As I’m writing this article, I’m watching a livestream on my phone. When I get ready in the morning, I’m either listening to an audiobook or watching Criminal Minds, both on my phone. And when I get a little bored, I immediately go on my phone and open up the Tamagotchi app (yes, it exists) or scroll through my subscription on YouTube. Whenever I get a little ounce of free time, I find myself attached to my phone. But am I addicted?
Over the past few weeks, I’ve recognized a pattern: the more stressed I am, the more time I spend on my phone. During the summer, I was only spending around an hour on my phone per day. Today, however, analytics informs me I’ve spent over four hours on my phone. In those four hours, could I have done something more productive, or is there something worthwhile about how much time I spend on my phone? I’m wondering, who decided how much time is “too much,” and why am I applying that opinion to my life? Unless there’s some scientific study that a certain amount of time on your phone is dangerous (for physical or mental health), I don’t think there’s a set time that people should or should not spend on their phone. All I know is that I’ve started to recognize that I’m spending a good amount of time on my phone, and while I’m using that time to relax, spending time on my phone is a procrastination tactic, which just stresses me out in the long run. The cycle is (seemingly) endless.
The bottom line is this: I don’t think I’m addicted to my phone, but rather my stress influences how I spend my time. If I had the brain energy to go home and do homework right away, I would. Heck, if I had the energy to sit down and read a book, I would! Reading is my favorite activity, but after doing close-readings for all of my classes, my brain wants to shut off, and I haven’t found a mindless activity that doesn’t require my phone (or laptop). Despite that, I have made the first step toward altering my behavior. I just put time limits on my apps, hoping to cut the time on my phone to about three hours a day. Being on my phone isn’t always a bad thing; it allows me to immediately get the rest and relaxation I’m searching for, but it does get a bit tricky when I start using my phone to avoid responsibilities. I am trying to find a balance, and as the semester winds down and finals loom, I urge you to do the same. Is your relationship with your phone healthy? Mine isn’t right now, and maybe yours isn’t either, but here’s to hoping it will be.