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Oh yes I did

One of the most crucial and liberating things I put into practice this past year was TURNING THE VOLUME DOWN on my phone. What? Sacrilege! What if someone needs to get a hold of you?!

Sorry but Im of the firm mindset this contraption causes more stress, anxiety, insomnia and depression issues than people realize.
I found myself super stressed out and dreading when the thing would PING or ring. It was usually work related, an ad from something or other ...or reminder to pay a bill. None of those things warrants interrupting a nap, my peaceful walk or whatever else Im working on. If its work I'll handle it when I decide Im at a good stopping point to handle it. If Im in my studio painting the last thing that is productive to my work is a pinging phone that wants me to stop and text back and forth. So sometimes (a lot) I don't even have it with me in there.
Notifications of any sort are disabled. Especially Facebook-where any Tom, Dick and Harry can message me at leisure with their "hi beautiful" nonsense. Irritating. Who wants notifications intruding into their life all day?
So my real friends know if they have an important time sensitive question-text me-do not rely on Facebook. I will see your text in a not too untimely time and respond. Expecting responses the minute a question is fired...yeah that doesn't work for me. Im over being beholden to the world immediately and at every minute of the day.
Im opting out of that. Im returning to everyone being patient... and thoughtful responses to questions. If its about an estimate-give me a day. I need to research going rates, supplies and the process. Quick responses screw me. Not doing them anymore.
Life is so much more peaceful when you kick the world at large out of your personal time. Deal with things on your time. Set boundaries. It is the natural way of life. Immediate gratification is making the world impatient and rude.
Also if I dont respond after 8pm its probably because Ive put the phone devil away to get into relax and sleep mode. I go to bed super early these days but will message you back the next day.
May your New Year be less stressful, less cellphone tied and less anxiety inducing.
Volume down is how Im rolling into 2020!

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