Why you should step away from your phone and live in the moment

In a world where you carry an entertainment system around in your pocket it's easy to get sucked in and spend all your time staring at a screen. But by doing that are you missing out on living in the moment? Have you missed your kid's first steps because you were looking at your phone? Did you miss the celebrity that walked by because you simply had to check Facebook? What amazing sights have passed you by because you were staring at your phone? There are so many reasons why you should step away from your phone and live in the moment, but here are just a few.



Set a good example and live in the moment


As parents we worry about our kids all the time, and screen time is a huge concern. But how can we tell them they shouldn't look at screens all the time when that's exactly what we're doing? We need to set a good example to our kids, we need to step away from our phones and show them life is awesome. Once we've mastered stepping away from the phone we can then tell them about their screen time limits.

Why You Should Step Away From Your Phone And Live In The Moment | Play with your kids, enjoy every day.
My boys enjoying a moment with their dad. 💖


The Hubby and I have introduced a "Weekend Rule", basically none of us can play games, go on Facebook, or generally mess with phones/iPads/games until 3pm. That includes me and the Hubby. The funny thing is that it's always us, the adults, that forget about the rule and the kids come downstairs in a morning and remind us to put our phones down. It's good for us to be reminded but it's also good for the kids too because they see we listen to them and we actually spend time together as a result. I love our new Weekend Rule and we'll be continuing it for the foreseeable future.



Be present


Setting a good example goes hand in hand with being present. When you have kids showing them you're there whenever they want or need you is important and by putting down your phone you're acknowledging them. Instead of spending all your time staring at a screen you can have conversations with your kids, you can live in the moment and laugh about something funny. You enjoy the little things and your kids see your personality. You learn about each other, you are together.





Stop acting as if life is a rehearsal. Live this day as if it were your last. The past is over and gone. The future is not guaranteed.

Wayne Dyer





By living in the moment you'll have better relationships


And I'm not just talking about romantic relationships here either. All of them - from your partner to your mother-in-law, by stepping away from your phone and enjoying every moment of your life your relationships will improve. When you're not checking your phone every 5 minutes people see you're interested in them, in their lives, and they're pleased you want to talk to them. 

Why You Should Step Away From Your Phone And Live In The Moment | Spend real time together, look at each other.


I have noticed this a lot recently, I've been trying to make a conscious effort to look at my phone less and it's having an impact on everyone around me. We laugh more. We talk more. But more importantly I believe they think I care more. I have enjoyed more little things recently because I've left my phone in my pocket and decided to live in the moment - like laughing with my teenaged son about my choice of expression or watching the Hubby trying to do the Floss with my youngest (a total failure). It's those minutes, the tiny details of life, that make every day a joy.



Put your phone down and focus better


How many times have you been distracted by notifications popping up on your phone? In a morning I can receive as many as 50 notifications, from reminders to do something to Facebook notifications there's always something I need to know apparently. But here's the thing, whenever I get a new notification I'm distracted for a second by whatever it is. My focus is pulled from the thing I'm doing, which could be housework or writing, and I focus on my phone. Then when it's time to get back to what I was doing I forget for a while and it takes minutes to get back my focus.

By stepping away from your phone, turning off notifications or simply ignoring them, I'm sure you'll get more done. When there's not something distracting you every few minutes you can get loads done!



Step away from your phone and protect your eyes


Having bad eye sight already I know how important eye care is. Even after having laser eye surgery my eyes are bad and continue to get worse. I can't drive at night and I suffer from migraines when it's time for new glasses. And of course, I am well aware that looking at your phone all day has a huge impact on your eyes. I have noticed more and more that when I'm looking down at my phone and then look up it takes a moment for my eyes to be able to focus. Everything is a little blurry until my eyes adjust. Add to that the fact that you blink less when you're looking at a screen and it's all not very good for your eyes is it?

Why You Should Step Away From Your Phone And Live In The Moment | Protect your eyes, and look around you - you never know what you'll see.


Whenever I realise my eyes are tired or I've been suffering I try to stay away from screens for a while, and that includes watching TV. Instead I decide to live in the moment and play badminton outside with my youngest or go for a walk with the Hubby. That way I get to smile and enjoy life as well as helping my eyes rest.



Be happier and live in the moment


Taking that first step and putting your phone away can be difficult. It's a habit you need to break and sometimes even an addiction, but you really do need to break away from it. You will find the more you put your phone down the happier you become. You'll see things in a new light, you'll notice day-to-day things that you never did before, and best of all you'll be spending more time with your family.

