​Being “plugged in” is a normal way of life these days. If you’re like most people, your smartphone alarm wakes you up in the morning. You get ready with the TV news on, and then scan your text messages. Some people even start the day with text messages or their social media feed before they get out of bed. Throughout the day, you check email, text-chat with friends, and scroll through your social media platforms. In the evening, you watch your favorite TV shows while online shopping, checking in on social media, and possibly playing a video game on your phone. And, at bedtime, you use smartphone apps for meditation or white noise, or just play games on your phone until you pass out.

​In fact, Americans spend an average of four hours watching TV, and about seven-and-a-half hours on digital devices. Every. Single. Day. Predictably, so much screen time is stressing many of us out – and we don’t even know why.
The solution may be a digital detox, which can provide relief from the pressure of constant connection to electronic devices. Research has found that doing a digital detox may even help improve your sleep, relationships, and mood.
​

The definition of a digital detox is to take a break from using electronic devices or certain media for a period of time. The specifics are different from person to person. Things people avoid during a digital detox may include:

• Checking email
• Playing video games
• Scrolling social media
• Text messaging
• Using smartphones or tablets
• Watching news or other TV programs

​Doing a digital detox is a great way to find out if technology is holding you back from living your best life. The results of unplugging can be far-reaching, from being more productive at work to deepening your relationships with family and friends. Benefits of taking a technology timeout include:
​

Sharper focus
With frequent beeps and pop-up notifications on electronics, it’s easy to be distracted from what’s going on around you. During a digital detox, you may find that you notice more in your immediate surroundings. Your brain can concentrate much better on your tasks. Remember, life is what happens around you while you’re staring at your phone.

Less stress
For some people, too much information can be stressful. For example, many people get really upset from watching hours of news. And then there’s the stress of feeling like you must look at that text that just came in, and feeling that you must reply right away. It can be overwhelming.

Better social interactions
Eliminating digital distractions creates more opportunities to pay attention to those around you. For example, without devices around at dinner, you naturally interact and connect more with your family. Or if your nose isn’t buried in your smartphone, you have the chance to meet someone new in the checkout line. And if texting is off-limits, you’re more likely to pick up the phone to chat with a friend – via your voices!

​More control of your time
Ever feel an overwhelming urge to check your smartphone or pop onto social media? You’re not alone. On average, Americans check their smartphones 96 times a day and spend more than two hours on social media. For many people, checking their phone or social media whenever there’s a few free minutes is a reflex action that isn’t based on any real need. Taking a break from digital devices or media helps you combat compulsive, habitual, or addictive use.

​Wondering if you need a digital detox? If using electronic media causes you to have any of the following experiences, it’s a sign that you may need to disconnect:

• Depressed mood
• Increased irritability, frustration, or anger
• Feeling insecure
• Loss of sleep or interrupted sleep
• Feeling obligated to consume, respond, react or check in

You also want to be wary of how your digital media use impacts other areas of your life. If you ignore responsibilities at home or work because of the amount of time you spend online, then consider a digital detox.

​You have to be intentional about the use of your time. Set aside time each day to unplug or decompress. Notice the benefits and barriers you experienced during this time. What happened when you stopped watching the news for three hours straight? How did you feel when you weren’t using Facebook or Instagram? Was it easier than you thought, or tough to do? Making it a household rule that no one uses digital media during family dinners is a great place to start! 

Spending time in nature has been documented time and again to have healing powers. Take a day hike, stroll along a nature path, walk barefoot in a park, or create your own respite in your very own back yard. Shameless plug here for adding a living ecosystem pond or water feature by The Pond Gnome to your outdoor living space. You’d be amazed at how spending just 30-60 minutes a day away from electronics can benefit your mind and body! You don’t have to go cold-turkey for hours, days, or weeks at a time to decompress and allow yourself some relief from the techno-crazy world we live in. A little time each day can be extremely beneficial. It allows your mind to rest, away from constant stimulation.

​Basically, a digital detox is about taking charge of how you spend your time and energy and what you give your attention to. It helps you realize what you want more and less of in your life so you can break unhelpful habits and create new, more meaningful ones.

Besides all of the wonderful aquatic plants available to us, we can also use annuals in Phoenix ponds and water features to spice things up a bit. Being annuals, yes, they will eventually spend and die, but they last for a whole season! This is most helpful in the wintertime when most aquatic plants are dormant and not showing off with blooms. However, it's also a great way to really liven things up in the summer, and add even more variety to your aquatic plant palette.

Yes, you can avoid draining & cleaning your Phoenix pond! There are some simple maintenance techniques that will keep your pond in tip-top shape all year long, for many years. In fact, we have clients who have NEVER drained and cleaned their pond in 20 years.

​Watch this short video to learn the secret to never having to drain & clean your pond:

​What would it look like if people treated restaurants like they do most contractors? This blog is meant to be tongue-in-cheek funny, and there’s some serious truth to it, as well.

​As a contractor, we are doing our level best to help raise the respect paid to contractors and tradesmen, in general. Yes, there are some shady characters out there (unlicensed, slick-talking used-car salesman types, etc.). But most of us are following the law, trying to make a living and provide for our families, and aspire to someday retire to more than just a Social Security pittance. Some of us are even trying to build a legacy company that will live on after we’re gone to continue to provide quality products and services to our clients. You can help with this by doing your due diligence when getting ready to hire a contractor: check their license, check their reviews, ask for references, see some of their work in person, etc.
​

​Here are some common things people say to their contractor, and how this would translate to the restaurant business.
​

​Can you sharpen your pencil a bit and come back with a better price? $15.95 just seems like a lot of money to pay for this meal. I think maybe you're trying to buy a new car with my meal.
​

​How much do you pay for the actual ingredients, how much does the cook make, and how long does he take to actually prepare my meal? I think there might be some wiggle room in this price.
​

I brought this steak along with me. It might not be what you provide here, but I think it's good enough. Could you just take this and cook it up, and then take the price of the meat out of the meal? I'm sure you can make it taste as good as the ones you have here.
​

​My father was in the restaurant business 20 years ago before he retired, and he thinks you’re overcharging me for this salad.
​

​If we leave the restaurant overhead and government out of this transaction, how much would you, Miss Waitress, charge me to cook this meal yourself?
​

​Here’s a super short funny video on point: