While I don’t personally wear a gartel, I appreciate its symbolic reminder to keep the heart focused on prayer by separating the lower, more physical part of the body from the upper, spiritual part.
During Shacharit every morning, as I feel my phone vibrating in my pocket, I struggle to focus on my tefillah and avoid checking the latest news headlines, client e-mails, or how markets around the world traded while I was sleeping. This tug of war happens throughout the day. I want to enjoy my lunch, but need to pause before and after the meal to thank Hashem for the food I am eating. After working hours, I can decide to either listen to a shiur or scroll through social media.
The struggle for every Jew is finding a way to strike a balance between physicality and spirituality. Most of us are not in an environment that is fully focused on ruchnius. We have a job, family, children, bills, and various other commitments and obligations. The gartel reminds us of the need to segment one’s life, to dedicate at least a small portion of every day to spirituality, and to elevate our physical pursuits so they are done for holiness. Doing so not only helps us secure our chelek in Olam Habah, but it also allows us to live a life of meaning.