Tuesday, August 13, 2013
A New Habit - Switching Off
I have a confession. I'm addicted to my iphone. I love it. It's my connection to the outside world when domesticity becomes too much to bear. It prevents me from being entirely engulfed by boredom and offers me little doses of 'pretty' throughout the day. It allows me to easily photograph what the kids are up to and flick pics to doting grandparents as cute thing ocour.
But it's also a filthy discration. When i'm looking at my phone there is an assortment of VERY important things that i'm NOT looking at.... like the road.
Thats right. I hang my head in shame and confess to texting and driving.
All day long my phone beeps, rings and chimes at me and for some reason I feel a sense of urgency around those alerts. If I get a text, I usually read it strait away and respond pretty soon after. If the phone rings, I answer it regardless of what I'm doing.
Most of the time I keep my phone on silent to try and avoid constant distractions, but i'll be honest- it's never far from my hand and distraction in the form of adult conversation is oooh so delicious.
But in light of the recent 'get your hand off it' campaign I've decided to do just that.
I'm upping the iphone anti and setting myself a new rule. No longer will I rely on the power of my convictions and flimsy self control.
That's right - I'm switching off.
Every time I hop in the car, I'm turning my phone off.
Whatever it is can wait until we unbuckle and hop out. Because really - no phone call, text message or social media update is as important as our safety.
Are you guilty of having the phone in your lap while you drive? Do you check your emails, instagram, facebook, texts and call register when you're stopped at the lights?
Labels:
driving,
get your hand off it campaign,
safety,
texting
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ReplyDeleteNo I don't! I used to but I got in an accident. A little fender bender but it traumatized me and I REFUSE to do it while the girls are in the car. I pull over to the side of the road to make/answer a call like a wanker. But there it is. I just can't risk it.
ReplyDeleteI too am an iPhone addict. All day errday. But not in the car. Or the shower. That wouldn't work.
x
Yes!! So many people still doing it - its astounding - and scary. I would hate for my family or myself to be hurt because someone was texting and driving. Good for you :)
ReplyDeletewe now have a rule in our house...directed at me especially....'disconnect to CONNECT' =)
ReplyDeleteOH YES, I need this too!
DeleteI have been guilty of the same thing. And when I saw the latest ads, I did think that it was like blacking out for 5 seconds. Yes, not worth checking a message which isn't as important as our lives. Well done! x
ReplyDeletei've blogged about my iPhone addiction/love several times now. it is SUCH a problem and i'm always trying to do better. x
ReplyDeleteI love you doing this. I don't do it, never will. I can barely drive safely with three screaming boys in the back seat...I think I have told the story of reversing out of our driveway and ramming a car....undercover cops on a stake out no less! Did not hear the reversing beeps...because of my 3 darling boy BEEPS...
ReplyDeleteI don't expect people to answer when I call or text. I want them to be truly in the moment with whomever they are with at the time...my turn will come.
My dad is horrid, answering his phone is more important then anything, and when you know that I feel like I am wasting my time being with him in person...I should ring and get the due attention that everyone else gets!
I too am addicted Em & am guilty of using it in the car. For a while now I've been trying super hard not to look at my phone if it beeps while driving because I usually have 3 kids in the car & my 13 & 10 year old see me do it! I am a terrible example to them & I don't want to be! I'm lucky my car has bluetooth so I can take calls but texts are a big no-no now. If only I could learn to put the phone away while I'm at home too.....
ReplyDeleteWhen I got my phone a while back I didn't like it beeping at me every time an email came in... more to the point I didn't like the control it had over me and that it took my attention from something else - i.e. my children so I very quickly took email off. The only thing I use my phone for are texts and phone calls. If the boys are in the car with me, I'm very mindful of what they see me doing so I leave it well alone, but if I'm alone I might check it at the lights. I'm really uncomfortable with my boys seeing me on the phone checking all the time. Phone calls are often necessary and I'm happy asking them to give me some space while I speak to someone, but I know the rest isn't necessary and that's why I took email off. I don't want to regret stuff in years to come and I don't want it to rub off on them. I'm working on simplifying it even more... if I could get the Nokia I had when I was 20 I would! Remember those lovely old phones?! Simple is always better for me.
ReplyDeleteYes, I also have all alerts off (can't STAND social media and email alerts on the phone!
DeleteBut guess what Vanessa, I'm about to make your day- YOU CAN GET THOSE OLD NOKIAS!!! Yes, for $20 at the servo and supermarket! Old school up and simplify!
xx
Noooooooo! Really???? You HAVE made my day! My contract is over this month and I was looking at 'upgrading' my phone because it does odd things, but looks like I'm downgrading! x
Deleteyes totally! my dad rocks an old school phone as dose one of my besties!
Deletexx
I hope you have also seen this incredible documentary by Werner Herzog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BqFkRwdFZ0
ReplyDeleteNo text message is as important as a life.
Yes! I saw that on Meet me at Mikes yesterday which prompted me to consider my actions more carefully!
DeleteThat is why using a phone while driving is ILLEGAL. You will be fined heavily if the police catch you. I don't go near my phone in the car because I'm too busy watching all the idiots out there that have their heads in their lap! There is also this video that Pip posted the other day directly on this topic. http://meetmeatmikes.com/2013/08/this-is-sad-but-important/
ReplyDeleteYes, it absolutely is illegal- just like speeding and downloading music. Each individual is responsible for their own actions and needs to take personal responsibility for them- hence the discussion above.