Lately I have spent more time away from my phone, I've played games with LP, I've talked to BP, and I've gone on walks with the Hubby. We have talked about all sorts of topics as well as playing games with the boys, and every time I do so without looking at my phone I notice new things. Like how LP is growing up fast, it only seems like two minutes ago he was turning 5 and here he is at 10 years old and well on his way to High School. I'm enjoying living in the moment, watching my boys grown and actually being present for it.





Life is short, and if we enjoy every moment of every day, then we will be happy no matter what happens or what changes along the way.

Gretchen Bleiler





Sleep better


You know, as well as I do, that if you spend any time looking at your phone before going to sleep your sleep is worse. If your phone is on your bedside table the notifications can interrupt your sleep. You get woken up by a notification and before you know it you've been awake for 3 hours and it's 4am.

By putting your phone away, or even keeping it elsewhere at night, you'll be giving yourself a better night's sleep. And by getting a better night's sleep you'll be able to live in the moment and enjoy life more! That's gotta be a win right?



Ways to live in the moment


It's easy to say to someone "live in the moment" but what does that even mean? To me it's simple, just enjoy life. Enjoy being you, enjoy your family. To help you out though, here's a few ways you can live in the moment...

  • Smile. Really that's all it takes. When you're walking along the road and pass a stranger, smile at them. It's amazing the difference you could make to someone's day just by smiling. I always say good morning to elderly people I pass in the street, it's polite but also you're acknowledging them and that can mean the world to someone who may feel invisible a lot of the time. And don't forget, smiling is infectious. Let's make the world smile.


  • Pay attention to the small things. It could be waking up next to the person you love, or it could be the way your baby shuffles on their bottom to get around. The small things are what make our days memorable, they turn a mundane Monday into a memory that will last a lifetime. Like how I remember the way LP used to jump off the stairs into his dad's arms every time he went downstairs. I remember his little squeal as he jumped and his cheers when he did it. And those memories make me smile every time. It's times like that you want to live in the moment.
Why You Should Step Away From Your Phone And Live In The Moment | Watch your kids play football.
My boys playing football in Wollaton Park.

  • Savour food and drink. You don't have to be going out for a fancy meal to really enjoy your meal. You could be eating at home, same as always, but take a minute to savour what you're eating. Whether it's spaghetti bolognese or fish and chips, enjoy your food. And drinks too for that matter - and I'm not just talking alcohol. Water can be the most glorious drink if you take a moment to appreciate it.


  • Take notice of your surroundings. Right now I am sitting in my home office, I'm listening to music and typing away. Sounds boring right? But, outside my window I see an old oak tree, its leaves green and luscious. Next to that is a huge fir tree that has been growing in our garden for nearly 20 years. In the distance are fields as far as the eye can see, and they're all different shades of green. The sky is cloudy, it's been raining a little. From my seated position in front of my computer I can live in this moment and appreciate the nature all around me. Think for a minute about how much the old oak appreciated the rain and what a welcome it would've been to the growing grass. All this, and I haven't stepped foot outside yet. It's one of the best ways to live in the moment, take notice of what's all around you - and don't forget to teach your kids to do the same!

Why You Should Step Away From Your Phone And Live In The Moment | Look around, notice the world.
Look around you, notice the beauty.


  • To make the most of time, lose track of it. To truly live in the moment you have to enjoy life as best you can. When the days fly by, and you remember how fast it goes but how much fun you had - they're the best kind of "living in the moment". Forget about all the stresses and strains and just enjoy your days. Don't count the minutes or hours - savour the moments.

Why You Should Step Away From Your Phone And Live In The Moment | Enjoy life, instead of a screen.



Stepping away from your phone, living in the moment, will make you appreciate what you have. It will help you see that you can enjoy every second of life, that it is precious and by putting your phone down you are letting life in - not missing out on it.



When was the last time you left your phone behind?




Live in the moment and grab this Captured! colouring page to enjoy colouring in with your kids!

I want the colouring page for my kids (and coffee for me)!




Morgan's Milieu will use the information you provide to send you updates and newsletters. Please confirm you'd like to hear from us.

You can change your mind at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in the footer of any email you receive from us, or by contacting us at morgan@morganprince.com. We will treat your information with respect. For more information about our privacy practices please visit our website. By clicking below, you agree that we may process your information in accordance with these terms.
We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By clicking below to subscribe, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing. Learn more about Mailchimp's privacy practices here.