Let’s face it, we have slowly replaced human relationships with our cell phones. It can be intoxicating having access to information instantly. Gone are the days of going to a pay phone to make a call or checking email once per day for messages. Now, instant access is at your fingertips. And with information streaming on social media, text, and email it can be difficult to spend quality time with the ones you care about most.
Are We a Society Addicted to Cell Phones?
We are slowly losing human contact and replacing it with instant electronic gratification. I’m no stranger of being intoxicated by instant information on my cell phone. Here’s what I’ve noticed, we are so engrossed with what’s on our phone that we don’t pay attention to our surroundings. We are so consumed as a society that recently, I saw a young mother pushing a stroller and walking a dog, while looking down at her cell phone. How did we become so disconnected that we’d rather text than talk?
Does Your Cell Phone Get in the Way of Relationships?
Take the litmus test to put your cell phone to the test.
1) Do you grab your cell phone to check emails, texts, or social media before brushing your teeth?
2) Does your cell phone have your full attention every time it dings or vibrates an alert?
3) Can you make it through a lunch hour without picking up your phone?
4) Do you periodically pick up your phone to check social media while spending quality time with family and friends?
5) Are you in the habit of walking while looking down and scrolling through your phone?
How did you do?
If you found yourself answering yes to three or more questions, then maybe it’s time to take a short break from your cell phone so you can spend quality time with family and friends.
Below are three simple tips to ease you away from your cell phone so you can spend quality time with family and friends.
1) Turn your phone off – Okay, don’t freak out but when you go to the movies you have no problem turning your phone off for two hours, so why not do the same at home? Turn it off during dinner so you can enjoy quality family time.
2) Out of sight out of mind – Put your phone in another room so you are not constantly distracted by ring or ding of alerts. You will find when you’re not constantly distracted by your phone, you are a better communicator, because you are fully present when someone is speaking and not easily distracted.
3) Take a break – This is a mindset adjustment that takes practice. When working on a project I take on the mindset there’s nothing more important than getting my work done. Although, I hear my phone buzz with email alerts, I do not pick it up until I’m finished with my project. And when I scroll through emails there wasn’t anything more important than completing my project.
So, the next time you reach for your cell phone, ask this question:
Am I spending more time with my cell phone than relationships?
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