Logging off…

            Well, after “logging off” for two days I definitely gained a new perspective on everyday life. First of all, I have to say it was not as difficult as I thought and honestly was refreshing to simplify my life by taking away social media and TV/Netflix. To refrain from accidentally checking my social media by habit, I turned off my notifications for Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, etc. I realized that it is actually not that hard to refrain from my phone when it is not lighting up like crazy from random notifications. As for the movies and TV shows, I do not watch much TV/Netflix already, so it was not very difficult to refrain from being tempted to watch anything.

            During these two days, I found myself walking around outside more, people-watching, and really appreciating what I was doing at any given moment. I felt like I had more time in general, simply because my phone was not distracting me. I did not realize how much homework I could get done! I always complain about how fast some days go by, but maybe it’s just because I don’t realize how much time I waste on my phone. Another thing I noticed in these two days was specifically when I ate meals. It may sound a little weird, but it was nice enjoying a meal without feeling the need to be on alert for my phone. Whether I simply fixed myself food at home or went out to eat with a friend, it was nice taking my time to eat and just have that time to think to myself or talk to whoever I was with, giving my full attention to whatever thoughts or people at the moment. What I enjoyed the most was when I was at a coffee shop or outside working on homework because I looked up more and just people-watched or looked at the nature around me. This made me feel so relaxed and it was nice just to unwind and let my mind go without distractions. I also realized my looking around more how interesting my surroundings can be and how fun it is to let my mind wander while observing everything around me.

            Typing this all out makes me realize how pathetic it is for being so amazed by what can happen when you don’t go on social media for two days. However, doing this definitely felt like a small, much-needed detox for myself. Life can get stressful and sometimes I find myself residing in electronics and social media to “de-stress,” but I strongly believe that technology is most often either the direct or indirect source of making our lives feel rushed and busy. Technology not only takes up our time by getting us wrapped up in viewing other people’s posts or scrolling through different apps, but it also can create a sense of FOMO (fear of missing out) which can cause extra stress or sadness as well. After my experience for these two days, I would highly recommend everyone should try to “log off” even if it’s just for small amounts intervals at a time. I am now more aware of the importance of refraining from distractions, and I will definitely be more mindful about how much I use my phone.