Over the past seven days, I have been monitoring my media usage, specifically social media, and recording my findings for a Communications paper. The results I came up with scared me, to be honest. You do not realize how much you rely and depend on media until you take a step back and actually get the statistics. Media is all around us. It consumes us the majority of the time. It is difficult to imagine a day without it. But when the conclusion I came to showed I was spending multiple full days a week using different media outlets, I felt like it had to be stopped. Here are just three things I learned from recording my media usage and why I believe everyone needs a break from technology from time to time.

Dependency

Dependency on media truly amazes me. I am guilty of it myself. Every walk to class, every time a professor pauses the lecture, and every time your television show hits a commercial, we reach for our phones and begin the endless scrolling. Naturally, some forms of media dependency are inescapable especially when it comes to school and work. But what if you and your roommate went to grab late night coffee instead of scrolling through Instagram and sending Snapchats for hours at night? This project made me wonder what all I was missing out on when I’m being consumed by my media.

Be Present

High school went by so fast. So far, college is going by even faster. You can never get these moments back. When you have to record in a notebook every time you text someone back or scroll through Pinterest, it makes you realize how much you are doing so. It’s part of our subconscious nature at this point. I found that often times when I am present with family and friends I am not fully there. This is because I am watching a movie with them or texting someone back. When you are not using media, it is easier to appreciate the people around you and wholly enjoy the life you have been given. Life is all about seizing the day you have been given.

Fresh Start

I am not saying give media up for good. That would not be possible realistically. We rely on media for a variety of different purposes and needs. But it is nice to take time off. Taking a break can be beneficial to your self-esteem, confidence and mental health. Time off can allow for a chance of renewal and reflection. It can allow you time to devote yourself to something bigger. And once the break ends, you can return to social media a new person with strong values.

Overall, it is not easy to take a break from social media. I love keeping up with my Snapchat streaks, posting photos to a Facebook album, and watching videos on Twitter. But after I really thought about my media use, I realized it was too much. Life is too short and it is healthy to take breaks every once and awhile. I encourage everyone to be aware of their social media presence and take time away just for yourselves. The results may surprise you.