To my fellow millennials and phone users across the country, put the phones down. We have become so attached to our phones that we often feel naked without these devices in our pockets. When the battery on our phone hits one percent followed by the black screen of death, we feel helpless and our thoughts are consumed as we frantically search for the nearest charging station. I will willingly admit that I have personally contributed to this epidemic, but it is now time to break these bad habits. As true with any problem, the first step is admitting that there is one. We have a problem.
We have become a nation of people constantly looking down, sometimes running into things, just to stay connected. I sometimes wonder what our ancestors would say about these tiny picture boxes that control our daily lives. Would they be amazed at the advancements in technology, or would they be disappointed in our lack of communication with actual people? They may even view our mobile phones as a source of witchcraft, as these machines have hypnotized Americans of the 21st century. I also fear that cell phones are weakening this generation’s ability to communicate with others. Any time a situation becomes even slightly awkward, we automatically turn to our phones to give us an excuse to leave the situation. We no longer greet strangers with a kind smile and hello because we are too focused on sending the next text. Not only is it rude, it takes away from an important connection that could have been made.
There is ongoing research that suggests cell phones are increasingly bad for our health. First, I urge you to put the phone down while driving. Texting (or any other use of the phone while driving) has led to 424,000 injuries and 3,154 deaths in one year alone. Believe me, it’s not worth it. You can increase your life expectancy by simply putting the phone down. As quoted from a Budweiser Super Bowl commercial (a campaign against drunk driving): “Your friends and family thank you. The friends and families of other drivers thank you. Your future self, thanks you.” Please, don’t text and drive.
Another negative consequence of our phone usage is that we have increasingly poor posture. Looking down at our mobile phones places intense strain on our spines. A recent study found that texting can be the equivalent of a fifty pound weight hanging from an individual’s neck. Although we are still in the early stages of learning the long-term consequences, the future of our spines does not look bright.
At night, when it comes time to sleep, put the phone down. Power it down completely, or at the least place it faced down with the sound off. Surprisingly, people who put their phones down at night tend to get a better night of sleep, as their sleep is not interrupted by the lighting up, the buzzing, or the sound of notifications all night long.
With all this phone-free time, what could we possibly do? I recommend going outdoors! It’s this magical place with a blue painted ceiling and green carpet. Sometimes, you will get to see a real life Angry Bird, an actual farm, or maybe even airborne dirt from a baseball player sliding into home at an actual baseball game. You may hear the sound of bees buzzing, water flowing, jets soaring or wind whipping. Live in the moment! Appreciate the people around you. It’s crazy to think of all the things we are missing when we walk around with our heads down. Join me in putting the phones down and enjoying the real world.
