What a Technology Detox Has to Do With My Word of the Year

As we reach the midpoint of the year, I wanted to reflect on my chosen word for the year: present. This word has guided my intentions and actions, and I recently had a profound experience that underscored its significance while volunteering for a week at a summer camp with 500 high school students. For the week, these teenagers were asked to do something that might seem impossible in today’s tech-driven world — spend the entire week without their phones.

Initially, I worried that the students might throw a fit over not being able to use their devices, but to my surprise and delight, the opposite happened. Without their phones, they became more present, less anxious, and more available to those around them. They connected deeply with each other, shared stories, laughed, and built friendships. The students weren't distracted by constant notifications or the pull of social media. They were fully there, living each moment to the fullest.

This experience made me realize the immense power of focus. When we eliminate distractions, we can immerse ourselves in the present moment. Life, in its purest form, unfolds when we are fully engaged and attentive. The week at camp was a testament to the idea that being present is how life is meant to be lived. Phones can be amazing resources, providing us with information, connection, and convenience. However, they can also be prisons, trapping us in habitual scrolling and stealing our attention and focus.

Some valuable questions to reflect are as follows:
- What is your relationship with your phone?
- How does presence show up in your life?
- How does technology impact your focus for better or worse?

It's worth taking a moment to consider what needs to stay and what needs to go to be fully present and maintain focus in your life.

As I continue to navigate the rest of the year, I’m committed to nurturing a sense of presence in everything I do, and I encourage you to do the same. Let’s prioritize being there for ourselves and others, free from the distractions that pull us away from the richness of each moment.

Remember, presence is a gift we give to ourselves and those around us. Let’s unwrap it daily.