Treating My Phone Addiction
I have noticed there’s an addictive nature to my relationship with my phone; I use it late at night even though I know it hinders my ability to quickly fall asleep. I use it even when my neck is sore and my eyes are strained, ignoring my body’s clear signals that I should take a break. I find myself unconsciously drawn to it seconds after feeling “bored”, or when I want to distract myself from a productive task that’s not particularly pleasant or entertaining.
For these reasons, about a month ago when a massive wave knocked me off my paddle board, causing my phone to slip out of my pocket and into the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, I decided it’s time I finally treat my phone addiction. So, instead of getting a replacement, I challenged myself to see how long I could manage life without a phone.
After a couple days, it became apparent that using modern day communication apps is a requirement for, well, modern day communication. But, technically, a phone is not a requirement; my iPad can utilize all the same applications. So, in order to properly communicate with the world, I downloaded gmail, Google hangouts, FB messenger, Skype, Slack, and GroupMe on my iPad. Which begs the question, if I’m using all the same apps on my iPad, am I really treating my phone addiction?
Yes, for a simple reason: how I use my iPad is different than how I use my phone. My iPad is bulkier and doesn’t fit in my pocket, so it is not quickly accessible at all times. I use my iPad on my time, when I need it. It’s in my backpack for most of the day, and it’s quite common for me to be without it.
This difference is small, but significant. In those small windows of time where I’m waiting for something or bored between tasks, instead of consuming media or the details of other people’s lives, I now brainstorm creative ideas, reflect on the day’s events, or observe my environment. And the larger chunks of time that were dominated by phone use have transformed into writing (stories like this one), reading, and playing music. All of these activities feel healthier and more productive than phone entertainment and consumption.
Now that I’ve been spending less time scrolling through my social media feeds, I was afraid my friends might notice I’m not posting, or they might notice I’m not liking their posts. But no one’s mentioned anything to me. I think it’s a clear example of “The Spotlight Effect”, a psychological phenomenon in which people tend to believe they are being noticed more than they really are. People are too busy with their own lives to be concerned with my social media habits.
All in all, no phone life has been quite liberating; I feel free from modern day social obligations. The obligation to share my story with my followers. The obligation to engage with the stories of whom I’m following. The obligation to be accessible at all times. By decreasing my connection with the online world, I’ve been able to reconnect with own internal motivations. I’ve realized that these so called “obligations” were all self imposed; therefore, I had the power to absolve them in a moment’s decision.
After reading all this you may be thinking I have a negative view of technology, or how communication is evolving. However, the opposite is true: I’m an advocate for technology and I’m optimistic that online connectivity will have a positive social effect overall. And, regardless of anyone’s opinion, technological innovation and its integration into our society is not only here to stay but is escalating more rapidly than ever before.
So, I believe it is our responsibility as individuals to adjust and adapt to our ever changing technological environment. We must all be mindful of how technology effects the way we think and the way we behave, both positively and negatively. We must be mindful of how technology is designed, how it feeds into our brain’s primal need for human connection and social interaction.
Tech designers intentionally create product, features, and apps that are addicting; therefore, we must consciously practice moderation when using technology. For people like me, that means going on technology fasts, extended breaks away from Instagram, social media, smartphones, or whichever other technological addiction afflicts you. For others, moderation simply means changing your phone settings to minimize it’s ability to become a distraction and an addiction.
For specific ways to configure your phone for productivity, focus, and longevity, check out this article: How to Configure Your iPhone to Work for You, Not Against You
Thank you for giving my words your time and attention. I look forward to sharing more of my thoughts, ideas, and stories here on Medium.
