It’s easy to tell yourself to ‘be in the moment.’ It’s easy to think that you don’t spend as much time on your phone as you actually do. It’s easy to use your phone as a security blanket in public situations. I practice mindfulness as much as I can in my daily life. Being fully aware of what is going on around me and within me is something I always strive to get better at.

As a Communications student, I am always on technology. I like to scroll through Instagram influencers, read current news, and play with photo editing or design. Sometimes, though, that leaves me with an excuse to be consumed in technology and have my face glued to a screen. When I do take the time to focus on the present, especially recently, I am extremely thankful.

Technology is the very thing that I use to create. Different technologies' various uses help every college student. However, I encourage looking away from your devices. Power off for a few minutes.

One of my favorite things to do is put on a hoodie with sweatpants and sit on the bench outside of my house at the end of the night. No phone, no laptop, and no distractions create an environment for your mind to wander or simply rest. Some people really enjoy having a space to let their mind reflect, and therefore, keep their mind busy. Others might need this time to be empty, even if it's short.

Surrounded by interruption and disturbance, we as college students are receiving information from every angle. Allotting five minutes to stare at the sky and its emptiness, every last thought in your mind can give you clarity that you might be missing.

A mentor of mine told me a simple, but effective, piece of advice a few years ago: close your eyes and visualize five things for each sense. For example, for ‘see’ you would picture five different scenes in your head and count on your fingers, slowly. For ‘touch,’ you would imagine the texture of five different items. Not only does this method slow down your thoughts, but it separates you from technology.

Although it sounds silly, my point is that humans need to breathe. We can’t keep going through every hour of our day on our devices. As students, we can’t control most of the hours we spend on laptops writing essays, but when you get the chance, close your laptop, close your eyes, settle your mind, and be aware of what is going on around you. Help yourself, and power off.