A DAY WITHOUT GADGETS
With smartphones and other communication gadgets becoming too common these days, people are now inundated with screens. Everyone wake up to their gadgets in the morning, after these had most probably interrupted their sleep many times during the night. Gadgets have become people’s constant companions.
People carry their gadgets around in their pockets most of the time. This alarms experts because constant exposure to gadgets could cause some health damage. Radiation is only one of the possible adverse side effects.
On average, a person checks his phone 200 times a day, once every six and a half minutes. One in every four persons spends more time online than they do asleep. Most16-to-24-yearolds prefer texting to talking; each one of them sending more than 3,000 electronic messages a month from their bed. That’s quite an expense in terms of time and resources.
There’s no question what good things technology can bring. Smartphones, for example, make
it very convenient for people to connect with one another, aside from various other uses. But when these gadgets begin to get in the way of one’s more important activities, like job or studies, then there’s a problem.
Too much engagement on gadgets can affect human relationships, or can be a waste of time and money. Smartphone addiction happens insidiously; it sneaks in unnoticed until the person can no longer function normally without the gadget. Experts say that taking a day off from using gadgets every now and then reinforces a person’s selfdiscipline and, thus, his sense of control over his behavior.
Jonathan Wells, in an article at www.telegraph.co.uk, shares ideas on how to go about taking a day without gadgets:
Make a gadget list. Listing all your gadgets will show you how dependent you are on technology. Also list all the things that you enjoy doing in life, but aren’t doing presently, to help you realize that, if you cut down your technology use, you’ll gain back time to do things that you find considerably more meaningful.
Restrict your ‘gadget’ time. By restricting the time you spend using technology, you can focus on the ‘real world’ much more, and will be encouraged to enjoy social interactions in person rather than through a screen. Setting a daily time allowance for your devices will better help wean you from the habit than abruptly abstaining.
Set achievable targets. Veering away from gadgets is something you need to ease into. It would be a good idea to
first simply set small limits for each day. Achievable targets encourage you to keep going and go for bigger goals.
Change one habit
at a time. Choose one technology habit to change at a time. Maybe you can start by banning all devices from the dining table, then by only checking emails every two hours. But whatever it is, make sure that you stick to it for at least a week no matter what, and then move onto tackling another habit.
Make sure to get enough sleep. Sleep issues often coexist with technology addiction. Try storing devices in a different room to your bedroom overnight. This helps to keep you from using them right before sleep and first thing in the morning.
Give others your attention. Make the effort to give people your undivided attention. Think of how rude it is of you to be constantly checking your phone or texting away and ignoring other people around. Try timing your emails so they only download to your smartphone every two or three hours, and so your time and energy isn’t dissipated by constant distractions.
Find a gadget-detox buddy. Any struggle is easier when you team up with someone. Find someone to pair up with in facing the same challenge. You can discuss each other’s progress, encourage each other to keep going and spend time together face-to-face rather than messaging through a screen.
Leave your gadgets at home. We are evercurious about what others are up to, and then we compare and despair. By leaving your gadgets at home once in a while is a good way to resist the urge. You may find that you miss very little, and will have more time to do more with your life than spending it watching other people’s worlds through a screen.
Tell everyone what you’re doing. The more people you tell about your goal, the more people will be watching you – and the more you won’t want to fail. It always feels good to be looked up to as a good example by family and friends.
Taking a day without gadgets is doable. And a day may then extend to two, to three. Technology shall work to add spice to people’s experience of life – and not take it over.
Too much engagement on gadgets can affect human relationships, or can be a waste of time and money. Smartphone addiction happens insidiously; it sneaks in unnoticed until the person can no longer function
normally without the gadget.