I want to throw away my phone. I will never seriously do it, but I sometimes get really tired of always being connected. A lot of the time, I find myself scrolling through Facebook on my phone and realize that I don’t care whatsoever about what I just read. Do I really need to know that the receptionist from my eye doctor went grocery shopping over the weekend? Is my life objectively any better because I know that my one friend just had sorority recruitment? I don’t think so. I get frustrated when people are overly despairing about how social media is ruining our society, but I feel that I’m not enough out of having Facebook, Snapchat, etc. that it’s not really worth my time. And even though I don’t care what my friends post on Facebook, I still find myself incessantly scrolling when I’m waiting for the bus or when I’m bored in math class. I saw an interview with Ed Sheeran a couple months ago where he discussed how getting rid of his smart phone freed his mind to spend more time thinking and less time scrolling. While I’m not a ginger British pop star, I similarly feel that spending time on your phone is taking away from time that you can be thinking about things that truly matter.
During the summer following my freshman year of college, I made a big point of maintaining Snapchat streaks with 10 of my friends. My prevailing thought was, “If I don’t snap my friends from Penn State every day, then we’re not really friends and we won’t be friends when the fall semester starts again.” By July, after 2 months of sending idiotic snapchats every day for the sake of maintaining a streak, I realized that I don’t really care. I don’t need to be sending dumb photos every day to my friends to prove that we’re actually friends. And if I did have to do that to maintain a friendship, then that’s not a solid relationship. True friendships can withstand not talking for more than 24 hours.
With the unveiling of the new generation of iPhones this past week, I kind of realized that it’s not important to me to have the most up-to-date phone. I recognize the value of having GPS technology and access to the Internet in the palm of your hand, but a large part of me wants to switch to a “dumb phone.” If I could get by with minimal texting and calling capabilities, I feel that I would be significantly more engaged in my daily life; instead of looking down at my phone, I would look up and experience the people and events surrounding me. I know it’s cliché but I think there is a lot of value in living in the present, and when we spend all our time on social media, we live online.
I love this concept! I actually did this the summer following my sophomore year. Being unplugged, especially after a pretty tough year, was the best thing I could have done for myself. I was a lot more present, and enjoyed life a lot more. Even to this day, I try not to stay glued to my phone for long periods of time. I don’t use my phone at meals and I definitely do not use it that much while home. In fact, my family recently incorporated the “no phones after 8 PM” rule and I think it’s awesome! I highly recommend it for anyone wanting to step away from their phones. I feel as though a lot of people could benefit from this, as our generation has a little bit of a phone dependency problem. I’m so glad you realized this and that you have the insight to take a step back and be mindful!
I enjoyed reading your post because I agree that cell phones keep you from connecting with the world and the people around you. I too find myself saying the same things you do, – I’m going to delete snapchat, give up social media for lent – but then I can never seem to follow through. I can barely make it through a class without looking at my phone. Cell phones have made us so available to everyone, and sometimes too available. Yesterday I was laying outside and enjoying the sun and relaxation, but it was too long before my phone started buzzing. For once, I put it on silent and said to myself, it can wait. I enjoyed not having my phone and being present in the moment I was in.
Recently I got Lasic eye surgery and I couldn’t look at my phone for a full 24-hours. I thought I was going to go crazy. I couldn’t text, look at social media, read emails, listen to music…NOTHING that I used my phone for. At first I felt so disconnected from everyone because I was used to my friends and social group being a touch away. However, I actually enjoyed it. I found that I focused more on myself and the world and people around me. I had good conversations, went for a walk outside, and cooked and baked. I encourage you (for just one day!) to turn your phone off and do other things you enjoy. Connect with the world and people without your phone!
Ryan,
This post made me laugh because I am guilty of the same exact things and feel the same exact way. I find myself obsessed with checking my phone, to the point where I am not paying attention in class or to a friend. I get very annoyed at myself when I use my phone at dinner or while out with friends, but I still do it everytime. As I layed in my bed last night before going to sleep, I had to check Snapchat, Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Why do I need to know that my acquaintance from high school has a lot of homework tonight? I don’t. I have just gotten into such a habit of being on my phone all of the time. I even find that I have a shorter attention span. Hopefully, we can all learn to unplug a little bit!
Jane
I feel like everyone goes through this a one point or another. I personally keep a strict limit on my Facebook friends 200 is my limit but i really carry about 150. I keep it at this number because not only do I not care about what these people are doing I also don’t need or want to judge my life by what their “successes are”. Other ways to cut back, take the shortcut off your home screen, that helps me cut back on my screen time as well! Someone once said and I don’t remember who but it went something like, your Facebook friendships can be miles wide but only inches deep, as you only see their “best selves” – Amanda
Oh Ryan…after the first sentence, I felt the same way. Yesterday, while walking I realized that I opened Instagram 3 separate times within 10 minutes or so and didn’t catch it until the third try. What the heck?
I truly can’t agree more about the real friendship and streak thing. I am worried that many of my “friends” value a streak WAY too much. It is sickening. Why do I care that my “best friend” has a longer streak with her roommate than me? That is dumb. The fire emoji and number are so important to the two of them that I’ll never have a longer streak than them and that is A OKAY. Life will go on.
I have to confess, I did pre-order the new iPhone but i feel like I had solid motivation for doing so. I have no storage and my phone won’t hold a charge.
Maybe we will return to dumb phones at some point soon because the smart tones are getting way too expensive.
Talk soon!! Ly.