How often are you on your phone?
I know that I am on my cell phone all day long. We spend a lot of time on cell phones texting, tweeting and emailing back and forth throughout our every waking hour.
We are in constant communication with others, but it does not always have a positive impact on our lives.
We are always taking in what we sense from our surroundings and processing them. Technology allows us to escape our busy minds more easily than ever, therefore eliminating our ability to take in our surroundings.
Cell phones redirect our attention to likes, tweets and pictures online and it’s almost as if “cyberspace” is reality. Until we put down our screen, and realize it is nothing like our real life.
Cell phones have obvious communication benefits, but we spend so much of our time texting that it is becoming difficult for people to engage in face to face interactions. If we are trying to hold a real conversation while participating in a cyber conversation, we cannot fully engage in our face to face conversation.
We are constantly distracted by our phone screens and some even feel anxiety if their phone is not close to them. People find it hard to concentrate when their phone is near them even if it silenced or turned off.
The absence of a cell phone should not cause anxiety. We are becoming addicted to our cell phones and are being distracted from everyday life; the life we are living.
Being so connected to a cell phone results in disconnecting from the real world. We feel uneasy when we have nothing to do, so we stare at our phone screens to avoid the discomfort. As a result of this, we begin to see our phones as a comforting object. Most people can’t go fifteen minutes without checking their notifications.
Cell phones do not bring as much happiness as we would like to believe. In a Forbes survey, 61 percent of participants reported that they felt jealous, annoyed or depressed after checking their smartphone notifications. We often compare ourselves to figures in the media and this has an effect on our self-esteem.
Keeping off your phone increases productivity and allows us spend more time doing things we actually love. Constantly reading random information online clutters our mind and distracts us from other things that demand our focus such as work and school projects. If we disconnect from technology and center our attention on one task at a time, we can perform more efficiently on that task.
A recent study found that being in complete solitude can be a wonderful time to relax and collect your thoughts or feelings. By being away from your phone and spending time alone you create an opportunity for growth and self-reflection which is beneficial to your mental and emotional health.
It is suggested that we spend some amount of time away from our phones daily. Even if it’s running an errand or doing paperwork, getting away from your phone for a moment allows you to enjoy the moment, and live life instead of constantly trying to document it.
Kali Macklin
Reporter