Jennifer Aniston isn’t on social media, and she doesn’t regret it. The multi award-winning actress and producer doesn’t have Instagram, and when she joined Arianna Huffington on the Thrive Global Podcast, in partnership with iHeartRadio and Sleep Number, she admitted that she feels pretty confident in that choice.
Aniston admits that her decision to steer clear of social media does occasionally make her feel “behind,” but setting those boundaries allows her to stay present both with herself, and in her relationships. “I don’t feel like I’m missing out,” she tells Huffington. “I do sometimes feel that I’m not keeping up… But I love being able to connect with the people that [I’m] with.”
The actress is particularly sentimental about the time when our phones weren’t embedded into our every move. “If ‘Friends’ was created today, you would have a coffee shop full of people that were just staring into iPhones,” she points out. “There would be no social episodes or conversations.”
Today, Aniston is focusing on prioritizing her happiness by taking more breaks from her devices, as she reflects on a tech-free yoga retreat that first inspired her to embrace more digital detox moments. “It felt so liberating not to be tied to [my phone],” she recalls. “I made the decision to put it away and be there… To take a break from it all.”
Like the rest of us, Aniston is human, and confesses she still sleeps next to her phone — a habit she’s looking to gradually change — but she finds that her happiest days always begin with a device-free routine. On an ideal morning, Aniston starts the day by cuddling with her dogs, meditating, and prioritizing self-care. “When that starts to fall by the wayside, I feel it in my energy,” she explains to Huffington. “There’s a bit of anxiety, worry, and unnecessary feelings.”
The actress takes pride in making the necessary time for herself before delving into her projects for the day, and she says that although not every morning is perfect, her a.m. rituals act as a starting point for a successful day ahead. “I’m a work in progress. I still struggle with it,” she notes. “[But] when you start the day the way you should, which is for ourselves, that’s a great way to start your day.”
To find out more, listen to the full conversation on iHeartRadio, here. You can also listen to the Thrive Global podcast internationally for free on iTunes.
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