With our phones continuously tugging at our attention, being fully present with friends and family during the holidays can prove challenging, but there are things you can do to make it easier.
“We can’t pay attention to everything, and we often have trouble figuring out what we should pay attention to,” says Ward. “One way our brains have solved this is by prioritizing stuff that is rewarding and self-relevant. Our smartphones are unintentionally engineered to take advantage of both of these concerns.”
“Smartphones are basically always calling your name, and the closer the phone is to you, the more powerful that is,” says Ward. “If your phone is in sight right in front of you, it’s saying ‘Hey, pay attention to me!’ Even if you didn’t receive a text message or notification, the phone itself represents all the stuff you want to pay attention to. It’s putting you in a state of conflict.”
1. One Thing at a Time
Research shows that multitasking is a myth. You can’t pay attention to two things at once. Rather, your brain is switching back and forth between two things, causing you to never be fully present in either task. So, if you’re sitting with your family while scrolling through Instagram, you’re actually never fully present in the conversation. Avoid the myth of multitasking and carve out time to focus on one task at a time.2. Ditch the Pictures
Catching up with friends and family leads to special moments you’ll want to capture and share, but taking pictures to share on social media can actually take you out of experiences completely. Reconsider the need for constant picture taking and experience the moment instead.3. Out of Sight, out of Mind
Research shows that the mere presence of your smartphone reduces cognitive capacity, which means having your phone out during holiday gatherings can undermine the enjoyment you get during face to face interactions. Place your phone out of sight to help you better engage.4. Cutting Back
If you decide to put your phone away cold turkey, research shows that your heart rate goes up and your mind starts to wander. Reducing time spent with your phone is a training process. It’s important to acknowledge that wanting to use your phone while being with loved ones doesn’t make you a bad person or signify that you don’t care. We are just accustomed to always having our phones around, so reversing this instinct takes time and practice.Acknowledging what’s important to you this holiday season and creating boundaries around your phone usage is a great start to strengthening your ability to stay present. So, put the phone down—or better yet, in a different room—and enjoy the holidays!
