We all have a problem: we can’t put our phones down, and many of us wouldn’t even dream of trying. Phones are an escape from reality. Online individuals can be whoever and can do whatever they please. They have delete buttons for mistakes and edit buttons for second thoughts. These edited individuals are so zoned into the online world that they forget to be present in the real one.
Try to not use your phone for ten minutes. It seems easy enough. However, you may find yourself fighting the urge to grab it throughout the ten-minute break. This is because we are so wired to these little screens that it’s become natural to use them so consistently. It isn’t until someone points out or tries to make us go without it that we suddenly become aware of this habit.
According to a 2017 New York Post article, the average American checks their phone roughly eighty times a day. Not only are you staying on your phone for excessive amounts of time remaining immobile, but you are also not fully present when accompanied by others. How many times have you been out with friends and realized each one of you is using your phones? We are losing the ability to socialize and be present with people offline. Not only with others but also with ourselves. Take concerts, for example, no one is really enjoying the music anymore, because they’d rather record the event for their Snapchat story. We are missing out on life right before us because we are too busy trying to preserve it for later.
Avoiding people in the real world is one curse of technology, but we are also simultaneously obsessed with them online. We follow insane amounts of people and label users we see as “goals”. In fact, using social media is a gateway drug for low self-esteem. You scroll through Instagram, see all the flawless pictures, and you begin to wish you had a new closet or a gym membership. This is because, among the large amounts of people we follow, most are users who seem immaculate online. We know they are not perfect, and for sure are not telling the truth when they say, “I woke up like this”. Even knowing all this, you still second guess yourself. The grass is always greener on the other side, especially when the other side has filters.
Thankfully, there are ways to combat these issues. Taking breaks from our phones, no matter how long, can be helpful. Start by slowly decreasing your usage each day. If you’re always on your phone when walking to class, try to keep it in your pocket or backpack instead. You can also switch your phone to night mode and put it away at night. Not only would it help you sleep better but it’s another way to reduce the hours you spend on your phone. You don’t need to get rid of your device, but more offline presence would benefit you. Look around you; there’s so much to see, it’s about time you viewed it not through a screen
Doing a social media purge can help you get rid of the negative influences from your feed. However, it must come from an honest state of mind. You know which users and their posts make you feel bad. Delete, or at least mute, users who consistently retweet or post negative content. You don’t need that. There are plenty of inspiring users that are healthier than the consistent filtered and vain posts that typically clutter a feed. Surrounding yourself with positive people who make you feel good about yourself is key offline and online.
Finally, letting others know about your goals is a great way to help you reach them. Have a friend let you know when you’ve been on your phone too long or if they notice you’re obsessing about a certain user. This way, you’ll be held accountable. Social media is a great tool for connecting and getting your ideas out there until it starts taking from your current life. As cheesy as it sounds, it is vital to live every day to the fullest. Your phone will always be there, but you won’t.