What’s the one thing that most people claim that they can't live without? What’s the object constantly in our hands, from trips to the grocery store to sitting at your kitchen table? Cell phones seem to keep us connected to the world via social media apps, instant messaging and video messaging but how would you fare if you disconnected your phone for one month?
At the beginning of June, I noticed that I was low on funds, considering each upcoming bill. Budget wise, one of those bills had to go. Naturally, I contemplated life without my car insurance or skimming by on little gas, hoping to avoid the inevitable question: could I bear to cut the service on my cell phone? Sadly, I called my cell phone customer service, to be burdened with working my way through the automated voice system that would help me suspend my service. After 20 minutes, my cell phone service was suspended. What began as a simple way to save 50 bucks, has now proved to be more beneficial than I would have thought. So here’s what I’ve learned from a thirty day (and counting) "disconnect."
1. I have ten times more freedom to engage with the people around me...
Compared to worrying about what’s on Facebook or Twitter.
2. I don’t need my phone as much as I think I do
I’m constantly around others with a cell phone so if I did need to make a phone call, I could borrow one for five minutes.
3. Cell phones are too stressful
Being constantly bombarded with new information, plans and every other task that needs to be tended to, disconnecting gives you time to breathe.
Most important of the three is number one. I believe that there is so much valuable time that is wasted living through screens, watching our lives play out on social media platforms, instead of being present in the actual life that we’re given. Is throwing your newest cell phone in the trash can a plausible plan of action in the 21st century? Not really. But maybe a solution might be to set the phone down for a day, 2 days or even a week to truly put into perspective how much time we put into connecting via technology versus real life communication.
