I lost my phone during the last week of my senior year of high school. I didn’t have a phone through prom, graduation, or any of the overly-romanticized high school moments everyone dreams of capturing with their beloved iPhone. Though I thought not having a phone for such a long period of time would be horrible, I experienced a complete change in my habits and priorities over those six weeks. Throughout high school, I would use my phone pretty frequently. I kept Snapchat streaks, commented on everyone’s Instagram posts, and held active text conversations. But once I lost my phone, I was disconnected. I didn’t have the means to be holding twenty different conversations at once. I didn’t have my phone to fall back on to entertain me in awkward or boring situations. I didn’t have a distraction during times of impatience.
Once I finally bought a new phone again, I looked back on my last six weeks and realized it was actually a good experience. I needed a cleanse from technology and social media. I was wasting time on pointless conversations with people I barely knew. So I stopped putting all my time and energy into texting and Snapchat streaks. I realized my phone was a big distraction and a poor substitute for quality in-person time. I quit using my phone in the company of others and always tried to be present. Most of all, I honestly lost interest in what seemed to be what my world revolved around. Taking a step back allowed me to see that I needed to devote my time and efforts toward other priorities. I wanted to spend less time in the digital world and more time in the real one; advancing my education, relationships, mental health, and so much more.
Technology is taking over the society we live in and communication is mainly through our phones nowadays. I cannot fully distance myself from my phone and expect all my relationships to thrive. It is so difficult to find a balance in how often you use your phone, and I still haven’t found it, but facing that struggle is okay. It is hard to appreciate quality time while also using your phone for the better. Our world is ever-so-fast in its development and our relationships with technology will constantly be changing, but as long as you find a healthy balance for yourself there is no right answer to the question. Being on your phone has its advantages, but don’t let it get in the way of reality.
