Just a few weeks ago, the unfamiliar and terrifying, happened to me- I got my phone stolen. Of course, my first reaction was anger, but then, I felt a wave of emptiness hit me. I had just about my whole life on my phone and I felt as though I lost a part of myself.
But throughout the next few days, I didn't have my phone glued to my hand - I felt free, different than everyone else around me. I became aware of cell-phone addiction in just about everyone.
Most of the time we cling to our phones for comfort in uncomfortable situations. Like when we walk past someone we really don't want to see. It's so easy to just pretend we're texting, but when I didn't have my phone that was not an option.
Yet, I appreciated the lack of distraction I had.
When I was on the shuttle that took me from class across campus back to my dorm, I realized that just about everyone was staring at their phones. I mean, this bus ride is only 5 minutes, and some people didn't even lift their heads up. I'm sure I do this without realizing it, but because I couldn't do it, I became aware of everyone else.
Putting your phone down is liberating.
I went out to lunch, dinner, the beach and more without my phone. And honestly, this only improved my experience. I lived in the moment so much more because I wasn't worried about Snapchatting a picture of my food or scrolling through social media as I lied down in the sand. Instead, I enjoyed the company I had and fully relaxed at the beach, taking in every moment my phone's camera couldn't.
Of course, sometimes there are times where boredom strikes, and looking at your phone might alleviate that, but I'm saying that don't view your phone as a savior. It shouldn't be such a habit to always stare at a screen.
You can enjoy life's moments sometimes a whole lot more when you don't have an excuse to pick up your phone. Sometimes I wish it was normal for people to put their phones away. Instead, they're always going off- people are sometimes more entertained by a phone's screen than what is right in front of them.
For the short few days without a phone, that feeling of emptiness quickly turned to a slight sense of freedom. I realized, that it's more important sometimes to just put your phone down and enjoy what's around you.
Despite this, I am a millennial and I do still get caught up looking at my phone screen. However, after my phone hiatus, I will try to make looking at my phone less of a habit and more of a conscious choice.
