We're all guilty of pulling out our phones when we're waiting for something whether that be a class, a line at a store, or for a friend to arrive. Cell phones have commonly become an escape for the awkwardness of "waiting," but, it has its costs. A couple months ago, I was at dinner with my grandma. She told me to look around and I got a little confused.

Then she pointed out that everyone who was waiting for a table was on their phones instead of sparking up a casual conversation with each other. After she brought that instance to my attention, I realized it's a rare sight to see strangers engage instead of staring directly at their phones. I've become a lot more conscious of when I use my phone.

I've also noticed that people constantly check their phones when out to lunch with their friends. They do talk to each other but pause every couple minutes to catch up on social media or to see if anyone texted them. Instead of being present in the moment, they're distracted by what's happening online. In my opinion, I think this contributes to people having social anxiety. They've become much more used to talking to people through technology that when they come across a stranger in person, it's difficult to communicate.

Real life experiences are what help people grow. I had a friend in high school who instead of enjoying a concert with me, watched the entire show through her phone while she recorded it. I asked myself how often she planned to rewatch the video and why she didn't just enjoy the moment? It wasn't just her though, whenever something above average excitement occurs, people are always quick to pull out their phones and record.

Another reason I think people should be more mindful about when they use their phones is that it's clear when people aren't listening. Sometimes I'll start a conversation and the person I am talking to will listen for a few minutes, but then they go on their phones and nod every once in a while in order to appear engaged.

It's incredibly obvious when someone isn't listening, and it makes the other person feel as if what they're saying doesn't matter. Take the time to listen to someone, even if it means not being able to scroll through Instagram for 10 minutes.

Technology has its perks, but it also tends to take away from day to day encounters. Try putting the phone down every once and a while and enjoy life in person instead of through a screen.