Technology can be our best friend, and technology can also be the biggest party pooper of our lives. It interrupts our own story, interrupts our ability to have a thought or a daydream, to imagine something wonderful, because we're too busy bridging the walk from the cafeteria back to the office on the cell phone.
- Steven Spielberg
1. We would remember events for how they were not through pictures!
Face it we’ve all been there. That concert where we knew all of our friends would be so jealous that we got to see that artist in person, and on stage. So what did we do? We watched the whole entire show through our cell phones with the record button flashing. We couldn’t dance. We couldn’t sing. All we had was the silly far off cell phone video, which couldn’t even be heard because of all the screaming fan girls.
Tip: Put the phone in your bag. It’s okay to take pictures for memories, but in reality the stories of the experiences without the cellphones are much more interesting to show.
2. We would have more dance parties, share more laughs, and build stronger relationships
I’m not saying that when we’re with our friends we can’t be on our phones at all. But what greater time is it to bond with the people we love the most then by doing something fun and exciting. Just being able to laugh and have a good time. In person relationships, and conversations are becoming a more rare occasion. In-person talks are often times far-fetched and awkward. Relationships are built and maintained over the Internet. When we do see our friends, our phones become a nervous clutch to avoid the awkward silences.
Tip: Anything you do on your phone can be done when you are alone. Having a pillow fight, dance off, or even just a game night requires two or more people.
3. Our eyes would thank us
I personally wear glasses, simply because screen time has defeated my eyes ability to adjust when they move between near distances and far distances. The fake lights in our computer screens, play with our eyes light sensors.
Tip: Give your eyes a break, read a book, go for a walk, disconnect and let you’re eyes recharge.
4. We would get more sleep
We’ve all been in that situation where we say we are going to bed, something distracts us and we end up scrolling through Facebook at 12 am. Before we know it we see one too many cat videos and it’s 2 o’ clock in the morning the day before you’re big public speaking speech.
Tip: If you don’t use you’re phone for an alarm, turn your phone off before you go to bed to avoid unwanted distractions. If you do use your phone as an alarm, just place it on do not disturb. As a college student, there is nothing more important than getting a full nights rest to drive your system. Whatever is on our phones can wait until the morning.
5. Our sanity would thank us
We’ve all gotten the two-page horror story of a text message filled with the red angry face emojis that call us out for doing something that who knows we may or may not have done. Before we know it we are red in the face and vigorously typing back something nasty that we will only regret once we have calmed down.
Tip: Let’ s face it technology gets us nowhere when we are mad. There is a great quote by an unknown author that states “ Don’t promise when you are happy. Don’t reply when you are angry. And don’t decide when you are sad.” I stand by this. If something gets you worked up over the phone its best to put it down and take a breather, because generally our friendships are more valuable than our texts.
