My phone died in my arms.
I was on my way home from work, and I pulled out my phone when it fell out of my hands. That was it: when I lifted the device, the screen, pristine despite millions of previous drops thanks to a sturdy case and I overzealous screen protection, was intact, but the screen was awash in a sickly pale pink glow which could only be construed as severe internal damage.
I was listening to a podcast on writing when it happened. The podcast went silent, as did my iPhone for the last time.
I wasn’t that torn up over the incident; the phone was over 3 years old and was in need of a replacement. I hoped to hold out until the spring; “the drop” expedited the necessity to the end of the week.
What started as an extra errand tacked onto my already loaded day became a self-reflection of who I am and my reliance on technology in order to properly function.
As I waited in the morning for the kiosk of my service provider to open, I realized I had no idea what time it was. I don’t wear a watch; asking strangers for the time was too awkward, so I resorted to side-eyeing the clocks on the walls of numerous food stands in the food court. I never felt so crippled, and it was less than 24 hours without my device.
What happened next was something I hadn’t anticipated. As the gentleman at the kiosk set up my phone, he explained that because I had switched from an iPhone SE to a Samsung S10 – thus ending my 5-year relationship with an Apple product – and because my iPhone was dead, he would be unable to transfer any of my contacts and apps onto my new phone.
My reaction to the news: relief. An overwhelming sense of calm. What was happening? Why was I having such a lackadaisical response to an otherwise stress-inducing situation?
And then it hit me: I had too much on my plate.
The constant pings, notifications, and reminders of obligations had cluttered up my phone and thus cluttered and overwhelmed my life. This involuntary purge, this reset of my digital life was exactly what I needed to get back on track.
I had been taking on too much. Spurred by my earnings in November, I decided to seek out and take on more writing projects. This proved to be a mistake; not only had I chosen one of the worst months to try to increase my workload, but I had underestimated the amount of free time I had at my disposal, as well as the amount of time it would take to complete certain tasks.
I recently worked out at the gym for the first time in over a month, since before NaNoWriMo started. If that isn’t a red flag that I was taking on too much, that I wasn’t prioritizing my own needs, then I don’t know what is.
To stop the bleeding, I made the difficult decision to cut ties with someone with whom I promised to work. My mindset dictated that my time was valuable, and by taking on more responsibilities that didn’t align with my goal to make money from my writing, I had to be ruthless and purge the poor time investments.
My schedule is still busy, but at least now I can clearly see where I can fit the time for projects that benefit me spiritually as well as mentally.
And since I had gotten my new phone, I’ve re-added only the apps and contacts that mean the most to me. The noise is still there, it’s just quieter.
As I waited in the food court for the kiosk to open, I couldn’t help notice the Chinese restaurant across from me, simply called “DUCK“. It had roast duck for lunch hanging on display, as well as the lunch menu plainly spelled about behind the person at the counter.
How elegant is that? A perfect example of how to uncomplicated one’s life! Why get bogged down with flashy marketing and unnecessary extras when a no-frills approach is all it takes to get the job done?
Office workers are hungry. They see DUCK. If they want BBQ duck, they’ll buy from DUCK. Easy-peasy (and done like a duck dinner)! In the future, I hope to follow this philosophy with life, and with my time management and productivity.
How about you? How do you find the time to manage everything in your life? Are there any projects or commitments you were forced to say no to? Please leave your comments below!