This week, an unexpected power outage affected our home for about 28 hours. Fortunately, I was at the office and didn’t experience the outage's impact until I returned home.
Kelly managed to pull together dinner for the kids and us using the gas stove and dim afternoon light, supplemented by a few (expensive) candles that added a cozy ambiance to our home.
We had a couple of hand torches and a rechargeable light bar, which the kids enjoyed playing with as darkness enveloped the house and we prepared them for bed.
With the power out, the usual hum of our house—white noise machines, the air fryer, and other daily sounds—was absent. It was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the constant noise we typically experience.
As I sit in the dark, writing this without phone service or internet, I realize how noisy our everyday life can be. Even without young kids and their chaotic schedules, we often overlook how many things constantly demand our attention.
It's a pity that it takes a significant event like a power outage to make us aware of how plugged in and overwhelmed we can become. Disconnecting from external stimuli—social media, TV, and the internet—allows our minds and bodies to reset, reducing stress hormones and boosting feel-good hormones.
We often don’t recognize how imbalanced our lives are until we step away from the noise and assess how we're feeling and responding.
Here are more practical steps to reduce external stimuli without waiting for a power outage:
Use Screen Time Limits: I block all non-essential apps on my phone between 5:45 am and midday to minimize distractions.
Keep Devices Out of Reach: Try leaving phones and devices in another room when you get home to enjoy distraction-free time with family. This is something I plan to implement.
Schedule Quality Time: Plan regular nights or days to connect with loved ones. We have date nights on the calendar, one midweek and one on the weekend each month. It's a great chance for Kelly and me to reconnect and remember life before kids.
Change Your Environment: Going for a walk, run, or a weekend getaway helps shift your mindset, providing clarity and new perspectives.
Practice Mindfulness and Meditation: Scientific studies show that mindfulness and meditation are effective in reducing cortisol levels and stress. I recently meditated for over 10 minutes with no guidance—my first time ever doing so!
We all lead busy and unique lives, and giving ourselves the space to recognize that we’re doing our best with the skills we have is crucial. Sometimes, disconnecting is the best way to achieve this.
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