Our phones run our lives.
Every time we hear the “ding” of our text message... or pull up Instagram and see our “likes”, something physical happens to our body. We get a rush of "feel goods".
A 2017 study found that:
"The minute you take a drug, drink alcohol, smoke a cigarette (if those are your poisons), and when you get a like on social media… all of those experiences produce dopamine, which is a chemical that’s associated with pleasure."
Here in 2021, It's no secret we're addicted to our phones and electronic devices. I know I'm on my phone all day for work, and I catch myself going online to "check on something" only to not remember why I got on my phone in the first place 30 minutes later.
As technology continues to steal our attention, it’s important to utilize tools to keep us focused, balanced, and present. And, it's important to use the devices vs. letting them use us.
We are in charge.
So what do we do?
Well...
That’s where floating and the “post-float experience” come into play. Floating and the post-float experience become such a huge part of your recharging process.
Floating is the tool that allows you to quiet the outside world for an hour. Where you get to connect to yourself without interruption. Where you let your mind, body, and beyond have a chance to reset & recharge. (Here is a great TedTalk discussing what happens when we disconnect through floating)
Then, during the post-float, is the time to work on how to bring the lessons you learned in the tank, to the outside world.
Because we both know floating isn't enough. We have to take what we learn and apply it to our every life. And we've got to start thinking, "how can I contribute to raising the vibration of the world - through my act of floating?"
I'm sharing with you the top 4 ways I bring what I've learned and experienced in the float into my everyday life:
1. Blackout time: When I’m in the tank I’m with just myself. No phone, no social media, no emails, nothing. Just me with me. I bring this concept to my life by having “blackout time” with my phone. In this day and age, it is imperative to create dedicated time where we are “unplugged”. While the tank is the ultimate place to exercise this, there are many other ways to exercise this like:
Turning your phone on airplane mode 60 minutes before bed
Leaving your phone in the car the next time you go for a hike or walk
2. Deep breathing & connection to my breath: When I’m in the tank I focus on a simple breathing technique. Breathing in for a count of 5, holding my breath for 5, exhaling for 5, and holding my breath out for 5. I practice this same technique in meditation or after working out. Lately, I’ve been working towards a single breath (inhale and exhale) getting up to one minute. It's a gamechanger.
3. Connecting with humans: Post float I make a point to connect with someone I don't know by striking up a convo. My thought is, “you never know if your next friend is the stranger sitting across from you”. I do this practice in life too - creating connections with the people around me. And it's super important to do that now. Yes, we can still smile through our masks. And yes, it makes a difference. If the stranger is too much, text a friend how much they mean to you.
4. Creating New Patterns: The post-float is a powerful window in how we choose to reintegrate with our technology and build new patterns. Emerging out of a float our prefrontal and exterior brain lobes are separated which create a sense of calm and silence in our mind. This is fertile ground for neural plasticity, the ability of the brain to adapt and change. No matter how small or big, it matters.
These 4 things allow me to fill my cup and share my unique gifts with the world..
Let me know what you think and how you feel after doing the above. Just hit reply to this email.
To your maximized health,
Ryan Duey