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December 21, 2015 By shineadmin Leave a Comment

The Shine Offline story

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Welcome to Shine Offline and to our first blogpost. As a starter, we thought it made sense to give you a bit of background on the company. My name is Laura Willis and I am the founder of Shine Offline. Shine Offline has gone from being a notion, to a full-fledged idea, to something real in a very short space of time. And it’s all happened really quickly for a reason. Firstly, my own drive and desire to get it off the ground and keep my own momentum going. But secondly, and more importantly, the reaction I have had from people when I tell them about it.

Everyone I have spoken to has their own take on the subject. Most people acknowledge that they are on their smartphones too much, but aren’t quite sure how to reduce it. Others get frustrated at friends and family members who allow digital tech to butt in on precious time they have together. Others are concerned about their kids and guidance around how technology can play a positive role in their lives. And everyone who uses email for their work feels they are constantly connected to the office and that what was once perceived as a perk – the free blackberry or smartphone you get with your promotion – is actually a ball and chain.

People are burning out. They go on holiday but they don’t take the break they need.  They are online, checking their work emails. Their body is in Ibiza but their head is in the office. They aren’t taking the chance to re-charge and as a result they are reaching breaking point.

This is something I can definitely relate to, although my burn out was self-imposed as opposed to thrust upon me. As a self-employed PR and Marketing Consultant I was hooked on my smartphone and emails. Fear of missing out on social media wasn’t really a problem for me but when it came to my work I was constantly preoccupied with refreshing my email to see who wanted a piece of me or wanted to tell me something that would help me in my work. I abused the way I used email and replaced vital conversation in a communications role with emails. And then it became a vicious circle of sending, checking, sending, checking. And because I was constantly checking for emails on my phone, other mobile distractions preoccupied me too. 

As life took its toll and the balance between work and home became untenable I made some changes. I came off social media. I took emails off my phone. I started to use the flight mode. I kept the phone out of the bedroom. I called people rather than emailed if I just had a question for them.  This wasn’t always very well received as people were using their emails to manage their day and had no time to speak to someone!

And then I became a mum and my world changed beyond belief. I was now juggling numerous projects and was living in this constant state of grey, distracted by my phone and finding it hard to decipher where work stopped and home started.

As my daughter started to become more aware of what was going on around her I became increasingly aware of the importance of me being present. She, or whoever I am with face to face at any given time, is my top priority. It says a lot to someone when you are trying to engage with them and they are constantly distracted by their phone. I don’t matter to them. They would rather be doing something else. What I have to say to them isn’t important.

Something had to give and I hit crisis point. Lower than I’d ever been and overwhelmed beyond belief I sought help from my GP.  I had dabbled on and off with meditation for a few years since my father had died, and my doctor suggested that I look for a local group that I could meditate with regularly as a way of managing the anxiety I was experiencing.  And that’s when things started to really improve. The acknowledgement that I couldn’t sustain this connected, confused existence anymore became much clearer to me as I started to create some space to really see my thoughts through my meditation practice.

Taking time out on a regular basis to sit and focus on my breath, learn from some inspiring meditation teachers, and also look around me as I went about my day-to-day, started to have a profound impact on my wellbeing. And as I embarked on this new journey I noticed the number of people around me were still back where I had been, drowning in a sea of emails and social media updates. I started to gently share some of the ways I had found to get a handle on my digital tech usage with other people and discovered that some people weren’t really aware of what was happening to them. They were so far into this new “normal” way of living that they couldn’t see why it may not be the healthiest way to do things. And they started to thank me for my advice and tell me that it was helping them.

And so, a few months later, Shine Offline was born.

I feel incredibly passionate about what myself and my colleagues are in the process of developing and am so excited about the opportunity to share what I have learnt, and am still learning, with others. There is lots of research that tells us about the negative impacts of being contactable and online too much. There is also lots about the power of embracing the now and pausing and having a break from it. I know that at Shine Offline we can help to arm people with the knowledge, tools and guidance to take control of their own digital distractions and improve the quality of their lives.

And today – in the middle of launching a new business – how is this all working out? Well, I am very much on a journey and swimming against the stream is never easy. I still look at my phone a lot and need to remind myself to go to flight mode. I have to physically turn my laptop off to stop myself from checking my email. And now that I’m working in an office I get to leave the laptop there in the evenings – oh the joy of not being connected at home!

My dream? To sit in a meeting and no one has their phone on the table. To commute into London and be surrounded by people snoozing, meditating, reading their book or paper, chatting with a stranger or just staring out the window. To go out for lunch or dinner and not share the table with three iPhones. To go to the playpark on a Saturday morning and see lots of parents pushing their kids on the swing without a mobile phone in sight. Designated “No mobiles” zones in restaurants, bars and anywhere that people may be where they should be experiencing time together.  In my utopia there are laws to prevent businesses from contacting employees on annual leave. People are given the freedom from their work to really take a break.

