Using Technology Mindfully

                                         PhotoCC- By Marcelo Graciolli

The definition of mindful is to be conscious or aware of something. Are you mindful about your technology use? I can honestly say that if I am using technology for a stated purpose, such as homework, or researching something, I am mindful because I have a set task to accomplish. However, there are many, many, times that I am not mindful in my technology use; surfing social media is something that I spend way too much time doing. It is not being mindful, it’s meaningless. I don’t have a set task to complete, or a good rhyme to my reason for aimlessly looking through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest, I just am.

After reading this week’s readings, I have felt guilty about all the time that I have wasted on the internet. I find myself setting a goal for the day to be productive and only some days do I accomplish that goal. If I am doing something that is physically active like cleaning, cooking, laundry, running errands etc., I don’t have a problem getting what I need to get done, done. When it comes to homework, that’s another story. Every class that I am taking involves being online, that would be great, but I feel like I need to check social media as well. It’s like an open invitation, since I am already online, but I wind up scrolling through apps, instead of working productively on my homework. I have found that the more comfortable I am, such as sitting on the couch, the more time I’m on my phone and am not doing my homework. I have found a solution for both of these problems: go to the library, where I can’t physically relax, and turn my phone off. These are great solutions, but I will be honest and say that I don’t always act upon them. Dumb, I know! But why?

I, as I’m sure many others, are not comfortable with being bored and not doing anything. I find that if I am bored, I get on my phone. Which is time that I could be using to find a new activity/ hobby I enjoy, go to the gym, or read that book I’ve been wanting to read, but never have accomplished among many other things. I have also found that if I am somewhere alone, I am on my phone to avoid that awkward feeling, you know what I’m talking about? Though I am guilty of spending too much time on my phone or computer, wasting my life away, I don’t think that technology should be taken away.

Technology is such a helpful resource and when used with or for a purpose can be a wonderful tool, it can also be a way to waste way too much time. I do believe that we are too engrossed in technology and I believe that most of us are addicted, I could never leave the internet for a year! I like being disconnected, such as when I am out of service or have no internet connection, and though I still find myself clicking on my Facebook app, I am quickly reminded that I can’t scroll through. This pushes me to enjoy what is going on around me, makes me go enjoy the fresh air, my family and friends, and to just stop and take in what is going on around me. I will say that I am really pretty good about not being on my phone when I am with others or I am out and about doing something, but I won’t say that I am never on my phone in those situations. I can’t imagine my life without spending time with family and friends and I don’t want to be left with only a few memories because I was too busy on my phone and not engaged in the moments. I’m confident that I won’t have to worry about that, but I am worried about our younger generations. What are their memories going to consist of?

                                            PhotoCC- By x61.c0m.ar

I would never say these things to anyone and though I don’t really believe in this saying, I do believe that the internet hinders us from being original and developing our own ideas.