It’s hard to realize just how much control your phone has over you…mainly because you’re too preoccupied with it to look up and make this realization. I say without hesitation, the smartphone is a pivotal invention that has projected our society into uncharted territory, unarguably making us more efficient as humans. But, they are addicting, and consuming, and wow…did I just check my phone three times while typing this paragraph?
When I moved to Australia for the semester, I noticed the majority of my friends purchasing phone plans. I decided to hold off and spend the $45 I could have spent monthly on a plan on more important things…you know, like beer.
It soon became apparent that this would be no easy feat, as free Wi-Fi is hard to come by in Australia; actually free anything is hard to come by in Australia. So, there would be little to no reliance on free Wi-Fi for me while out and about.
So here’s what happened:
I discovered the lost art form of punctuality
If I told someone I would meet him or her at a certain time at a certain place, I had to be there or risk getting left. Without a phone, there was no option to text that I was running a few minutes late. I usually allotted 10 minutes for any unforeseen circumstances that could possible make me tardy. When being on time is the only option, it becomes commonplace, and you begin to better prioritize your time so you can then prioritize the time of others.
I developed a better sense of direction
Without the ability to trust the map application on my phone, I began trusting my instincts more, relying on my memory of street names and landmarks. If I got lost, I would go with my gut or suck up my pride and ask someone for help. Moreover, I just really got better at being intuitive. Our phones are called smart for a reason; they have the capacity to do a lot of tasks for us. When the option of relying on your phone is removed, you in turn must rely on yourself, sharping up those skills that are often left unexercised because of smartphones. You become your own Sacagawea, and it makes you feel pretty baller.
I was present
Most importantly, I was present. I engaged in conversation rather than checking my Twitter feed at the dinner table, I didn’t scroll through Instagram while walking around town, and I didn’t worry about what my 1200+ Facebook friends were up to constantly. Removing a distraction, like a smartphone, from your life gives you the opportunity to be present in an infinite amount of experiences every day. Removing a smartphone from your hands keeps you vulnerable to feel and express emotions. Instead of hiding behind the barrier you create with your phone for security during awkward silences or uncomfortable situations, you are there and you are present. Without a smartphone, there is no excuse to not be living each and every second of each and every day fully and completely in the moment.
