Are you giving yourself the silent treatment? Here’s Why You Need To

Texting, headphones, cell phones, news media, Social media all contribute to stress in our bodies. If you aren’t having a silent time each week, your health will suffer. Silencing the cell phones, television, music, and texting at least once a week is a must for your peace of mind and well being. If you don’t think your cell phone interrupts your peace of mind, these statistics might change your point of view. I found an article Text Messaging Stats That Will Blow Your Mind on the web by Matt Tumbleson that I derived my stats from.

1. According to the Business Insider users in the age bracket, eighteen to twenty-four send sixty texts a day and receive a whopping 1,831.
2. The text APP on a smart phone is the most widely used app with 97% of Americans texting at least once a day. (PEW Research)
3. Over six billion text messages are sent each day in the U.S. alone. (Pew Internet)
4. Over 80% of adults text. (Pew Internet)
5. 10% of mobile time is devoted to Social Media and texting takes up 20% of a cell phone users time. (Neilson)
6. Text messaging has a 98% open rate while e-mail has a 20% open rate with only 1% spam. (Mobile Marketing Watch)
7. 90% of all text messages are read in under 3 minutes. (Connect Mogul)
8. Text messages are read in under five seconds. (Stick Text)
9. 96% of smart phone users use text. (Acsision)
10. Americans sent 69,000 texts every second in 2012. (CTIA)
11. The average adult spends an average of 23 hours a week texting. (USA Today)

Each time the chirp, beep or ding of a text is heard it gives us a jolt. “I must go check my text! It might be important. Who could be texting me now? I wonder what it’s about?” These are just some of the mental interrupts that occur when we receive a text. One reply might initiate a text volley of six or more texts to read and respond. Even having our phone on vibrate interrupts our flow and concentration.

Just think of how much more peace you would have if you turned off your cell phone for a couple of hours each Sunday. I am requesting a stand down for Sunday texting. Everyone needs some peace and quiet. How about replacing your texting time with meditation several times a week. Meditation reduces the risk of heart attack, cardiovascular disease, and stress. Here are 21 Reasons To Meditate.