Armed with a Frappuccino, a good book, a paint-by-numbers set, and our dog, my wife and I finally unplugged this afternoon on an outdoor Starbucks patio.
We always have an excuse not to do this. I need to finish THAT. We can’t take the dogs THERE. I’m too tired NOW.
Today, we simply broke that routine of excuses. We packed up our creative gear instead of our laptops and tablets, and headed over to a dog-friendly patio. We bought our coffees and settled in for an afternoon of quiet togetherness.
I brought my newly acquired Apple: The First 50 Years by David Pogue, and my wife brought her latest canvas. The temperature was around 72 degrees Fahrenheit—absolutely perfect for a spring Austin afternoon.
We both felt profoundly relaxed, and noticeably more focused upon returning home. We kept calling out what a good time we had sitting in our respective “flow states”—together, but separately and quietly engaged.
My suggestion: Do more of this.
On an average day, I’m bombarded by myriad notifications. I complete scores of tasks. I attend a multitude of meetings. My checklist is never-ending. Don’t get me wrong, I love technology. Yet, a little focused time away from the day-to-day grind on a given Saturday can feel like a week-long vacation.
Have a great weekend, everyone!