That may be a bit much to ask but what I do know is that when we start to take control of something that has started to control us, and remove the constant distraction, that connections feels stronger, there’s a lightness in the air and people seem happier. So let’s look out of the window, let’s pause for a moment, let’s really taste our food on our lunch break. Because life is better with time offline. Let’s shine!

Laura xx

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December 20, 2015 By shineadmin Leave a Comment

5 Tips for a Shinier, Happier Christmas

shiny-christmas-tree_940511.   Pause and Breathe.

Your Aunt Sarah is ranting about the dangers of heating up ready meals in the microwave.  Your three year old has just spilled a pricey bottle of port from Waitrose all over the carpet.  Your ex keeps sending you cryptic texts and your mother’s gift still hasn’t come in the post.

Pause and Breathe.

The Christmas period is filled with triggers and it isn’t surprising how many people find this time of year a bit stressful and challenging.  Taking a short mindful pause when things get overwhelming can be the difference between a reaction that you regret and a more measured response.

Take a moment to stand and feel your body.  Notice the sensations of your feet on the floor, of your clothing on your skin.  You aren’t setting out to change the way you’re feeling.  You’re just making space to connect with it.  Allow yourself to drop the story about whatever is driving you mad, even if only for a few seconds, and bring your attention to your breath and body.  When thoughts or stories return, just acknowledge them, and come back to the experience of the body standing and breathing.

A pause isn’t a solution to all of life’s ills but sometimes it can feel like a much needed oasis.   The hard part is choosing to do it.

2. Take advantage of the great outdoors.

The period between Christmas and New Year is a strange time warp.  The synergy of crap television, unlimited mince pies, and unscheduled open time can swallow up whole days that we promised ourselves we would spend getting stuff done.

Go outside and break the sink hole of cabin fever.  Even on a grey day, there is something to be gained from seeing the pigeons lined up on the railing by the river or a dark tree against a white sky.  Allow yourself to be absorbed by the light.  Breathe.  Squelch through mud.  Stop on occasion to look closely at something that catches your eye.

Most people report positive shifts in their mood as a result of spending time in nature.  Your television will still be there when you return.

3. Drink hot beverages with mindfulness.

We all need gentle reminders to come back to the moment… why not choose coffee and tea?  This season you will be sitting down with family and friends, catching up, eating food like it’s going out of style… and most likely drinking something soothing in a mug.

One of the ways we can ground ourselves in the present moment is through bringing our awareness to the raw sensory experience that is unfolding: sound, taste, smell, touch, and sight.

So can you set an intention this season to come back and ‘be here’ every time someone says, ‘fancy a cuppa?’  You don’t have to tell anyone that you’re tuning in to the warmth of the cup in your hands or the froth dissolving on your tongue… and you may just notice that the quality of the attention you give your friends and your family is vastly improved.

4.  Experiment with scheduling offline time.

You are well aware that being glued to your phone 24/7 isn’t the best idea. It’s really difficult when work is full on and you’ve got to get things done.  There just isn’t time.

But, over the festive season there may be some space for experimentation.  Can you cut out Facebook and Instagram for an entire day?  Could you turn your phone off and keep it in your pocket or your bag when you’re out for a meal with a friend?  What do you learn in the process?  What’s your experience of going offline? Play around and establish some new habits that work for you.

5.  Practice kindness and generosity.

All the emphasis on gift giving at this time of year is supposed to bring up a sense of generosity.  We’re remembering loved ones and showing them that we care… Right?  Well, it’s a lovely thought.  In practice, though, shopping for presents often makes the heart tighten.

This season why not practice random acts of kindness and generosity that have nothing to do with credit cards and bulging shopping bags.  Feel free to include yourself in the mix.  Smile at strangers in the street.  Say good morning.  Offer to open doors for mothers with large prams trying to squeeze into small cafes.  Can you be generous with your time and patience when a family member who is going through a difficult time dominates the conversation?

Studies show that people who practice generosity feel happier and more at ease.  Give it a go. Be creative.

Andrea xx

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POSTS

  • Shine Offline’s 10 ways to switch off this Christmas
  • Building trust and learning from the younger generation
  • Always on? Taking control of technology for improved work life balance
  • Hacking back – 6 great tricks and apps to improve digital wellbeing
  • A partnership between Shine Offline and the Mindful Business Charter
  • How to minimise digital presenteeism when working in a hybrid way
  • Creating a healthy digital workplace culture
  • Maintaining digital wellbeing in the time of coronavirus
  • Positive parenting in today’s digital world
  • Time to tame your inbox!
  • Why we need to re-learn how to switch off
  • The power of mindfulness in today’s digitally distracted world
  • Maximising breaks in your working day
  • Rediscover the lost art of concentration
  • 7 reasons not to let your phone spoil your workout

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