Ding. Ding. Ding.
The constant noise and stimulation serves it on many levels. It makes sure you are always tuned in and plugged in, making sure not to miss out on anything. There are lots of studies about the role of cell phones in our society today and the impact they have on our culture and community.
Here’s what I learned when I turned mine off. Not the power, mind you, but the notifications.
I learned that I liked my phone better when it was silent. In that role, it became more of a tool I used when I wanted to, then a device I felt tethered to.
I learned that there are lots of other things I can focus on and be present for when I’m not consistently focusing on my phone. In this way, turning off my phone notifications turned on my focus and priorities.
I learned that by turning off the notifications for my work email and instant messages, I could focus better on the work task at hand in the moment. My emails and texts would be waiting for me when I finished, but I felt empowered in making the conscious decision to let them wait until my current task was complete.
Give it a try, turn it all off. And not temporarily silencing them. I mean go into your phone notifications and turning them ALL OFF. My partner and kids know to call me if it’s urgent. And my phone still works great, it just works for me now, not the other way around.