AP Corner

Freedom from Technology

Girls on the Run is one of my favorite times of the week. For an hour and a half, I get to spend time with a small group of girls, working on both our physical fitness and our girl empowerment. But one of the things I like the most about it is that the block is technology free. Except for using our phones to track time (and occasionally take photos), for the entire hour and a half, we are free from technology.

Being technology free really forces us to focus on one another. I noticed that as the girls run, they talk to one another. Even as coaches, when we trade off for laps, we look at one another, face to face, and connect.

It's that power of connection that is so important and makes us want to come to work. The relationships we build with students, families, and one another make work a place of joy and a place of community. I have noticed that I feel more connected and more focused in conversations when my phone is not in my hands (or even on the table). It's hard, because we've become so focused on immediate responses that to put our technology away, even for a short conversation is challenging, but it's also incredibly worthwhile. In reflecting on our Love Languages conversations on Friday, it really struck me that we really only connect when we truly focus on one another without the distraction of technology. 

Want to learn more about the benefits of unplugging? Check out this article from Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2013/02/06/feeling-disconnected-5-reasons-to-unplug-from-technology-after-work/#1bc3740176ce