With lent recently starting, I found myself reading article upon article on “things you should give up this year.” It got me to thinking about what I wanted to challenge myself with by going without. Giving up any type of food is difficult, but when I thought about giving up social media or any type of technology, I quickly dismissed that as impossible. 

Since I’ve been in college, social media has become even more of a staple in my life. From checking the various USC Twitter accounts to my sorority’s GroupMe, I’d be completely out of the loop and left out without these different apps and media outlets. While many of them are used mostly for good and are super beneficial, there are plenty of apps I use just to pass the time.

So many of us are guilty of wasting precious hours on our phones daily. Whether it is thirty minutes while you wait between classes or two hours before you fall asleep at night, we are always plugged in. Usually, it consists of checking Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat, and Twitter. Next there’s the occasional scroll through Yik Yak, BuzzFeed or Vine. Then it’s back to Instagram, Snapchat, Twitter, and the cycle continues. We waste hours every day checking in on what others around us are doing. Not only does it make us lazy, unsocial sacks, but it is also a complete waste of time.

It absolutely kills me thinking of all the productive things I could accomplish if I’d put my phone down for an extra hour each day. Luckily, there is an app that can finally help us realize just how much time we are wasting. The app is called Moments. Moments tracks each minute you spend on your phone daily. It allows you to set limits, alarms, and reminders to show how much time you’ve spent. It even tracks how many times you pick up your phone just to check it — you know … thinking you hear a buzz when in reality it was just in your head. That’s a true sign of addiction. 

Regardless, this app is great. Since I downloaded the app and realized how many hours I spent on my phone in the span of 24 hours, I have started to cut back. Each day I try to spend less and less time on my phone. I’ve found new hobbies like reading and writing in my free time to keep myself off of these social traps.

Don't get me wrong, I love social media and appreciate the power of technology, but frankly, we are all too immersed. We are too dependent on it and too worried about everything going on around us. I encourage you to give this app a try — to see how much time you spend on your phone each day and if it’s something you'd be willing to change. College only lasts for four years; seize every moment.