3 Steps to Gain Back Control.

We are in the social media era. Stop and look around. The human to human interaction has been replaced with the human to phone interaction.

Do you see people sitting next to each other, being in each others presence; but engaging with their phones rather than with the human being next to them? Probably. I find myself doing it all the time.

At the end of an underproductive work week I looked at my to-do list and became incredibly frustrated. Where had the time gone? I started telling myself the classic story, I ran out of time and I am too busy.

But did I really run out of time and am I really too busy?

You better believe I made time to watch Billions and read The Daily Mail. I most definitely woke up every morning and spent 10-15 minutes scrolling through my social media feed before getting in the shower. It was then that the moment hit me. This need to check other people's lives was controlling my own. I was missing the moments right in front of me. Time with my daughter, my husband, my work, my goals.

Here are some signs you are letting this control YOUR LIFE.

1. You check social media or email as part of your morning routine. Before you go to the gym, create your to-do list, review your objectives and set your goals.
2. You find yourself checking your phone during interaction with friends, family members and co-workers. You do this even though there are no pressing deadlines or events happening.
3. You check your phone as part of your driving routine, night time routine, break routine.....ect...

Part of changing our behavior is creating new habits and becoming aware of the habits that are challenging our goals. Am I saying to stop scrolling? No. I am recommending these coping mechanisms that have worked for me.

1. Put your phone away when you are with your friends, family or co-workers. Place it in your pocket and do not check it during the interaction. (What could possibly happen in 10 minutes?)
2. Answer your emails on your own time. Set aside an hour to respond to emails everyday. Most communication does not require a 911 response - but a timely one.
3. Ask yourself this question when you begin the social media scroll, "How is this helping achieve my goals or objectives?"

Challenge yourself this year to be ON PURPOSE. These behaviors are simple - BUT THEY ARE NOT EASY. Just like most things in life. We know what we should do, but we find reasons why we don't or can't.