Airplane mode on. Distractions off.
In the summer of 2021, after jetting into Portugal, I found myself in the surf town Sagres, known for its sacred energy, where it hugs the southern tip . And soon found myself caught in a tidal wave situation.
I know, you can’t make this up.
The welcoming golden sand beach was my backdrop for an afternoon nap, catching up on sleep after an early morning start. It was all feeling very chilled before a wave suddenly, metaphorically, scooped me up out of my beach nap. A complete shock as the water submerged my body, and all my belongings, transferring me out of a dreamy state into a ‘we have a situation’ panic.
As I jumped up out of my nap, and the water, I realised my phone and iPAD were now victims of the tidal wave. Argh. This inconvenience was not high on my agenda. I dislike inconvenience on my travels.
I had taken a break from reading the book Four Thousand Weeks on my iPAD, to enjoy a daytime snooze on the beach. The author Oliver Burkeman explores the question of how best to use our ridiculously brief time on the planet, which amounts on average to about four thousand weeks and our modern obsession with 'getting everything done,' not realising the tidal wave situation would soon become a plot in enjoying the theme of this book - to live a life with an awareness our time is limited, so treasure the hours we have, remove distractions, and prioritize our time!
As I glanced down, I knew my phone was waving a SOS flag back. Although it still switched on and worked, the USB port wouldn’t charge. Instead it dramatically prompted the message of doom ‘moisture detected’ indicating it wouldn’t charge, and would slowly die. It all felt similar. Something similar happened in 2017 when I was in the Philippines and popped my phone into a waterproof camera holder to snorkel. Suddenly to find it wasn’t entirely waterproof. Soon the phone found itself in a bag of rice, drying out.
And the same treatment was required in Portugal.
Ahh, the life of a frequent traveller, we have been there, done that, all before.
It isn’t until you no longer have access to something that you realize how much of a necessity, companion, or distraction it can be. Take my phone. Normally when traveling I would have a podcast or music playlist playing in the background, keeping me company, listening, and learning. Now with my phone in a bag of rice, I was free from my phone, but also felt bit lost. No more taking photos of the scene I was experiencing. Although I love making photo memories, for a future me, it was also another distraction from being fully present, you can’t fully experience the moment when you are behind a lens. I would also use my phone to check-in and connect with people, always nice when you are in a café with some downtime, but again another distraction when you are in a new setting. External interruptions disturbing your escapism, a constant pull back to your normal life.
That afternoon would have played out as normal. Music on, being a tourist – taking photos, googling what to do next– and generally being half present, half distracted.
The outcome of the tidal wave situation turned my afternoon on its head. And I became to love it.
I was fully disconnected from anything and everyone. No one even knew. I was hopeful my phone would be back in action by that evening, or early morning, so didn’t feel the need to send any dramatic ‘I’m going offline for a bit’ messages.
After a slight feeling of discomfort, like I had lost something, I felt a weight lift off my shoulders.
A simpler life arrived.
No need to check in on social media, take lots of photos, or do anything other than just be. I didn’t need to use any energy considering anything else other than my current plan - simply to walk up the coast a little to the fortress and enjoy the experience. Fully present. Captivated by everything, as my mind wasn’t off looking for a phone-related distraction.
After being fully mesmerized by the sheer landscapes that surround the fortress, the distraction-free adventure continued to the local spot, the cool and hipster coffee shop where I sat in and enjoyed some food, chatted with the waitress, and read my book. No need to ask for the WIFI password to scroll through social media looking for a wee distraction. Instead, I had my nose in my book. My iPad survived the water, and I was back reading the book - four thousands weeks.
Talk about a book that takes you on a journey. I saw the fact I was phoneless as a blessing, a blessing that meant I had more time to read. To explore. To Learn. To Connect to the present moment. To Be.
The fully present experience continued into the afternoon. A little dream-like. A reminder of how I felt growing up. That's when I considered by being 100% connected to an external device, we must miss stuff. Even that boring feeling can feel like a distant memory. Remember gazing out the window of a car as a passenger, a little bored, but present. Observinglife. That never happens anymore as we are always connected, filling any void, with something, anything.
it can all be a little suffocating.
After my café pit stop, I savored the last pages and finally finished reading my book at another beach spot. Lying in the sunshine, pondering on what I had just read. Ahh, I love an insightful book. Where you feel refreshed, confronted, pointed at, and taken on a journey. All to expand your thinking.
The day continued with rooftop yoga, a whole ninety minutes of distraction-less bliss. Pizza treats on the main road, sitting amongst locals and tourists, making eye contact. Enjoying my own company, followed by experiencing the sunset on my cute balcony.
Oh, how my day was super zen, fully connected back. No other person around. And I realized, as much as I was forced to give up my phone by mother nature, it had freed me to have a fully present day with myself. Not flooded with external distractions, but fully embodying the experience. The feelings from the day, and all the sights, lingering and filling my body. All for me.
My advice to you:
Free yourself from distractions by intentionally, as much as possible, decoupling from your phone.
Switch on airplane mode and switch off from the external world. Connect back to you, and allow that feeling of ‘being switched off’ to arrive. It is the gateway to enjoying life more, all your senses heightened, to experience all that life must provide.
By being fully present you see what you would have missed when your mind is hunting for the next distraction.
By regularly cutting the tie that we all have to our phones, you are stopping the flow of potential distractions and allowing yourself to find joy all around! Sign me up to that.
