Barbara Ann Kipfer - 5,203 Things to Do Instead of Looking at Your Phone

5,203 Things to Do Instead of Looking at Your Phone BARBARA ANN KIPFER WORKMAN PUBLISHING NEW YORK DEDICATION To Paul, Kyle, Keir, and Hoops
who give me plenty of good things to do
that do not involve any devices. M ost of us can admit that we look at our phones or tablets more often than we need to. We use them at times when we could be making direct contact with others, with our environment, with an activity, or with the present moment. Although a lot of good comes from these devices, they also have negative effects on our attention, equilibrium, and social skills. Unplugging to reconnect, focus, and calm our minds is a never-ending opportunity. Time spent on physical activities and sports, reading, or creating and engaging directly with others is critical to healthy physical and social development.

One of my best friends is my iPad mini, but while writing this book, I started hiking, increased my biking, set up a home gym, and tried indoor climbing. Ive been adding to those physical activities ever since and I feel better than ever in body and mind. I keep my little iPad friend tucked away, but I visit with her regularlythough far less often and with clearer intentions. Wed all feel a bit better if wed slow down, reflect, pay attention, be awake and aware, and become comfortable with silence, solitude, and unfilled time. I hope this book will remind you that your world is much more than can be seen or accessed via a screen, and that it will help you ask yourself what makes you feel nourished and grounded as a human being. And for those of you who must have a phone on hand for one reason or another, Ive suggested several ways to use your phone that are more creative and mind-expanding than scrolling on social media or playing a familiar game.

Theyre marked with a tiny phone icon. Enjoy getting (re)acquainted with the world outside your phone! Barbara Ann Kipfer S mile at a stranger put a bag in your car for litter write a letter to your future self plan a 24-hour liquid diet notice the air on your skin do calligraphy for a party invitation go for a silent drive make an accordion book plan a beach day visit a botanical garden keep a journal of the most beautiful things you see talk to someone who needs company design a book cover watch a cat drink or eat play a board game try a breakfast burrito make your backyard inviting for wildlife ask a bunch of questions make the best case you can for a point of view that you totally oppose solve a Whats wrong with this picture? puzzle follow a birds flight come up with 10 alternate uses for an object peruse your adolescent belongings create an artists studio explore a beach in the off-season choose a different first name for yourself close your eyes and study what appears change your desk or view make a Zen garden check out a cute guy or girl take the back roads solve a brainteaser invent a cookie pretend to be a great artist open a book at random and read eat a banana slowly play with a child create your day in advance by thinking about the way you want it to go plant a butterfly garden learn a great synonym for a word you love or use a lot look through a kaleidoscope try to be a rainbow in someones cloud list all the berries you can think of finish a backlog get your car washed find an intact shell on the beach enjoy the aroma of a beverage before the first sip decide what and who you want to care about and pay attention to cook a meal from an unfamiliar ethnicity decorate a box to keep your treasures in remember to bring everything you need put on a puppet show check the back of your mind to see if there are any ideas lurking learn 14 ways to fold a napkin help a child find unexpected ways of playing with household objects complete a book proposal use a gift someone gave you make a wish list write a setting for a play or story throw away all the unhealthy food in your cabinets explore the attic tell someone how great they look drive to a beach catch a butterfly in the palm of your hand, then let it go put your favorite chair in front of a window take something apart and discover just how many parts it has write down a significant memory from each year of your life study the behavior of someone who wont notice walk a child to school stop to listen to a street musician treat yourself to a favorite food take an aptitude test spin a ball on your fingertip set up a breakfast nook go library browsing put together a great workout spend an hour blindfolded put the bike rack on the car practice a walk that projects confidence prepare a five-course dinner play in a sandbox improve your attitude toward one person or situation in your life pay attention to all the tiny balancing movements your body makes as you sit or stand get to know a side of someone most people dont see fill a flask with a hot drink and share it with someone focus on a painting you find intriguing observe a building site fix a basic plumbing problem make up a career for each person you see design your dream something hunt for the source of a single specific sound count the geese in a flying V-formation host a clothing swap make a Welcome Home banner take a weekend retreat at a convent wash the bedspread have your car fixed turn your commuting time into thinking time go through an old box full of childhood things throw a backyard party give a book to someone to make them laugh think of a question you would like answered, then look for three clues that could be the answer admire someones bookshelves teach your pet a new trick focus on hearing every sound you can for a day sit in a caf and people-watch fill the car with gas tell someone about a book you enjoyed leave a dollar bill where someone will discover it set a beautiful table for a family-only dinner experiment with a different way to get somewhere read the fine print on everything dress up for dinner at home draw on a frosty window plan a fall leaf trip donate an ant farm to a kindergarten perfect your basketball layup do your banking participate in a beach cleanup devise a marketing strategy give your pet a massage name your appliances buy a lottery ticket make sure all the doors are locked build something amazing with LEGOs make a water slide ask questions about others opinions fill a basket with a blanket, a good book, and a snack, and head for the park ask for a back scratch or back rub create a world of your own, wherever you happen to be arrange a vase of flowers hang a Do Not Disturb sign up for a while and use your office, bedroom, porch, or yard as a refuge spend an hour alternating between 15 minutes outside and 15 minutes inside go out in the woods alone and just think allow yourself a Zen moment give yourself a head start on something get someone a welcome back present fill out a timeline with your major life events learn to whittle do a face-the-wall meditation, sitting 12 to 18 inches from a completely blank wall