Why I switch off
Meta4 Business Coaching
“Technology can be our best friend, and technology can also be the biggest party pooper of our lives,” said someone very wise!
Having just spent nearly 3 weeks in India, with my mobile phone sitting snuggly, switched off in my office desk drawer I’ve been asking myself what difference did it make to my enjoyment?
The answer is, it made a HUGE difference.
So why did I feel the need to switch off? I’m hoping nobody really needs to ask this question.
But, in case you’re wondering…
A recent piece of research stated that a parent gets asked an average of 73 questions a day by children under 4.
I’ve got two children and travelling around India for 19 days (with many ‘anomalies’ to demand answers on) that equates to A LOT of questions.
The nature of my work means that I get to ask most of the questions, however, my work challenges me in all the best possible ways and presents many different scenarios to comment, advise on and consider, I (like most) have many applications open at any one time, wear various hats and have to respond to many situations on the spot …
Still asking why I feel the need to switch off? So, why leave the phone behind?
Whilst travelling, we were given an old Nokia handset (on an Indian network) for emergency use and my husband also had his phone with him.
Apparently, he cannot possibly live without football results! With ‘in case of emergencies’ covered, it was the first ever holiday where I didn’t check my email – even once!
I usually take a sneak peek a couple of days before coming home, but I was determined to completely switch off.
Check it once and it opens the flood gates. I was able to switch off. Completely.
Around the pool in one particularly luxury retreat, I was surprised, yet not surprised, to look around to see people around the pool area necks bent looking at their phones.
Out in front of us was a stunning shore, sea eagles circling, huge waves crashing on the pure white sands below and scores of fishermen heading home from a night out at sea.
All this 4000 miles away from home was being missed for what – a scrolling, fleeting update from a cat dancing in a Christmas hat – yes, this was one post I glimpsed at being watched.
Why would anyone go all that way to keep your distance from attaching fully with your new reality?
This retreat did the BEST body massage treatment called Nirvana (often called The Mother of All Healing).
My head was completely empty by the end of it.
Floating back to my sun bed and relaxing with my surroundings meant the feeling of Nirvana lasted just that little bit longer.
So just do it, I challenge you! Leave your phone behind next time you take that valuable, relaxing break.
You don’t know what you’re missing…
Clare Whalley celebrated 10 years in business in 2017. A great milestone to achieve. She graduated with an International degree in English and Education and went into corporate life to pursue a career outside of teaching. Successfully passing a rigorous graduate scheme into a blue-chip company; working in several positions across team management, customer service and sales roles. A working trip to India helped her decide to resign, retrain and set up her own coaching and training business. Clare now lives in Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham with her two young children, Isabelle and James and her husband Rob. Clare works with fellow business owners to help them create a business they love too. She uses strategies and tools which will help business owners get to the clients they love to work with, with more consistency and ease. To find out more about my small business coaching programmes http://www.meta4coaching.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/META4-COACHING-PROGRAMMES-v1_2019.pdf or to have a chat with Clare to find out more about how coaching can help you and your business book in for a free one-hour business strategy session https://www.meta4coaching.co.uk/make-it-happen/
