Digital Behaviors and Mindfulness

Mobile Worker Photo by: Michael Coghlan

How many times have you picked up your smartphone today to check your messages or see what is happening on social media? I am just as guilty of this too, my friends! This week in our digital literacy class we were to explore digital behaviors and mindfulness. I have found these articles and Ted Talk to be an eye opening experience to really sit down and think of how many times we have reach for our phones and electronic devices. After these articles, I have become more conscious of myself and to really think of how much time do I spend on the internet.

I began with the Ted Talk with Paul Miller, “Quitting the Internet for One Year.” It was interesting to hear Paul talk about his decision to quit the internet. He stated that he felt that he didn’t have life figured out and felt that the internet was defeating him. So he took the plunge and quit the internet for an entire year. At first he shared that he felt freedom and it was like a new sensation being high on life. Paul also stated that his interactions with people became different as it let him be in the moment and connect with others in a deeper levels. He did experience loneliness and felt withdrawn from his group of friends, as he stated that he would miss out on the movie and social gatherings that were extended through Facebook or through text messaging. After a year, he went back to the internet and shared that through this process he learned that it is not the Internets fault. We are in charge of our lives and the key is to find the balance. We need to determine our priorities in life and not let the internet tell us differently.

The article I found most interesting to read this week was, What Happens When Teens Try to Disconnect From Tech For Three Days. This article shared the story of a school and how their teens were challenged to unplug from the use of their phones for three days. Some of the kids made it and some didn’t. I found it interesting to read how they acted, what they did different and how they ended up spending their time phone-free. Some stated that they were more creative with their time and it gave them a sense of relief, some shared that they noticed that they had more interactions with parents and conversations. The most exciting part for me to read was that most teens realized that being phone free was a wake up call for them to see how dependent we are on technology.

Simplify the Work space. Photo by: Lindsay Silverstein

Finally, I would like to encourage all to read this article, Simplify the Internet. This article shared that letting go of the internet is doable and the main goal is to simply life. This article shared tips for simplifying our social connections, reading emails and the rest that ties us to the internet. The article stated, “Let go, reduce, focus, and act.” I think that this is good motto for me and family to start living by.

I felt encouraged and inspired by this weeks module of readings. It is now my personal goal to be more in the moment, unplug from my phone more and to simplify life.