The life of someone who is constantly on his or her phone is fickle. Their quality of life and happiness is dependent on their social media activity. However, I’m not just watching from the outside. I am included in this disease of being addicted to our phones and social media.
I am sick and tired of this feeling that everything I do must be documented on social media, otherwise it didn’t happen. The problem is that we miss out on the actual event because we are too busy trying to prove to our followers (notice how I didn’t say “friends”) that we have an electrifying life. Go to a concert and observe the crowd. The sea of people dancing and authentically enjoying the moment has turned into a graveyard of millennial zombies holding their cell phones high above their head to capture the performance as if they are in a cult convention. They just want to prove how compelling their life is, right? The issue is that social media has become a breeding ground of one-upping your followers instead of legitimately sharing your experiences.
Social media isn’t inherently nefarious. The amount of time we spend on social media is the true assassin. When we are giving a hefty percentage of our day to our social media accounts, we are robbing ourselves of freedom. The freedom of enjoying our life the way it is, rather than documenting it to prove ourselves as exciting.
One of the most crucial things you can do is to spend the first part of your morning without your phone and social media accounts. Instead of grabbing your phone and checking the latest news while making breakfast, try reading, sitting outside, or going for a run. Pick any activity where success solely relies on your satisfaction, rather than what acknowledgement you receive online. It’s a demanding challenge, but the refreshment you feel after spending a morning by yourself is well worth the effort. The same principle can be applied to your night routine. Disconnect yourself from the phone an hour or two before you go to sleep. Allow your mind to reflect back on the day and its trials. Reflection and meditation are essential tools in wiping negativity for the next day. I guarantee that you aren’t missing out on anything critical. If there is news that cannot be contained, somebody will call you, like how we all communicated before our eyes were glued to the screen.
In no way am I suggesting that you ought to delete your accounts, destroy your phone, and move off the grid. But there is a line between the use of social media and the reliance on social media. Technology has made it easier than ever to stay in touch with those far from us, but it has also made it easier than ever to become addicts of social media. Don’t become complacent with living your life digitally. There is real air to breathe and absolute nature to dwell in that doesn’t require a connection.
