In the age of social media and the age of the "millennials," everywhere you look there is someone with some kind of electronics. Whether it be a smartphone, a tablet, a laptop, etc., you can't get away from it.
Think of when you're sitting in a restaurant and you look around and the kids are watching movies on their iPads. The teenagers are texting away on their smartphones and even your grandma sitting across from you is scrolling along her Facebook timeline.
Here are a few things you're missing out on when you can't seem to put your phone down and be in the moment:
1. Meaningful conversation
I hate to be old school but think of all of the conversations you're missing out on and the memories you could be making with those right in front of you when you are choosing to look at the lives of others through social media rather than your cousin sitting next to you.
I can think of a hundred times when I had the best time sitting around a table with my family and just talking and completely forgetting I even had a phone or what Kim Kardashian was wearing today.
2. Your surroundings
Have you ever took the time to look around and see what's around you and what you are missing? This world is so beautiful and when you're constantly stressing about who has texted you, or ignored you, you aren't seeing the beauty of the natural world.
This may seem like a silly issue when you can see the world in pictures on Google, however, can you experience a walk in the park on a sunny afternoon through others pictures? I don't think so.
3. A clear mind
Although sometimes music can be therapy and that often times comes from our smartphones, I can't stress how important it is to take some time for yourself.
Stop looking at a phone screen for approval on an Instagram picture that you posted or seeing how many views you got on your Snapchat story. Your mental health can't thrive when you constantly need approval from others that are also sitting behind a screen.
At the end of the day, you won't remember the times you sat around and were scrolling through a Twitter feed, you will remember and cherish the times that you forgot you had a phone and actually took the time to get to know people and their stories.
