What happened when I stopped using my phone during dinner for 4 weeks?

Sometimes during meals, I find myself checking my phone or playing a game of chess on an app. I realized it had become a habit and I wasn't very happy with it. I decided to go without using my phone for four weeks to see what happened and if I would really miss it all that much. After all, before smart phones I used to eat without my phone all the time and managed just fine. Below are a few things that happened when I quit taking my phone out during dinner for four weeks.

I Rediscovered the Simple joy of Eating

I found I had forgotten what it was like to eat and simply just enjoy eating all on its own. Just as I used to do before having a phone, I learned to focus on nothing other than the food I was eating and some of the thoughts that came into my head. I was much more mindful of the moment I was living in rather than trying to keep myself entertained and pass the time. Eating is something that can be very enjoyable and doesn't have to be an opportunity to "multitask."

Weight Loss

Being that I was not mindlessly eating while being distracted by a chess game or something else, I found that I at less and sat around at the table less, which contributed to a little bit of weight loss. Within the four weeks, I was able to lose three pounds. Being that I am on a weight loss journey, I was happy with this. Especially being that the two months before I had gained some weight back with the holidays. This gave me a confidence boost and some motivation to get back on with my weight loss journey.

I Made eye Contact with Others

I also noticed I made more eye contact with other people. When we eat as a family, I don't use my phone anyway, but when we are eating dinner on our own is when I tend to pull out my phone. Because I wasn't using my phone, I made eye contact with my husband, C, and my son, A, when they came into the kitchen for something. Because I was making eye contact, I was able to have actual conversations with them and pay attention to what they were saying.