Technology poisoning...

One dark night, standing in my kitchen, I heard Wim Hof talk on a podcast. It changed the direction of my life. It changed the direction of the lives of my family. It changed everything. I am forever grateful for that moment.

Without a mobile phone, the internet and podcasts, that moment would never have happened. Technology can greatly improve our lives.

But, it can be damaging too. Not necessarily the technology itself but our compulsive use of it. I was reminded of that recently.

I was working on a great campaign for Samsung, coaching an expert on fashion (and cocktails!) Ciara O'Doherty on how to use breathing to deal with the freezing Irish sea. Here's part of the adventure...

I was also working on some other very exciting projects, which was great. But, it meant that I was spending long hours on my laptop and phone. I'm usually very disciplined with myself about stuff like that. But, the work had to be done so I ended up looking at too many things on too many screens for too long.

My eyes started to become itchy and irritated. My mind felt like it was overloaded with information. I found myself swiping aimlessly through apps, forgetting what I was meant to be doing. I turned to Josie at one point and jokingly said: "I think I have technology poisoning."

I had lost my balance.

So, here are a few things I did about it:

• I decided to dramatically reduce my time on screens for 10 days

• I asked myself every time before I looked at a screen: is this essential?

• If it was, I went online to complete the task only, trying not to be distracted by all the pinging and blinking notifications (I turned them off then)

• If the task wasn't essential, I wrote it down in my notebook for another time

• I began to jot down, in my notebook, all the tasks and ideas that came to mind during the day

And this is what happened:

• My sleep improved

• I woke up and my mind felt clear and open

• I started to really appreciate the small pleasures (seeing rain on the window, beautiful clouds in the sky)

• I noticed (much more) the things in my day that I should be deeply thankful for

• My patience with the children improved

• I felt serene and calm

• All my practises (breathing, ice baths, meditation) started to work more deeply

• Or, maybe, I was just more aware of them because of fewer distractions?

I had my balance back again.

I didn't have technology poisoning anymore.

So, now, when I listen to a podcast in my kitchen, I really enjoy it. Then, I put the phone away.