Make it a device-free day of love.

Posted On February 10, 2013

We know you’re obsessed with technology, but Valentine’s Day is a day to put your phone aside and and focus on your sweetie. It’s a day to reconnect and celebrate one another, while enjoying a wonderful evening (hopefully with some equally wonderful wine). This means making an active effort to put down whatever mobile device you’re holding, and be present in the moment.

I know I’m as guilty as anyone else when it comes to balancing tech and relationships. After a long, exhausting day, it’s just so tempting to put your feet up on the sofa and mindlessly lose yourself on the computer, phone, or TV. But sitting side-by-side with your significant other while you’re both on your laptops, doesn’t *quite* cut it as quality time, and Valentine’s Day is a day to change that.

I’ve already told my husband that I’d like a “no phones” Valentine’s. If the sound of that doesn’t send you running for the hills, here are five suggestions for making this Valentine’s Day a little less about tech and a little more about love:

1) Tell your sweetie that you want a tech-free evening. You may think it’s weird to discuss this in advance, but it’s good to get it out of the way so everyone has time to prepare. Tell your Valentine how excited you are to spend time with them and give them your undivided attention (the rarest and most precious of gifts these days)! And tell him/her you want to shut off your phones (yes, they have off buttons) or put them away.

2) Try leaving your device at home. I know it sounds crazy, but I promise that this whole “making eye contact” and “having an actual conversation with another human being” thing is actually really, really nice. If it’s not feasible to leave your device at home (maybe you have a babysitter who might need to contact you), try something really retro and give your sitter the phone number of the restaurant you’re going to, in case of an emergency (remember when people used to do that?). With all that extra room you’ll have on the table now that there are no phones on it, you can even order that second dessert!

3) Make a rule: No phones in the bedroom. If you’re having a date night at home, put your phones in another room where they won’t tempt you with blinking red lights, incoming texts, and brightly lit screens. No electronics allowed in the bedroom tonight! If this is something your Valentine will find especially challenging, help them out by putting their phone in “cell phone lock up”, a hilarious small jail cell that fits a few mobile devices and has a timer and audio effects (“you’ve been sentenced to one hour!”) At first, your sweetie might be sweating with anxiety, but I think you can find some other ways to entertain and distract them ;).

4) Declare it an email-free evening. Put up an auto-response if you must, letting people know that you’ll get back to them the following day. Let your co-workers know that you won’t be checking email that evening and tell your sweetie that they have your undivided attention. Now…stick to it!

5) Leave the online updates for the next morning. It’s really tempting to give all your friends online a play-by-play of just how wonderful your Valentine’s Day is – your card, your dinner, the flowers you got – ah, romance! But if you’re so busy live-blogging, then you’re not living in the moment. Don’t worry – your friends will still be in awe of what a lovely, romantic time you had – even if you wait until the following day to tell them about it.

Modern life is all about finding a balance between technology and human interaction. This Valentine’s Day, try to err on the “human” side. Maybe one day, there will be an “I Heart My Phone” day, and we’ll all celebrate it gleefully. But today, it’s about the people you love. So get unplugged and get in the moment.

How will you unplug this Valentine’s Day?

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