Look around you, right now. What do you see? Is everyone on their phone or have it right next to them? Thought so. This is an extremely common sight in this day of age. We all have become prisoners to our phones and technology without even realizing it.

For most of us, the first thing we do in the morning, as well as the last thing we do at night, is check our phone. We also never really put our phones down during the day.

I am just as guilty of these actions. My day doesn’t start until after I lay in bed for 20 minutes on my phone when I first wake up. I spend that time checking Twitter, liking Instagram posts, texting my current crush back, watching everyone’s Snapchat stories that I missed while sleeping, and checking my email in hopes that my morning class got canceled.

This same cycle repeats the entire day. My phone sits at my desk in class, at the table during lunch/dinner, on my lap while I drive, and basically whatever I am doing my phone is there. I feel the constant need to check it because I don’t want to miss what’s going on on social media. I don’t want someone to get mad because I don’t text them back within two seconds or open their Snapchat and not respond. I have become a prisoner to my own phone.

Well, not anymore. I just started my escape this week so it’s not as easy yet, but I am getting there. By escape, I mean putting down my phone and actually living life. I even turn it on “do not disturb” sometimes.

It’s so weird that the simple change of not using a cell phone all the time has had this huge impact on my life. I have honestly become more relaxed because I am not constantly worried what other people are doing or constantly wondering why the boy I like hasn’t texted me back yet. This escape has allowed me to put all my focus on one task at a time. I have found that I am completing my assignments quicker because I am not constantly stopping to check Twitter or respond to Snapchats.

I have also found out more about the people in my life. I am more engaged in conversations than ever, and it’s nice not having to ask my friends to repeat what they said to me because I was too busy texting the first time.

This has also made me be more observant of people all around me. For example, I get my morning caffeine from the same Starbucks every morning for months now, and just this week I realized there's this little old man who goes there every day around the same time I do. He sits in the same spot everyday doodling on the napkins, drinking his coffee, and I have never even noticed him because while waiting for my name to be called I sit on my phone never looking up.

We are all to busy being prisoners to our phones to notice everything that is happening around us. We could pass the love of our life walking to class and never even get a glimpse of their face or a friend could think your mad at them because you walk by without saying a word.

So start your escape today. Start by putting your phone away for an hour a day and see how much you get accomplished in that hour. Keep your phone away during class and when you’re having a conversation with someone. As the days go on, you will find yourself not going on your phone for longer than an hour. You might even be able to forget it exists for a little while if your lucky. The 20 minutes spent on your phone in the morning could turn into 20 extra minutes of sleep. (Who doesn’t want more sleep?)

I hope your escape benefits you as much as mine has impacted me. Just remember that this is your life to live, not your social media followers.