Nowadays, it's normal to not socialize in public. It's completely acceptable to scroll through your phone while you're waiting in line for your coffee or to watch Netflix while you're eating dinner. Making conversation with a stranger is odd and can even be creepy. I can honestly say that I don't try to reach out to strangers or talk to someone knew if I don't have to, but I've realized it's become a serious dilemma in our society.
Hiding oneself with technology and social media starts to take you out of what is going on around you and plugs you into the reclusive world of memes and gifs and celebrity drama. You start to care more about what other people are doing, wearing, or what the next trendy restaurant is rather than checking in with yourself and your surroundings. You start living the life you want your social media to portray instead of just letting life come to you.
It's easier said than done to get out of the habit of only socializing with your social media, so here are 5 ways to help become more present in your daily life:
1. Enjoy the Ride.
It's crazy the amount of entertainment you can have when you put your phone away and enjoy the 15-minute ride to your next location. Whether it be a bus, an Uber, or a normal car ride, it's a nice short amount of time to be in tune with yourself and to also look at the atmosphere and people around you. Put that phone away and make your ride an opportunity to check in with yourself and the other commuters around you. You'll never know who's doing the same thing.
2. Talk to Someone New.
Instead of refreshing your Instagram feed, give a compliment to someone on the elevator or help out the person whose backpack is unopened while you're both in line for Starbucks. Make eye contact and socialize! It's a great way to make someone else's day while also giving yourself a new way to include yourself in your own environment.
3. Create.
Netflix and Hulu are great but too much of it can distract you from the outside world and all of its opportunities. Instead of watching TV every night, try to read a book, draw, or go outside at least once a week to use your brain or creatives eye. Open your mind to imagining and creating without a screen.
4. Order What You Want.
EAT. Food can be beautiful even without a camera lens. Order food and eat it the way you want to eat it. Don't do it for the aesthetic. Being able to eat a meal without it be "picture perfect" takes such a relief off. Take the time to sit down, taste, and enjoy your meal with friends and family.
5. Listen.
Social media can be a very self-absorbing medium. We view what we want to see when we want to see it. We choose who we want to follow and who follows us and we post content based on what we think. Even advertisements are based on what we like and want! By listening to others, you are able to take a step back from your own thoughts and opinions and focus on a different perspective of your surroundings. You are able to strengthen your relationship with others and bond in a way that social media cannot replicate. This is a great way to stay present in your life and in others' lives too. Plus, you may never know how much a friend or a stranger really needed someone to listen.
