In this Weekly Ramble, I dive into a topic that’s been changing my life over the past year—disconnecting intentionally. I’m not just talking about taking a vacation or turning off notifications. I’m talking about leaving the phone behind for hours, even days at a time, and the surprising mental clarity and connection that comes with it.
I share personal stories from the last year, the challenges of breaking the habit of being “always on,” and the benefits I’ve seen in my relationships, my mindset, and my energy. If you’re feeling stretched thin, stressed out, or like you’re missing the real moments with your family, this episode is your wake-up call.
Sometimes the best connection starts with disconnection.
Key Talking Points of the Episode
00:00 Introduction
01:36 JJ’s Joke of the Week
02:17 Disconnection on vacation is easy
03:17 The Boston experiment: 2 full days without a phone
06:15 Realizing the chaos on my phone was self-generated
08:14 Outbound activity = more inbound chaos
09:15 How disconnecting one weekend changed my routine permanently
11:50 Accountability: letting my kids call me out 13:23 Strengthening family connections by being fully present
14:45 The personal benefit: a calmer, more relaxed mindset 17:05 How phones feed constant, unnecessary stimulus
18:02 Challenge: Try it for a weekend and feel the difference
20:32 Your phone isn’t urgent. Your life is.
Quotables
“You can’t earn back the moments you miss staring at a screen.”
“Presence is the best present you can give to the people you love.”
“The world doesn’t end when you leave your phone behind—but your experience of it finally begins.”
Links
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