“Do not disturb.”

“Do not disturb.” My latest favorite function on these little devices we all own. In all honesty, my ideal practice space has no room for my phone to be around. But, when I have no choice but to keep it around, I try my best to make sure that (1) it is out of my sight and reach, and that (2) the sweet “do not disturb” mode is ON. 

Not looking at notifications popping up on the screen allows me to feel more present. I find that if I start a practice session without internet access, I am able to listen better and accomplish tasks more efficiently. 

Hey! I am not saying do not ever use your phone or your devices. But, I am saying find what works for you and experiment with different strategies until you find one that suits YOU. For example, today, I tried something different during my practice breaks. I wanted to be intentional about what I did with those in-between times. In my first break, I read a few pages of a book (Wendy Guerra’s book “Todos se van”). Then, in my second break, I stepped outside the practice room with my phone and walked down and up the hall while I saw what the world was up to over the past notification-less couple of hours.

ANYWAY, I am back from Winter Break, but it still sure feels like I am breaking in my fingers to get back into shape. It is good to be back though, to craft a new routine, to find a new rhythm, to have missed playing open strings. I am excited to be present and keep experimenting!