The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem. I am ashamed to admit that I am addicted to my cell phone.
My phone is my lifeline. It is constantly attached to me at all times, even in the shower (it’s embarrassing, I know), just in case, you know, a real human being actually attempts to contact me. To me, my phone acts as a portal that connects the outside world and me. The best part about this portal is that I don’t even have to leave my bed or pause Netflix to access it.
Occasionally, I find myself in situations where I’m not exactly paying attention to what is happening in the present moment because I’m looking at my phone (probably trying to keep up with the Kardashians or something, but who can do that anymore? Not me.)
Until my excessive phone use was recently brought to my attention, I have never really considered it a problem. I am a young college student with a social life and agendas to attend to, what more do you want from me?
Accepting the challenge to go without my phone for a day was not the issue. Committing to it was.
I started out my week by planning which day would be the day to give up my most cherished possession. Wednesday was the day. I emotionally prepared myself to part ways with my beloved iPhone until the day arrived.
It was Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. and I could not do it. I chose this day because it is my busiest day of the week so I figured I would have plenty of distractions. I was wrong. My phone was the distraction.
Upon waking up Wednesday morning, I decided responding to the messages on my phone was the right choice to make. At the time, it seemed like the right thing to do, but it just made it harder to put my phone away. Once you are in an important conversation, it is almost impossible to stop responding.
Since Wednesday was a failure, Thursday was THE day. That was it. It had to be Thursday. No exceptions.
It was Thursday morning at 11:00 and my alarm clock went off on my phone. I did not even check my phone for messages. I was committed.
Since I am a commuter, I decided to bring my phone for emergencies and leave it in my car for the day.
I could do it. I knew I could.
The hardest part of my day was listening to people say everything wrong and not being able to prove their wrongness because of my lack of Internet. You are all wrong and although I may not have been able to prove it at the time, I know the truth, and you are wrong.
I went to lunch with my friend, Dustin. I only asked him for the time about 12 times before he just let me hold on to his phone until the meal was over.
Thursday at 7 p.m. was the moment I cracked.
The most disappointment I have had to face in my 20 years of life was the fact that the only person who texted me that entire day was my mother. Am I that unpopular? No offense, Mom.
Here is the truth: Although I am completely addicted to my phone, being without it was not a terrible thing. If you have never tried giving up your phone, I recommend it. It is hard being the last person to find out the latest gossip but if you are as stressed out as I was, it is a revelation. Sometimes you just need to absorb your surroundings and focus on yourself. Putting your phone away is the best place to start.
Leave a Reply