Recharge Without the Plug

Giving your brain some breathing room

Written by Jenna, Edited by Jess

My husband and I have a pretty typical Saturday routine. The day usually starts with some movement. On a recent Saturday, he hit the gym, and I decided to take a long walk. I threw on my workout clothes and debated my entertainment options. Music? The latest episode of Amy Poehler’s Good Hang podcast? A quick call with a friend?

Then it hit me…we’re currently sharing AirPods, and he took them to the gym. Argh! How could I possibly take this walk without something to do?!

I paused. Did I really need a playlist or podcast? Could I leave my phone behind and just… walk? Be bored? See what comes up? I decided to put myself to the test.

As I laced up my shoes, I remembered a mindfulness workshop I had attended earlier that week, where the facilitator suggested taking a “color walk.” Pick a color and notice it along your route. I chose purple. Even in the first 5 minutes down my own block, the pops of purple were countless! Flowers, a kid’s bicycle, a painted mailbox, even a street number. I have taken this walk a thousand times but never looked around in this way.

Something else unexpected happened. As my eyes wandered, my mind did too. Yes, there was the occasional cycling through my to-do list. But then a new idea popped into my head - a way to break through the writer’s block I had been feeling on a Glimmers piece! In forty-five unplugged minutes, I noticed more beauty, found inspiration, and practiced being present. When I later told my mom about this experience, her response was perfect: “Sounds like you recharged without a plug!”

This experience reminded me of this short Harvard Business Review video from psychologist Arthur C. Brooks, who studies happiness and well-being. He explains that when we’re not glued to a screen, our brains enter a different mode, one that activates deeper reflection, creativity, and meaning-making. This is often why an idea or burst of inspiration comes to us while in the shower! That quiet wandering space actually allows new ideas to surface, the kind we often miss when multitasking our way through life.

So this week, take space from your phone. Give yourself permission to be bored. To recharge without the plug. You might be surprised by what comes up!

Next Steps:

• Spend 15 minutes without your phone! On a color walk, commuting to work, while eating dinner, etc.

• Then, take 5 minutes to journal or reflect about the ideas that came up when you gave your brain some breathing room.