Over the past decade, technological advancements have become much more prominent across the world. Through the invention of "smart TVs," the advancement of computers, and the improvement of Apple products, our society has changed as a whole. Flashback to ten years ago, when our society was still using "PCs," flip phones, and owned generic televisions. We weren't nearly as addicted to our small technology.
Personally, I am guilty of becoming addicted to my technology as well. I find myself checking my phone at dinner, while walking around campus, when on dates with my significant other, and even in class. I don't notice how much I am using it when I am in the process. That is, until I think about it. I figured out that if I am using my phone in five minute intervals, for at least five times an hour, that would equal 300 minutes in a day. 300 minutes of your day wasted doing nothing. Understandably there's things that you need to do on your phone, but a lot of the time it's checking Facebook, Twitter, texts, and unimportant apps. This is why I want to go back to a flip phone. I want to go back to the times where I didn't feel the need to check my phone so often. Here's a list of things you are missing out on while you are attached to your phone.
1. Remember that little thing called nature?
We actually used to enjoy the nature that surrounded us, rather than document the beauty for our friends on Snapchat.
2. Remember when we actually talked to our friends?
We've adopted a way of communicating through text rather than voice. It's become so popular that people are even forming their entire relationship over text without speaking in person.
3. Remember when we had to entertain ourselves on car rides?
Instead of coming up with creative ways to entertain ourselves, we use our phones to solve this problem. No more license plate games, I-spy, or just enjoying the view.
4. Remember when we got our work done?
Procrastinators will always be procrastinators, but cell phones make it even easier to avoid our work. There's always another game of candy crush to be played.
5. Remember when we used to be able to sleep?
We are often on our phones for a while before we finally decide to go to sleep. Then, when we finally are trying to rest, we still have the urge to check our phones.
6. Remember when we talked about our days at dinner?
Dinner used to be a time where everyone would talk about their day and have conversations. Now, in most circumstances, dinner time is spent on our phones. It's a time to catch up on emails and missed texts, not for conversation.
7. Remember when we read books instead of Buzzfeed articles?
We don't spend nearly as much time reading hardcover books as we do online reading different articles. Buzzfeed and online sites are fun places to get information, but it's still not the same as real literary work.
8. Remember our lives without smartphones?
Our lives without smartphones were incredibly different. We would enjoy a lot of the little things that we don't seem to enjoy anymore. I'm not talking on behalf of everyone, but as a generation we are completely absorbed by our smartphones. If we all went back to our simple generic phones then life would become much more enjoyable.
