Can’t Text and Thrive
Stay Alive! Don’t Text and Drive! We’ve all seen these flashing billboards and road signs. The message is clear: stay focused while driving, or you could endanger yourself and others.
But what about when we’re not driving? What about when we’re chatting with a friend, sharing dinner with a loved one, watching our kids on the soccer field, or just soaking in life? Is it safe to text then?
Sure, you won’t physically injure yourself or others while texting at dinner (unless you choke on your food). You won’t have to swerve to avoid a collision while posting on social media during a conversation. But is it really “safe?”
Our smartphones give us real-time access to everything—friends, social media, entertainment, news, sports. TikTok, Facebook, Instagram—they’ve hooked us with constant updates. And if that wasn’t enough, we added smartwatches for instant notifications without even reaching for our phones.
In The Life Is Too Short Guy, one of the core principles is Can’t Make It Alone. I reference a Harvard study on what makes a good life, showing that powerful social relationships are the most important indicator of long-term happiness and health. Strong social networks and deep, meaningful connections trump everything else for our well-being.
So why do we shortchange our relationships by staring at our devices? Instead of building deep, engaged connections, we create a façade of “connection” through our phones.
What message are you sending when you glance at your phone or smartwatch during a conversation? “I value our relationship, but it’s more important to me to check my social media feed, a game score, or where my kids are.” Like driving, you’re either fully engaged or you’re distracted, implying that what’s on your phone is more important than the person in front of you.
I’ve been traveling the country delivering keynotes and workshops about The Life Is Too Short Guy and the principles of LITSG. I’ve spoken to a wide range of audiences, diverse by age, industry, and gender. Last week, I delivered a Happiness Workshop to a hospital system where the CEO mandated that all cell phones be placed in a basket on the table—no cell phone use during the presentations. This group was the most engaged, appreciative, and attentive I’ve ever encountered. After the workshop, a long line of people waited to discuss in detail what we had accomplished that day. This was an AHA! moment for me. The workshop content was similar to many others I’ve given, but this group’s focus and engagement took it to another level.
You can’t text and drive and stay safe. You also can’t text and thrive. Today, put the phone down. Better yet, put it in another room. Studies show that merely having the phone in sight is a distraction. I challenge you to find times during your day—meals, meetings, social events—where you can shut the phone off and fully embrace the world around you. Minutes Matter! Use yours wisely to build and strengthen your social network because we Can’t Make It Alone!
Ready to thrive? Disconnect to connect. Put down the phone and live your best life!
Regards,
Scott