• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Amy Hoogervorst

Integrative Health and Wellness Coach

  • WHAT IS HEALTH COACHING?
  • ABOUT AMY
  • SERVICES
  • BLOG
    • FAITH AND SPIRITUALITY
    • MIND-BODY CONNECTION
    • MOVEMENT, EXERCISE AND REST
    • NUTRITION
    • PERSONAL AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
    • PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT
    • RELATIONSHIPS AND COMMUNICATION
  • GET STARTED
    • SCHEDULE A FREE CALL
    • ACCESS FREE RESOURCES
    • VIEW ARCHIVED VIDEOS

Aug 23, 2016
MIND-BODY CONNECTION

Heads Up, Phones Down: A Rule for Life in the 21st Century

When we took our eldest son to college this weekend, I noticed something new in the heart of campus, painted on the sidewalk at each roadway intersection:

Heads Up

Phones Down

In other words, kids, pay attention to the here and now. (And don’t get run over.)

Students entranced by their devices apparently have had some close calls, necessitating the stenciled letters on the sidewalks. From my experience living and driving in another college town, I can say that all universities should consider adding these sidewalk warnings. Like, yesterday.

But these words serve as an important reminder for us, too, not just for our kids.

Smartphones and other portable electronic devices have become ubiquitous. They give us needed information at the touch of a fingertip to a screen. But if we lose or leave them behind, we feel like we’re missing a part of us.

They also allow us to be miles away mentally while we are walking into a street, driving a car, sharing a meal, and spending (face to face) time with people.

We let a ring or a buzz or a screen prioritize who and what gets our attention.

This weekend, on our way to and from the college move-in, we had a layover at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. On almost every table in the terminal sat an iPad, where travelers could order food, browse the news, play games, and check their flight status. When we first arrived in the terminal, the iPad perk seemed so upscale, so 21st century, so nice.

And if I had been traveling alone, it might have been.

This novel approach to ordering, though, resulted in very little interaction with the server who, aside from greeting us, skipped the chit-chat and merely brought us our food and refilled our water glasses. Even more disappointing, it resulted in very little interaction between us. The iPad had gotten in the way.

Shouldn’t mealtimes ideally provide us not only food for our bodies, but also food for our souls, through conversation, laughter, and shared experience? I found no opportunity for soul feeding there, in the glitzy Terminal G.

Maybe the words from the sidewalk need to be taped to the restaurant table, or the kitchen table, as a reminder. When a phone rings during dinner or beeps at the arrival of a text, what if we ignore it, and continue the conversation we’re having with the person facing us, instead of heeding the intrusion?

Heads Up

Phones Down

Maybe the words from the sidewalk need to go on the car dashboard, so that when I notice my phone buzzing, I’m not tempted to glance over at it while driving down the road or cut off the conversation with my passengers to answer it when it rings.

Heads Up

Phones Down

Maybe the words from the sidewalk can help us find freedom from the addiction to our devices.

My son the college student spent his summer working at a scout centre in Europe, leading hiking and climbing trips in the Alps. It was a dream come true, the opportunity of a lifetime, and he formed quick, close connections with the other young adults who came from around the world to volunteer there too.

He attributed much of that connection to the lack of technology in their midst.

His phone only worked on Wi-Fi when he was at the centre, and even then internet reception was extremely spotty. On the trail or in the overnight huts, the guides and hikers had time and space to relate to each other as people from different nations and backgrounds, with different personalities, interests and skills. Smartphones were used as cameras to capture memories of mountain peaks and glacial lakes, not to text people a world away.

They found people interesting, not electronics.

They were living in the moment. Living a dream.

Heads Up

Phones Down

I hope my son finds those connections, those heads-up, phones-down moments, on his campus, too, and not just on the sidewalk. I hope he uses that technology to stay in touch with us and his friends in the rest of the world, but not if it means ignoring someone sitting right next to him. With the intention of a few, the dining hall, the student lounge, the residence hall and the sports arena all could become heads-up, phones-down spaces too.

Can we adults remember to find heads-up, phones-down moments in our lives as well?

What makes it difficult for you to step away from your smartphone and other devices? Could you give them up for a weekend, a day, or even an hour? How would you spend that new-found time? How would it benefit your life? 

Welcome! If you’re new here and don’t want to miss a thing, be sure to CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE to the Faith & Sweat blog updates. Know a friend who would like this? Please share. Thanks for visiting!

