Hey there! If you’re like me, you’re probably reading this while juggling a million tasks. It’s crazy to think that Americans are glued to screens for an average of 10 hours and 39 minutes a day! And if you’re a mom, sleep might be a luxury—48% of moms report catching less than seven hours of sleep each night and feeling fatigued half the month. Meanwhile, adults are spending only about 29 minutes reading for fun and even less time simply relaxing. That’s less than half an hour when we’re plugged in for nearly 11 hours a day!
We’re constantly on our devices, with many of us checking our phones before even getting out of bed—46% of us! And for millennials, that number jumps to 66%. We use our phones to scroll social media, check emails, or just pass the time, often turning to them to unwind after a hectic day. But this relentless busyness can really take a toll on our creativity. Studies indicate that constant distractions can hinder our ability to think outside the box.
Creativity thrives in stillness and downtime, which we often struggle to carve out. The Big Think suggests that engaging in creative thought requires “hitting the reset button”—that elusive time to meditate, daydream, or simply do nothing. But honestly, who has the time for that? I sometimes find myself trying to zone out while doing dishes, but I’m really just mentally ticking off my to-do list. Between laundry, cooking, and refereeing sibling squabbles, downtime feels like a myth.
Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, a top thinker on creativity, points out that creative folks recognize patterns when others see chaos. As busy moms, we barely have time to tap into our intuition, let alone foster creativity between managing runny noses and homework. So, when we feel overwhelmed, it’s easy to grab our phones to escape. We scroll through Facebook to combat loneliness, and by the end of the day, we’re too drained to do anything but binge-watch our favorite show.
Michael Harris suggests we need to find balance in our communication and interactions; otherwise, our lives become cluttered with noise. Sometimes, less is more. We need to focus on what truly matters—quality time with our families and finding joy in simple tasks. Yes, life can feel chaotic with kids running around and endless chores, but it’s essential to step back and reflect on how we can be better parents.
Putting down our phones—even just for a little while—might help us connect with our kids on a deeper level. It’s not about shaming anyone for using their phone; we all need that escape sometimes. But maybe we don’t need to be attached to our devices 24/7. The idea isn’t about achieving a grand creative breakthrough, but rather nurturing self-awareness and understanding our triggers, like that pesky sibling rivalry or our own moods.
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In summary, being a mom is a whirlwind of responsibilities, and the constant screen time can detract from our creativity and connections. By stepping back and finding intentional moments of stillness, we can nurture our parenting and our own well-being. Let’s embrace the chaos but also carve out space for ourselves—without our phones.
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