Sometimes, I can’t help but pose the question: what did people actually do, like, 'for fun' before the Internet? In the past five to ten years, it seems that technology has really exploded. For me personally, my day starts and ends with me looking at that little screen, scrolling my Instagram and shooting off pictures from my SnapChat. This technology epidemic has the ability to completely turn your attention away from all things of importance to a screen that has very little bearing on your life. For these five reasons, in 2017 I will be attempting to get my face out of the little screen that is so skilled at holding my undivided attention.

1. It is bad for your health.

Being on your phone constantly can indeed be harmful for you physically. Something that I have noticed for me personally is that being on my phone right before bed makes it much more difficult for me to fall asleep. If I can’t go to sleep, I can get pretty cranky, and this can put others in danger of physical harm. Additionally, the tech epidemic has progressed to the point where we can no longer operate large machinery, such as cars, without being consumed by our phones. I will be the first to admit that I have been guilty of this, but this is something I intend to cut out all together.

2. It keeps you from being present.

This is something that I see becoming more and more of a problem. As our online presence increases, our physical presence decreases. We check in to a fantasy world while checking out of the reality around us. We look to get the perfect picture so we can give it the perfect caption- all while missing the pretty great experience that is happening in front of us. Example of this- go to a party and at any given moment, scan the room. See how many people are on their phones vs. how many people seem to actually be enjoying themselves with their friends. It seems as if being able to project the visual of the experience has overridden the experience itself. I can’t help but wonder how much life we are missing by only pretending to be living.

3. It doesn’t allow you to work on your verbal communication and social skills.

It is my opinion that one of the dying arts is the ability to hold a conversation. Seems kind of silly that this would be a lost art, but think about this- how many times do you look at your phone during the day to avoid feeling awkward in social situations? It’s quite common. Maybe that’s the reason our parents are more able to keep conversations going in person or on the phone. Back in the Stone Age when they were young, they had no choice but to keep conversation going. If things got awkward, they had to power through it. Interpersonal skills are vital, and the fact of the matter is that you can’t get that experience sliding into someone’s DMs or stalking them on their Instagram profile.

4. It causes you to compare.

Your online presence, unlike your physical presence, is meaningless. I am a believer that comparison is the thief of joy. In recent years, there has been a rise in clinical depression, and I strongly believe that this rise has a correlative relationship with the introduction and increase of social media. As we see pictures of online friends having the time of their lives, it forces us to question what we have in relation to what others have.

5. It forces you to focus on the bad, rather than the good.

You don’t have to search very far to see the bad that is happening in the world today. This can cause us to have a rather distorted perception of our world because all the bad in the world is accessible by a couple of touches on your screen. However, by shutting off the screen, you are able to see the good that is happening right in front of you in your life. The screen may shed light on what is bad and wrong in the world, but opening your eyes to what is in front of you sheds light on all that is good and worthwhile in your own personal world.

Sure, there will be those who insist that our cell .phones and other venues of technology are actually a good thing, and I will be the first person to admit that there are so many benefits of technology. However, being consumed by it is not, in any way, shape, or form, beneficial to your health in the least. Take your eyes off the screen and reacquaint yourself with your life. I promise you won’t regret it.