When technology was first invented, people from the past would have never thought that it would have taken over like it has today. The textbook, Media Essentials, by Richard Campbell, Christopher R. Martin, and Bettina Fabos states, “As new technologies become both greater and more widespread in use, our relationships to the media continue to change and deepen (Campbell, Martin, and Fabos).” As we fast forward into the future, technology is mainly used to make our days go by quicker and to avoid interacting with people when we are walking from one place to another. The biggest question that could logically be raised by those opposed to technology is, “What are you missing in daily life when your attention has been devoted to a screen?” From experience, you are missing a lot and the best way to seek out what you have been missing is to free yourself from technological distraction.
For a 24-hour period, I avoided unnecessary technology use and it started out painfully boring. From the moment I woke up, it was difficult to avoid checking my social media so I was forced to get up, get ready for class, and be on time. On my way to class, I was able to focus more on my surroundings as well as greeting the people who passed by. During class, I was able to attentively listen to my professors’ lectures without missing any information due to distraction from a notification from my phone. Overall, my mood improved because I was able to positively communicate with others as well as being able to follow along during class distraction free.
Without technology, my daily routine hasn’t changed much. However, it was much more productive because I was able to get tasks done in a timely manner. Due to this technological fast, none of my tasks were dragged off until the last minute because I avoided extensive social media breaks. Also, I was able to complete smaller assignments that were due later in the week which really saved me the time for larger upcoming assignments. Basically, I took advantage of the time that I usually spend on social media and dedicated it to getting more tasks done in one day.
According to Media Essentials, “Engaging with social media isn’t just a leisure activity; it’s a major component of how many of us live our lives (Campbell, Martin, and Fabos).” In my life, I feel that media serves as a distraction because I am more interested in watching Netflix and checking social media rather than going out to exercise, doing homework, engaging in school events, or socializing with people my age. After experiencing a media fast, I feel that it would really benefit me if I started to gradually cut down on my media use because I would feel more compelled to do things that would help me grow as a person, lower my stress levels, and improve my grades.
From my experience, I’ve learned that if people put down their technology and do something productive they will not be as stressed and will feel much more accomplished with their life. In the article, “How 30 Days Without Social Media Changed My Life,” Steve Corona states, “My goal for giving up social media was to create more value in my life, quit hoarding information, and appreciate the time that I spent with friends (Corona).” This shows that in place of chronic media use, people will be able to accumulate more memories when they go out with friends and leave their phones at home because they will be able to live in the moment rather than living by the millennial philosophy, “If it isn’t on snapchat then it never happened.”
In conclusion, media is used by people to make time pass by quicker and to avoid face to face interaction with others. Although it may seem difficult, it is beneficial to put away all sources of media for a set amount of time and live with the world around us because we never know what we are missing when our eye are focused on a screen rather than observing what life has to offer.
