Hi friends!
As someone who is majoring in a technology-based program and who has been surrounded by technology my whole life, I just wanted to post about how important it is to unplug from technology regularly.
When was the last time that you were engaged in an activity that didn’t involve technology or screens? In an age where almost every media source is digital, it can be very hard to fully disengage.
There are many reasons to unplug, but I think the most important reason is to reconnect with yourself, the people that are in your life, and your surroundings. An online joke that’s going around right now is that more people need to go outside and “touch grass,” and while that’s funny, it’s true. More people should go outside, meet up with their friends, or just take in the sounds of everyday life that are around them. Now, you don’t need to go off the grid and completely disappear, but try and think of little ways to unplug.
Instead of searching Netflix for a half-hour to find the perfect show to watch while eating, try calling a friend you haven’t talked to in a while. Instead of putting on a YouTube video in the background while you’re writing your English essay, try listening to music. Instead of scrolling TikTok on your lunch break at work, try bringing a book to read.
These little things can have large benefits. Decreased screen time can relieve headaches and eye strain, less background noise can help give you a clearer train of thought, etc.