So the idea for this post comes from going to Westfield Shopping Centre, Shepherds Bush, last Saturday late afternoon after quite a big day attending the BACP Private Practice Conference in London.

I’d never been to Westfield Shopping Centre, Shepherds Bush, before but as soon as I stepped out from the tube station, there was so much going on!  Amazing really but my timing of my visit probably wasn’t the best decision that day!

Anyway, I managed to find my way to an entrance and stepped into a maze of shops - I was only looking for one specific shop that only had a branch in the whole of the UK so I was on a mission believe me!

So, back to the Tech side of things - I, of course, used my phone at the conference (yes, there was an App to use to answer polls, to ask questions etc. ), to travel, for the tube map, for directions etc. etc. - my reliable assistant!   Unfortunately, my reliable assistant couldn’t help me find the shop and I resorted to using the large “navigate your way around the shopping centre” screen - OK, I used it on the first floor, I needed to go to the ground floor - great - then still wasn’t sure where this shop was - faced with corridors and avenues of shops - I decided to consult the now trusted screen navigator again - pressed for the shop, it flashed arrows to show me where to go - still didn’t look right - didn’t have a clue!

What I hadn’t noticed was that there was a family behind me waiting ….. but instead of tutting and swearing under their breath, when I turned around looking mightily confused, instead of an aggressive push out of the way, the guy just pointed down to his right and said “the shop you want is down there on the right” and smiled.

Sorted!  How simple!  I convinced myself the screen showed me the incorrect way to go and that it wasn’t my poor navigational skills.

So, come on Anna, get on with it!

-  right - so the message is that sometimes we don’t need a computer or a screen or a phone, and human interaction, albeit swift, can make more of a difference to our day!

Being without your devices help in the following ways at least:

1.   Can feel really freeing
2.   Gives more opportunities to connect to other people
3.   Increases trust in yourself - e.g. you can get used to getting lost and feeling OK about it as you can trust you can get             back on the right track without using your phone directions or sat nav
4.   Gives you a break from the constant incoming information that you just can’t resist having a look at - our curiosity motivates this.
5. You can take more notice of what’s around you without being interrupted.
6. It gives out a little message that says “I’m not available 24 hours of the day” !

Try leaving your devices at home for half a day/a whole day - see what it’s like - learn that you can survive without them at least for that long.

And, if in doubt, ask someone??