Between Twitter, Facebook and Snapchat, it’s easy to feel consumed by social media. Our eyes become glued to our phones and tablets and sometimes we feel dependent on them. Last summer I found myself reconnecting with my family and myself while we traveled to some of the U.S. National Parks. For a few days in Yellowstone National Park we had no cellphone service and no wi-fi. At first, I went into a little panic realizing I wouldn’t be able to send or receive texts to my friends back home. However, I reconnected with different important aspects of my life.
Try to reconnect with nature. Plant a garden or go for a hike. Find an outdoor adventure that doesn’t need to be justified by an Instagram post. Being able to breathe in fresh air and take in an amazing view is something that you can’t feel by living through celebrities. Why sit in envy of the adventures others are having when you can find your own? Pick a spot on a map and make that your destination. Take a few pictures and save them for later. In the moment, close your eyes and take a breath. Enjoy the beauty of what is in front of you and not on a screen.
If the outdoors doesn’t do it for you, find a new favorite book. There’s something about the feeling of physically turning the pages of a book that reading on a tablet can’t do. I find that I even focus better on what I’m reading when my eyes aren’t pained from the glow of a screen. The best thing about books is that there’s a genre for everyone. Whether it’s classic literature or an athlete’s biography, challenge yourself to read something new.
I think the most important reason to disconnect is to reconnect with the people in front of you. I always find it funny how my friends and I can sit comfortably in complete silence. It’s not the silence you think. We aren’t watching a movie or listening to music. We sit in the same room and scroll through our social media. What I’ve learned recently is how damaging that can be to relationships. It’s hard to enjoy the person you’re with when you feel the need to answer to the notifications lighting up your phone. I have definitely been guilty of this. The need to document every single thing you do together consumes you. We feel the need to be better than each other. It’s a competition to post a funnier Tweet or a more artistic Instagram than our friends. However, by doing this we miss out on what’s right in front of us. We lose the ability to have conversations and feel completely comfortable around those we’re with.
This summer I decided to challenge myself to put down my phone and tablet when I can. So far, I fell in love with writing more than ever before. I even find myself craving new challenges and a drive to study for my LSAT.
So here is my challenge to you: disconnect. Whether it’s for an hour or a day, put down the social media. Find what makes your heart happy and reminds you what is truly important.
