Many of us have the reflex of waking up in the morning and instantly scrolling through our phones, without any second thought; it has become a habit of ours. From the moment we open our eyes until the moment we go to sleep, our screens are constantly in front of us. It’s the case for many of us, especially teenagers.
It’s become such a natural reflex that we rarely question it. If we were to ask ourselves what we learn from our phones daily, it would be an interesting response to see. Because when we scroll through social media, it is often filled with pictures or highlights of others, clothes, food, funny videos and so much more. The content is designed to keep us hooked, but what do we learn or gain from our phones?
As I took an online class, we were required to journal our online activities and the number of hours spent on our phones each day. This made me more aware of how we are consumed by our phones and often unaware of it, or it may become an addiction.
I spend a lot of time on TikTok and Instagram. I can go from one video to the next for hours without even noticing how much time has passed. And while it’s enjoyable in the moment, I often walk away feeling like I didn’t gain anything from it. It’s one thing to be aware of this pattern, but it’s another thing entirely to break it.
I’m not saying that using our phones is a bad thing, but it definitely needs to be moderate. Reducing screen time takes real discipline, and that’s something I’m still working on.
Another thing I’ve noticed is how easy it is to justify our phone use by saying it’s just a way to relax. While it’s true that everyone needs time to relax, I’ve realized that constantly scrolling doesn’t actually help me rest; it distracts me.
Instead of feeling better afterward, I usually feel tired or even more anxious. That’s made me think about what true rest should look like. Maybe it’s listening to music, going for a walk, journaling, or even just sitting in silence for a while.
We’ve gotten so used to constant stimulation from our screens that we forget how to be with ourselves without our phones, simply, and this is not normal.
What I’ve come to realize is that the hours I spend on my phone every day really do add up. And all that time could be spent doing things that help me grow as a person.
I could be reading books, learning something new, spending time with family, helping my parents or even starting a creative project. These are things that actually add value to my life instead of just helping me pass the time and losing all this time to satisfy myself.