Day 4

It's official: I am addicted to technology. Since yesterday was Sunday I was a church all morning and I didn't have time to miss my phone and laptop. However, once I got home I started to panic- I needed my phone, I needed to know what was happening! I realized that checking my phone has become a habit of mine. Whenever I finish a task I check my phone, whenever I am bored I check my phone, whenever I have a second of silence I check my phone. 

After 5 minutes of pacing in my room, not knowing what to do, I realized that meditation was the only solution to my anxiety. So I laid on my bed, closed my eyes and focused on my breathing. I began to calm down and feel my stress melt away.... ring ring ring. I heard a phone ringing! I jumped out of bed faster than I ever have and sprinted down the stairs to assuage my need for electronics. Half way down I realized what I was doing. I

 took a deep breath and managed to convince my legs to carry me back upstairs to my empty, technology free room. I resumed my meditation and worked to convince myself that I wasn't going to die from 24 hours free from technology. 

When I finished my meditation it was 3 pm. I had at least 6 hours before I would become tired and I had no idea what to do. That's when I noticed my bookshelf. I realized that I hadn't read a book in a month. I used to not be able to get my head out of a book and now I couldn't even manage to find time to look at a book that wasn't required by a teacher! So I went to my bookshelf and randomly picked out a book- Harry Potter, perfect!I became so absorbed in the world of Hogwarts that I didn't even realize what time it was until Dad yelled at me to come to dinner 4 hours later. 

At first I was terrified to go without technology but I realized that life doesn't have to center around technology. Humans have managed to survive without cell phones and computers until the last 15 years. Nobody died from their lack- in fact people lived longer and enjoyed life. I realized that I to can live without the constant presence of technology. Yes technology is important. I will still use it to connect with friends and family, watch silly videos and (sadly) do homework. However, now that I am mindful of the negative impact technology has had on me, I intend to make a concerted effort to minimize my technology usage. I will endeavor to enjoy life through my eyes, not through my phone screen.