Im addicted...

I have an addiction. Being born into this generation, I didn’t find the addiction, but rather, it found me. I can’t go a minute without using it. The satisfaction level that I get from it varies from time to time. I would just wish I wouldn’t get yelled at by my parents or other adults for using it. They just don’t understand what living really is. They’re just so old, what do they know, right?

This addiction is my phone.

Yes, at times I can’t stray away from it. I constantly check it every chance I get; I check it from the very moment that I wake up to the very moment before I sleep. Sometimes, it’s difficult for me to sleep because there is just so much that I have to do on my phone that I just can’t put aside for the next day. I just wish that I could view my assignments and projects this way.

I’ve noticed that the phone takes away valuable time within my life. Quality time that I may or may not get back. I focus so much on publicizing the moment than rather living it. What’s the point of a picture of a special time, if I don’t know the story behind it.

Throughout the week I’ve tried something new to tackle this challenge. I promised myself to turn my phone off for 30 minutes to an hour. In the first two days, I just felt so lonely and out of touch with the world. I didn’t have up to the second of what people were doing,  where they were at, or what they were eating? This information is very useful, yah know? Ironically, I was surrounded by people everywhere. It felt different breaking the ice to get to know someone face-to-face rather than on social media. On social media, all I had to do was click ‘follow’ or ‘add friend’ to instantly know them. I didn’t have to ask any questions or communicate with them in any way. The phone eroded my skills of true socializing.

Usually when I want to head to a destination where the route was unfamiliar to me, I would just map it and I’ll be on my way. With my iPhone off, I had a hard time following the sign at first. After some time reading the directions of the street signs, I eventually learned this skill. I couldn’t believe something this simple can be swept from under my feet from constantly using my phone. Basic knowledge isn’t so familiar to me.

After the week with my phone off for an hour a day, it opened my eyes on how impaired I was. I couldn’t complete simple task without it. I couldn’t function. Something that was there to simply assist me, did more than assist.

This is still a challenge I’ll face throughout the upcoming weeks. How I’ll manage it, we’ll see...