Category Archives: Switched Off

Switching Off through Mindfulness

Mindfulness; we hear that word more and more as the powers of yoga and meditation rise in popularity, but do we know what it means in regards to living with tech? It means that mindfullness is one of the keys to unlocking your potential. Mindfulness will give you the tools you need to Shut Off and start living your life!

The hardest part for some Robots and Cyborgs is that the idea of being mindful is time-consuming. People assume that taking an extra second before their actions to be introspective will take away from their day or their lives in some way. I’m telling you that it is entirely untrue! The world is very fast paced, and many of us love to get caught up in it. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying our fast paced lifestyles, but if you’re looking to find inner peace and balance in your life, being more mindful is the first step.

Once you set yourself on the path to being more mindful, you’ll find that the time it takes to do so is not an inconvenience. In-fact, I would argue that the more mindful you are, the more time you’ll have for the important things in your life. You’ll spend less time regretting, you’ll spend less time worrying. Being mindful lets you live freely and safely in the moment! Switching Off through mindfulness will help you do so many things.

Humans are creatures of habit and Switching Off requires us to Break Our Programming in a more overt way than Unplugging. You must be mindful of your technology use (Check out 5 tips to Have mindful Connections in the Tech Age). Be mindful of how much time you use when doing an activity. Pay attention to yourself and your actions and then make the effort to stick to a routine that allows for the chaos of life to filter through (Read 13 Things Mindful People Do). Chaos is not a bad thing – in fact it is neither good nor bad. Mindful people will be prepared for whatever situation life brings before you, especially when you’ve taken the time to Shut Off your digital oriented mind (Learn How to Bring More Mindfulness Into Your Life).

Mindfully set your digital devices aside. Mindfully pay attention to the people around you. Mindfully observe the world and you’ll find that Shutting Off opens up so many possibilities. You’ll have more time to think and process the world. You’ll have the freedom to become the best version of you possible. Wouldn’t it be nice if you were always present? Wouldn’t your loved ones appreciate someone who was attentive, aware and able? I’m telling you that being Mindful about Shutting Off will be one of the greatest things to setting aside the Robot inside of you.

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Switched Off – The Beginning

Hello Readers!

Although I’ve been very good at living my life as a Female Robot, I’ve decided to return to offer you new advice. As your Human-Cyborg Relations guide, I’m hoping to give you tips and tricks on how you too can live your life as a Functioning Cyborg in a busy world. The world is full of distraction. We can amuse ourselves with multiple social media accounts, blogs, videos and Buzzfeed is one of my favorites too – do you know which Disney Prince or Princess you are?

Anyway – I’m here to tell you that I get it. The world-wide web is a wonderful place. Many of us work there. Tech lets us be connected all of the time. Being connected all of the time for those of us that love to absorb the world around us is wonderful. All things wonderful though – aside from love – should be taken in moderation. Many of us struggle with the ability to be connected to those around us, even ourselves. For some, finding the ability to be connected isn’t just Unplugging, it is Switching Off.

The Difference Between Unplugged and Switched Off

The differences between Unplugging and Switching Off may be subtle, but the main factors here are those that Unplug do so knowing that they have the ability to plug back in at any time. Being unplugged means you’re mobile, your phone may not be at the dinner table with you, but it is somewhere in your purse or pocket. Unplugged gives a balance between our digital lives and our physical ones. Being Unplugged means you can multitask and still find alternatives to tech, or you set your tech aside a few minutes per day – you are a Cyborg, a functioning techie in a world that pulls you both ways. Being Unplugged is about relaxing and finding harmony; switching off is about being free.

Those that take the time to Switch Off are the ones that shut their digital lives off completely. Switching Off allows for many people to turn their physical lives back on. Cyborgs may find Switching Off to be particularly difficult – “How can I NOT have my phone for a day?” They may ask. Switching Off means that you’re admitting to not being connected. You will not be connected because the here and now is what is important. Instead of having their phones in their pockets, Switched Off Robots may go so far as to shut them off completely for a day, or not even bring them! Being Switched Off means that you don’t NEED the tech. You are enough. You are powerful, connected and part of the world as you are.

The benefits of each type of thinking are important. In the next few weeks, I’m hoping to explore Switching Off and how powerful being a Female Robot that takes a day off can be.

The Keys to Switching Off

The keys to being Unplugged as you may have guessed are Mindfulness and Balance. Shutting Off can be more powerful than that. Shutting Off can be an honest and open admission that being Unplugged is too difficult or it can be a way to empower yourself over your technology “I don’t need you today.” Switching Off is powerful because it requires not only the Mindfulness that being Unplugged requires, but it asks of you even more. It is asking you to put YOU first. The ability to stand free of the imaginary constraints we impose on ourselves because of technology. Being Unplugged is an active state of Mindfulness, Shutting Off lets you throw off that constant state of understanding for the one decision of saying “I matter more today”. The most important thing in Unplugged is Balance. The most important thing in Shutting off is YOU.

The Power to find You

Whichever way is best for you – being Unplugged or Switched Off – becoming more mindful and more connected to yourself is a journey worth taking. Do your best to not only take the advice of a Happy and Functioning Cyborg and Female Robot that takes great pleasure in Shutting Off, but be willing to find the way for yourself. I’m here for advice and guidance. You’re here for you. Making yourself a priority is the most important aspect of improving your life. If you take only one thing from this blog, I hope that it is the knowledge to know that more time spent on yourself is never wasted. Find the power to find YOU. Just Etre – Just Be.