DeleteThanks for your input anon.
xo em.
I'm guilty of reading text messages at a red light - but otherwise I can keep my hands off my phone while I'm in the car. I used to be so so guilty of answering the phone whenever it rang though - jumping out of the shower! You name it! Also, both of our sets of parents were guilty of ringing, and ringing, and ringing until we picked up - especially first thing on a Saturday morning when we were trying to have a sleep in (no kids at our place). So I disconnected the phone line and I try to leave my mobile phone in another room. Everyone has learnt now to leave me a voicemail and I will get back to them pretty promptly and to only call repeadly if it is urgent.
ReplyDeleteGuess what?! I don't use a mobile...I know! Even my thirteen year old has one. I loath them for their distraction so I switched off a couple of years ago. Doing it old school now xo
ReplyDeletePlease don't text and drive!
ReplyDeleteI cannot tell you how many victims of terrible accidents I have seen at work who were either texting or driving or hit by someone who was texting and driving!
My phone stays in my bag while I am in the car...I don't even use it for directions!
It is out too often when I am at home though.
When I was on holiday it didn't work as a phone...only as a camera and so since coming back I have tried to maintain the mindset that it is only a camera. With mixed results! Some days I just need that connection!
I probably would...but there's no reception out here! And in our house unless my phone is plugged into a cradle thingy which is then connected to an aerial on the roof I get nothing. When we first moved here four months ago I had a little flip out, then de-toxed, now it's great. I check my phone in the morning once, then maybe in the afternoon, then at night maybe. It's been tricky with the instagramming though because I rarely have my phone on me when I want to share a photo. I'm trying to get better at snapping some things and sharing them later when the phones in it's reception getting cradle.
ReplyDeleteMy phone stays in my handbag while driving, i only got my license 3 & a half years ago & i'm such a nervous driver, i'd be too scared to take my eyes off the road to even glance at my phone. I have my phone on silent most of the day anyway, much to the annoyance of my husband when he's trying to call me! My problem is i think i'm addicted to Facebook & am constantly checking it on my phone. I know i'm missing out on precious time with my 10 month old daughter, i am seriously considering downgrading to a basic phone that doesn't have internet access.
ReplyDeleteMy phone is always on silent so that it's noises aren't distracting. I also try to leave it in my bag on the back seat of the car so I'm not tempted while driving.
ReplyDeleteBut I do love to have it available to break up the monotony of being at home.
An honest and inspiring post, Em. While I can't relate to the driving & texting (however Sam is notorious for it...& it drives me bonkers!), I will admit that I am very VERY attached to my phone. I just can't get enough of the connection, to EVERYTHING!
ReplyDeleteI do turn my phone on silent & leave it in my bedside drawer in the evenings as I hate being woken by it...or being called into work at 5am... ;) xx
Well thank goodness for that! x
ReplyDeleteNever. It goes in my bag and stays there while I drive. A young girl (18) that my family know died while texting, she also killed the other occupants of the car she drove into. Five deaths for one text, how can that be worth it???
ReplyDeleteI have also made a rule of no phones and no tv during meals. It is so much nicer to have music in the background and actually talk to each other over dinner.
wow! sounds dangerous! thanks for being so honest and open about this! glad you decided to stop it :)
ReplyDeletebe safe!
I heard some discussion about the Werner Herzog documentary on the radio the other day. They were saying that when you text while driving, you're actually more dangerous than if you were completely drunk - as your brain is so disconnected from the process of driving. Yay for your decision Em! Safety first!
ReplyDeleteI used to txt and drive.. never ever now... bet it feels good em!
ReplyDeleteI don't switch my phone off when driving but I'm considering it now. What a great idea! Pity I would forget to switch it back on and just assume I have pissed off all my friends and they aren't contacting me anymore. Rachel x
ReplyDeleteI always hav my phone on silen and all push notifications disabled! It's enough of a distraction anyway let alone with the beeping plus have you noticed how annoying it is when you are with someone and their phone is constantly beeping? Phones in bags I you are with someone I think, I would ever take a call if I was out with other people? Great decision Em!
ReplyDeleteGUILTY! This is a great post, I need to work on this
ReplyDeleteGood on you for being honest and making people hear the message. My cousin hit and killed someone while texting and driving and went to prison. Nothing is as important as our safety.
ReplyDeleteHubby bought me a Belkin phone holder that attaches to the dashboard - i have said phone connected to Bluetooth/Handsfree and I can play my music with a one-touch button. It's great really. The other day (while driving) my phone beeped with a text msg and by some crazy miracle my teenage son was sans headphones and heard the alert noise...
ReplyDeleteHIM - Are you going to read that Mum?
ME - Nope
HIM - Good onya Mum
ME - Yep been there, been caught, been fined - stupid and not worth it.
HIM - Yes and if you think about it - no one texts you in a life threatening emergency so if they REALLY needed you they'd just keep ringing and ringing and ringing ... like Dad does when he wants to know what Subway filling you want.
ME -silent, nodding and smiling... and secretly thinking - Hallelujah :-) xx
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