Click here if you're addicted to technology?

Wow its a busy world out there and it takes a lot of device checking to simply stay up to date. There's the work emails, the email subscriptions, the e-newsletters, the online news, Facebook, Twitter, Linked-in, Skype, Google+, whats-app, texting, msn, facetime, weather checking (weather stressing), and then logging onto Pandora to find some chill out tunes to get us home.

In a virtual world where information is the antidote to our days and interaction can often be best felt through a Facebook like, it's no wonder so many of us finish the day feeling like we've put our heads through an information spin cycle and we have to wringe ourselves out.

Lets ask ourselves are we chasing something or are we avoiding the now? With all this hashtag#, pinterest, instagram, snap chat, where have all our special moments gone in the real world. Forget smelling the roses, are we even giving ourselves the chance to get outside? Yes and by outside I mean without that smart phone in your hand cruising the latest Facebook notifications.

So how do we get off the treadmill? how do we find the balance of tech vs life?; cause lets be honest when we look back on our days searching for those happy, meaningful memories, it won't be images of us sitting in front of a laptop, or scrolling through our iphone that will spring to mind.

Here are some simple tips:

1. Create technology free nights at home (heck if your up to it create technology free days)

2. Before you pick up the phone/ipad/laptop ask yourself am I wasting time? Is this worthwhile or could I be having more fun doing something else? (like getting outside)

3. Don't fall into the trap of using i-pads, and movies to babysit the kids

4. Limit TV watching to 2 x special shows a week. Anymore is just a waste of your time.

5. Create goals so in your "what should I be doing now moments', you can look at your list of goals and take actions towards those instead of your status update

6. Buy and READ a good book

7. Put dates in the diary with friends and family

8. Plan events and look forward to them

9. Exercise, walk the dog, hit the gym- sweat and release those toxins

10. Dare I say it, turn everything off and just sit with yourself. Put on some music if you like and find some peace by remembering WHO you are and maybe just maybe you'll find what your looking for.