We have all heard it countless times. "Stop looking at your phone constantly" "Why are you always on your phone?"- at least I have heard this from my mom many times. I used to just think it was annoying and figured it was just a generational difference. However, I soon became more aware of just how often I really am on my phone. Honestly, I don't want to know how many hours per week I spend mindlessly scrolling through Instagram.

Obviously, when you first get an iPhone or some smart phone and have access to basically anything a computer can do, it seems like the most amazing thing to happen. We download all the social media apps, follow all our good friends (and famous people) through these social media sites and enjoy posting tweets, photos, Snapchat stories for all to see.

Now, there is nothing wrong with technology or social media. But when I realized that I was probably spending more time looking down at my phone than having real conversations with real people, I knew there was an issue. Typing that out I realize how awful that sounds. I started to think more about how nothing on the phone is tangible. We can post pictures to see how many likes we get, but why do we care so much about how many likes? They're not really there, and they mean nothing in the grand scheme of things.

Overall, I realized that my greatest memories in life are not spent looking at my phone or checking the latest social media updates. When you think back to the best times with the best people in your life, does your phone come to mind? Probably not.

As a personal goal for this year, I have tried to spend less time looking at my phone and use that time to do something more productive, whether it be just getting an assignment done early, or even just simply spending time with those around me.

I know it is unrealistic of us to just drop our phones and only use them for minimal amounts of time. Even though I am more aware, it is still hard to break the habit of looking at it all the time. it's going to take time to change my ways! Obviously, they are great inventions and do make our lives much simpler and keep us in touch with those who live far away. In addition, your life, your phone, your choice as to how much time you spend on it. I just think it is important to maybe be more aware of how much we are on our phone and when we are, to be more intentional with its use instead of blindly picking it up without even realizing. Enjoying time with those around us and the memories we make these people are far more important than the latest Snapchat story.