Tweet
Share
Pin

Don’t Miss out

Join our newsletter to get all the latest!

Previous Post: « Worn Down and Out? On the Importance of the Sabbath
Next Post: Faith and Sweat: Adventures and Affordable Housing »

Primary Sidebar

MEET AMY

Hi! I'm Amy Hoogervorst, a National Board Certified Health and Wellness Coach, integrative health coach, and creative entrepreneur offering grace and space for a healthier you. Read More…

Amy Hoogervorst is a ReCODE 2.0 Certified Health Coach. Badge is blue and green lettering primarily on a white background

Latest on the Blog

A Bredesen ReCODE coach helps people concerned about or living with cognitive decline implement lifestyle changes that are part of the Bredesen protocol. Colorful image depicts a brain with many synapses and activity

Recently I trained as a Bredesen ReCODE Coach, adding to my professional knowledge base and credentials as I look to help anyone concerned about their brain health. But my desire to prevent and reverse cognitive decline goes beyond a professional achievement. It’s deeply personal, too. About five years ago, someone close to me received a […]

Let’s Connect

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Latest on Instagram

Scenes from two hikes in the last week - with tons Scenes from two hikes in the last week - with tons of wildflowers! Today is the last day of National Wildflower Week, which raises awareness of the critical role these beauties play in sustaining biodiversity. Native wildflowers have relationships with local wildlife, supporting bees, birds, and butterflies for a living landscape. You also can create your own living landscape with native plants that will thrive in your area.

Find a Native Plant Society near you for more information, and shop native plant nurseries.
Sharing a few glimpses from the retreat I organize Sharing a few glimpses from the retreat I organized and facilitated last weekend in central North Carolina. What a lovely time apart from the world, yet in community. (Everyone else seemed to appreciate it, too!) A couple of days ago I received an email from a participant who said, "You made us all feel safe, welcomed and cared for emotionally and physically and I greatly appreciate that." 🥰

All of these participants said they'd do it again, too. We'd love for you to join us, when it happens. Next date TBD.

 I announce upcoming events and opportunities first through my WellCheck e-newsletter, so if you're not on my email list, that's the place to start. 💌 Visit amyhoogervorst.com/subscribe to add yourself!

#graceandspaceforahealthieryou #wellnessweekend #healingrhythms #retreat #mindbodyspirit #timeapart #timeforyou #lifepractices #integrativehealthcoach 
#compassion #connection
I'm no longer calling this exercise a Suitcase Car I'm no longer calling this exercise a Suitcase Carry. This kettlebell does not have wheels and my suitcase does! The 2023 name of this exercise is the Target Basket Carry.

Gym days = practice for real life situations. Go get it done, friends! You'll thank yourself.

#gymlife #practice #thisislife #strengthtraining #trainingforlife #strongwomen #agewell #kettlebell #carrythatweight #integrativehealthcoach #graceandspaceforahealthieryou
A Puppy PSA: No amount of caffeine (or sugar) can A Puppy PSA: No amount of caffeine (or sugar) can make up for a poor night's sleep.

Both caffeine and sugar, as well as a room that's too warm or bright or noisy, can interfere with sleep.

The good news, if your sleep wasn't up to par last night? You get another opportunity for quality rest tonight. (Or most anytime you want, if you're this guy.)

How can you set yourself up for success tonight? Think through what you already know about your habits and sleep hygiene. What's one small thing you might be able to do differently today or this evening that could lead to better sleep?

And in the interim ... Who else wants a nap? ✋🏼

#thursdaythoughts #psafromthedog #psafromahealthcoach #sleep #naptime #takecareofyou #restandrestore #westielife #selfcare #healthcoach #selfcareisntselfish #graceandspaceforahealthieryou
Follow on Instagram

Tags

accountability anxiety best self books challenge choices coaching dreams exercise faith faith and sweat fitness friends goals grace and space for a healthier you habits health health coaching healthy eating healthy food healthy lifestyle holidays inflammation memories mindfulness mindset movement nutrition perseverance personal growth PhotoOrganize Me photos recipes resources rest self-care sleep social media stewardship stories stress sugar wellness what i learned Youngevity
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • DISCLOSURES
  • CONTACT
© 2023 Amy Hoogervorst - All Rights Reserved

We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

Amy Hoogervorst
Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.