Breaking the chain

The funny part of the generation I’m apart of, is that we existed in a childhood and life where people we’re chained to their devices. I can even vividly remember what it was like to come home from school and not automatically turn to my phone as entertainment. I was raised in a home with limits, boundaries, and an emphasis on my education. I wasn’t able to watch TV for hours on end or play video games till my eyes burned. However, overtime as I begun to be more independent I was able to decide how to use technology and my free time. I had a shocking reality while reading this weeks content. We often hear adults say “I left my phone at home” or “I didn’t bring it with me, because they believe that this time away is used to relax and take a break from their device. When an adolescent forgets their phone it’s full blown panic mode. They stress about what they’re missing for the short period of time they’re away. In these two scenarios, the adolescent is chained to their phone, and the adult is set free.

What challenges me with my personal devices, is the question of how did this dependency form? How did I become addicted to a small screen? Well, the simplest way I can put it is, I feel like my life is within that bubble. I wish that I didn’t rely on my phone to function throughout the day. I wish the amount of times I pick up my phone each day was under 100. I know for young adults this is normal, but I worry that this cycle will never break. Will I be a grandma and still be addicted to my phone? I hope not…

Something I hope to do at some point in the future is to minimize the amount of social media apps and games I have on my phone. As this is the primary distraction. There are certain functions that technology has that are useful and don’t worry me. It’s the apps that are unnecessary I hope to slowly get rid of. I think in doing this, my dependency will also minimize. I don’t think that cutting this part out of my life all together is the best way to do it, but by slowly learning to function away from my phone will probably be the best approach. I actually made a goal for the new year to delete one main social media app off me phone, such as, SnapChat, Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. For me personally I believe this is the best route. This will also limit my communication with others, however I have always believe the best way to reach someone is via text message or phone call. This is not snapping pictures or DMing someone. I truly hope that taking this first step will lead me to a lifestyle of being unchained from my device.