I’m an avid reader, or at least I use to be. There was a time in my life where you couldn’t find me without a book in my hands or bag. All through High School and part of college I devoured novels as fast and as often as I could. There would be times where I stayed up till 2 a.m. to find answers instead of sleeping. I’m also a fast reader and would finish a book in a day or two. Now I’m lucky if I have time to pick up a book for leisure or am able to finish a book in that one to two day span of time. Some of this is because of adult life. I have a full time job, two side jobs, family time, friends, a girlfriend, and I work out six days a week. So when boiled down to it, I just don’t have the time like I did back in High School or college. It’s not all about time either, when I manage free time I tend to gravitate towards social media and Netflix. Technology has slowly taken over my life and now I grab for my phone or turn the TV on when I get free time with a very full “to read” shelf staring longingly at me.

Now social media is a great thing. We can connect with old friends, family members we don’t see often (if at all), and various people that share common interests. Netflix is also a glorious thing, but I do miss the video shop where I could go rent whatever I wanted. The power to just be able to turn on a device and boom a vast array of things for your viewing at your finger tips is pretty cool. You can also watch Netflix anywhere if you have Wi-Fi or network service, even without those now they have the download and watch later feature. Essentially movies and shows at your finger tips at all times of the day. Not only movies and TV shows are available at all times, so are books; electronic books (e-books). I haven’t bought one myself, but I do see how people enjoy electronic books. You can download them and read them anywhere; you can have up to 3,000 books on your device from you to choose from. You can’t physically carry 3,000 hard copy books. What a concept, all of those books to read wherever and whenever you want. I think e-readers can be great for people who prefer to use an electronic device to read or want to have all their books electronic versus on bookshelves, but personally I don’t use one. I prefer the feel of hard copy books, and the smell of them. To me it’s different getting lost in a hard cover book. I look at screens all day long, whether it’s as I type posts, use a computer for work, watch TV/Netflix while I work out, or being on my phone doing random things. My eyes are still working when I’m reading a hard cover book but there’s no bright light being emitted from the book. I like NOT using electronic devices all day long. The thing is I have lost my reading ways. I have been sucked into social media usage, the Internet, and especially Netflix.

It’s so easy for us as humans to just pop a squat on the couch when we get home and turn on the “boob tube” (yes I did just call it that, it was referred as that a lot when I was a kid by the adults in my life). It’s also super easy for us to sit on our phones or tablets for hours and hours. There have been times where I’m scrolling on my phone and I kid you not, two hours have gone by and I accomplished nothing. Waste of my time, I could have read for two hours, paint or create something, clean, organize, go for a walk, or do some sort of project. Technology in general has taken over my life.

Why is this a problem? Technology has become a main part of my life, and something I depend on. When the power went out as a kid, I didn’t sit there like what do I do now?? No, I grabbed some candles or a flashlight if I had batteries, grabbed a book and read until the power came back on. Nowadays if the power goes out I just sit there on my phone. I don’t get up and go do something, or read. Even in everyday life we as humans depend A LOT on technology. Computers run the cash registers at the stores, restaurants, education systems, our traffic signals, security systems etc. We use technology for everything nowadays, that when we don’t have access to it people lose it. They don’t know how to act. They don’t know how to properly communicate. So I’m going to suggest some ways to help you detox from technology.

• When you’re out with friends, leave your phone in your pocket. You’re out to be with them, not sit there and be on your phone. Why even bother going out at that point? And call your friend out on it. Be like, hey I want your attention not your nose in your phone.
• Set your alarm an hour or more before you actually go to sleep then don’t touch your phone. Read, or do something technology free for that hour before bed. Write in a journal, or color, just stay off your phone.
• Check your daily usage of your phone; track it if you have to. There are actually apps out there where you can download it and it tells you exactly how much time you’re spending on your phone and specifically what apps you use the most. If it’s more than an hour, you might want to reconsider how you spend your free time.
• Stop wasting so much time binging TV shows on Netflix, Hulu, etc. Yes everyone is talking about that one show, but there is so much to do other than sit on your butt and watch TV. Go outside, you know the place where the fresh air lives. Be creative, make a homemade meal, or hang out with a friend and refer to #1 when hanging.
• Turn OFF your notifications for all of your social media or random apps. If you’re constantly getting notifications, you will want to be checking your phone every second. If you do this, you’ll be more likely to just check your favorite apps once or twice a day.
• Use an actual alarm clock instead of your phone. This would also fall under #2 of this list. I know I need to do this, because my alarm goes off and I check my phone right after I shut off the alarm. I will lie in bed for a solid 10-15 minutes aimlessly looking at social media.
• Put a photo on your lock screen/home screen with text saying STOP CHECKING YOUR DANG PHONE. You’ll see it every time you go to open up your phone when you’re bored, and it will be a nice reminder to stop checking it so much. I know that I will check my phone and seriously not even two minutes later I’m checking it again.
• Talk to the people around you, I know what a scary concept. Strike up a conversation with a complete stranger; you might make a friend out it. I’ve made multiple friends out of just talking to them for an hour and then doing so every time I saw them again.

So my advice to you is unplug from all your technology. Humans have become too dependent on it in their daily lives. I'm not saying get rid of it from your life, but limit it. Go out and smell the roses.