Stop The Phubbing
It's one of the few times each year that most of us get to spend time with extended family.
Cherish this time, be grateful, and be present.
I'm sure we've all experienced at a family gathering in recent years - phubbing, that is. Phubbing is the act of phone snubbing. Social media can be an irresistible distraction to anyone who isn't yet aware of the negative impact it may be having on the friends and family physically present at a gathering for the holidays.
In his book Indistractable, behavioural psychologist Nir Eyal suggests that we spread social antibodies to innoculate our gatherings of friends and family against phubbing. Instead of letting it slide, call people out when they pull their phones out in a tactful way.
The two-step process involves:
Checking to see if everything is ok - ask if there is an emergency that he or she is dealing with.
Politely asking that the phone be put away.
It's a simple way of getting the present of more presence at your next holiday get-together.
And if you've been guilty of this yourself, plan some time before going to the party to check your favourite social media feeds. Get it out of your system and then shut down your phone or put it on Do Not Disturb. I promise that you won't miss anything nearly as important as what's going on around you with your family and friends.
Happy Holidays!
RJ
P.S. I highly recommend Indistractable for the book lover on your last-minute shopping list who's into self-improvement and psychology. It's really great!