5 Places to Put Down Your Cell Phone

You can do it! Yes. You can.

If you read last week’s blog post, you know how distracting a cell phone can be in a meeting – and how that might hamper your success in the office.  

This week, we explore 4 other areas where cell phones aren’t only distracting - they are downright rude. 

Meetings

If you didn’t have a chance to read last week’s post, you can do so here.

Airport Security Line (Or the Starbucks checkout line. Or any line for that matter!)

Nothing is more frustrating for those people standing behind you (or the TSA agent or for the person at the register) than when you are too busy chatting on the phone to place your order, pay your bill or walk through security. We are all busy people. Don’t show others that you think you’re better than them by being disrespectful with their time. Be ready with your order and ready with your money. Thank you very much.

In Bed

Friend, if you want to have more intimacy (and don’t we all?), put the phone down. There. You’re welcome. 

Seriously, so, many relationships could be improved if partners simply communicated more. Instead, we are all “busy” liking posts on Instagram or reading what some politician did in Washington today. And the sad thing is that nothing should be as important as that person you are lucky enough to lay next to. So, put the phone down and connect with them - not some guy from high school that you haven’t spoken to in years!

Kids Activities

Show your kids you care by showing up for them. And I’m not talking about showing up and then scrolling through your social media feed aimlessly. (Yes, we see you over there in the back row of the auditorium.)

No, show up and actually pay attention to their school play, basketball game or school assembly.  Sit front row and cheer them on. The days are long but the years are short, y’all. Trust me, you don’t want to look back and realize that you were too busy trolling on Facebook.

Theater

I think we’ve all been there. The movie lights dim. The music fades. And then. Your seatmate’s phone lights up. UGH.

For the rest of the movie, all you can hear is the tap-tap-tapping of text messages going back and forth. And you leave wondering if they even watched the dang movie. 

Do everyone a favor, don’t be that guy/gal. Put your phone in DND mode, grab a popcorn and a diet coke, and actually enjoy the show.