Ask yourself: what is the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? The very first? It’s probably nothing special, or something you really even stop to think about. It’s become a habit that we can’t seem to break. What I, as thousands of other people do, is roll over and check our phones. We’re all guilty. Without even stopping to think, we feel an urgent need to connect to the internet.

Perhaps it’s the fear of missing out. Maybe it gives us a relaxing break from the stressful lives we lead. Or could it be that it’s just the new way of living? You’re either online, or you’re left behind. It’s that simple. And who wants to be left out?

But there comes a point when this way of living is excessive, and we crossed that point a long time ago. Wake up, America. We’ve become a nation that’s entirely too dependent on the little mobile devices that we keep in our pockets. Yes, sometimes it’s nice to be one click away from interacting with another human being, and there’s always going to be that boost of confidence when you get over one hundred likes on an Instagram picture. But sometimes disconnecting from the world is really all we need to feel something.

Not even too long ago, the Internet didn’t exist. At one point, there were no telephones, television, or the new latest gadget. There was nothing holding people back from forming actual meaningful friendships, not fake ones on Facebook with people we barely know at all. They were more concerned about each other, instead of worrying about what they should tweet about next. And when they actually wanted to talk to someone, they did it in person, not behind a screen through texting or Snapchat. Then, we were living as human beings, not machines.

But today, we live in a much different world. One where cyber bullying runs rampant because kids are too scared to confront someone face to face. One where words can be misinterpreted in hurtful and negative ways. One where we base our self-worth over who and how many likes our posts get. Technology is supposed to help us, but because we have become so addicted to it, it’s only doing the opposite. It’s not healthy for us anymore.

I am just as guilty as anyone. When I’m bored, my phone is the first thing I go to. When I’m stressed, I always pretend as if reading what other people are doing with their day is going to solve my problems -- but it doesn’t. No one is themselves online; we all pretend to lead lives that we don’t. And one reason that we don’t is because we are so absorbed with the little piece of plastic we hold in front of us.

I’m not saying that we should give up technology, as it serves many useful purposes. But, we should all limit ourselves. We need time to live our actual lives, right?

So, after you’re finished reading this, of course: spend time with family and friends. Take a walk outside. Go on an adventure, and don’t feel the need to post all about it later. Do something for you, and don’t worry about how many likes you hope it gets. Live your life; it doesn’t have to be the one everyone else thinks it is. It just has to be yours.

Disconnect from your phone, and connect a bit more to yourself.