to building and maintaining resilience. It’s our mind’s way of overcoming stress, burnout and anxiety.
The Mindful High Performer by Murdoch Books is available now
