Spend some private time this week and think.
I was in Denver today and had a few minutes to grab some lunch. I was headed to a particular store and there were several eating establishments nearby. As I was driving around, I spotted an “Egg and I.” It’s one of my favorite places for breakfast or lunch.
I grabbed my phone and went inside. I was quickly seated and was scanning my phone for messages and emails when the unthinkable happened — my phone died. I had forgotten to put it on the charger when I was in the car. I ordered my meal and then was just sitting there. I was not with anyone, so there was no conversation. No phone meant no emails, no texts, no calls, no news, no sports scores. I frequently talk about how much we are now tied to our phones on a minute-by-minute basis and here I was without mine.
Those that know me know that I am constantly checking on the news. It used to be via the newspaper; I was rarely without one. Radio works for me as well — I am a news and sports hound. But now I was without any news services. I asked the server if anyone had left a newspaper. I asked two or three servers in fact. But there were none. There was a magazine rack by the exit, perhaps I would be interested in one? Sure! At that point, I didn’t care whether it was Embroidery Today, I was ready to read anything. But they were out.
I ate my food quickly and paid, leaving with a slightly unsatisfied feeling. My food was excellent as always, but I just sat there, eating. After driving to the nearby store, I was sitting in the car letting my phone charge enough to take it with me since there was a picture on it that I needed to show the store clerk. While I was waiting, it struck me that the time I spent in the restaurant could have been spent thinking, pondering, coming up with new ideas. The thought of using the time to think never occurred to me. I wasted twenty-five minutes just sitting when I could have spent that time more wisely.
Perhaps we do over-utilize our phones. They are sure handy to research, surf, and engage socially. And hardly a minute can go by without you realizing that your phone is not with you. But thinking is important and it’s likely that, while you are on your phone, you are not really thinking. At least thinking in the way that leads to problem resolution.
Spend some private time this week and think. Turn your phone off and put it away, at least for one hour. If you come up with something brilliant, let me know at david@davidpeterson.com.