A Fresh Perspective on Life

I’m Carly, 17, and according to my parents, I spend “hours on end” glued to my smartphone. I message my classmates before I even get out of bed in the morning and I’m on Facebook between calls and texts, reading my friends’ latest posts. Otherwise, I wouldn’t know what they were all up to and I’d feel left out. I’d say my lifestyle is typical of my generation. And as long as that’s the case, and I’m not doing anything abnormal, you’d think my parents wouldn’t worry. Think again.

My mum was reading an article called “Technology-driven Lifestyles”. It said that overuse of digital devices, like smartphones, can affect communication skills and concentration in young people. Apparently, many of us spend more time interacting with gadgets than having meaningful face-to-face contact with other people. In addition, the constant messages and updates we receive via our devices prevent us from paying full attention to what is going on around us.

All this alarmed my mum and she started talking about something called “digital detox”. (“Detox” as in detoxification – the process of eliminating toxins from the body.) It’s an initiative that encourages people to take a total break from digital devices for at least 24 hours. Then she said she doubted if I could cope without my phone for an entire day. “Oh, come on,” I said, “how hard can it be?” So, she suggested that I try it. Mum knows I’m unable to turn down a challenge.

My detox began on Saturday morning. I usually watch YouTube videos over breakfast so I read the newspaper instead. I looked at the headlines as I didn’t have the patience to read a whole article. Then it was time to take the dog for a walk. Normally, I listen to music while walking, and soon become absorbed in my thoughts. However, without earphones, other dog owners stopped and chatted to me. Their smiles and greetings put me in a good mood. I went out later and sat at a café. It felt strange without my phone. I looked out of the window and noticed a friend walking by. I hadn’t seen her for ages, although we frequently chat online. I tapped on the window, and she joined me; she seemed really pleased to talk in person after so long. (LINE 22)

When I got back, I resisted the temptation to reach for my phone. It wasn’t easy. Then I decided to clean my room instead. Looking back on my day, I realised I’d been more aware of the outside world than usual and had actually enjoyed myself. Nevertheless, it was a big relief to have my phone back, read my messages and catch up with all I’d missed on Facebook. I suppose I am, in fact, a digital addict, because one day of detox was about all I could take! However, the experience made me realise how important it is to get away from the digital world occasionally. Turning off your phone from time to time can give you a fresh perspective on life. So thanks, Mum.