“Look up! Look up! What you see might surprise you.” Old Lady Jackson from Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham. Do you ever feel that you are looking at your phone or tablet so much that you don’t see what’s going on around you? I can sometimes get caught up worrying about missing out on social media. Ironically this causes me to overlook real-life events. When this problem rears its ugly head, I find it’s time for me to take action and remedy it.

The main things that galvanise me to reduce my phone time are my mental health and my three-year-old daughter who watches me gaping at the device every time she looks up or tries to get my attention. 

The Downsides to Technology

There are many disadvantages to the overuse of Technology. Sometimes my anxiety, and low self-esteem kick in when I begin to look at the lives of other people, or read ‘doomsday’ news stories. 

When I see messages flooding in on WhatsApp, my stress levels mount at the pressure of replying to all these people, or the fact that I have wasted so much time scrolling through rubbish on social media.

A couple of years ago, my cousin came back from the Gaeltacht and said the best thing about it was the fact that his use of the phone had been banned. He was set free, and found more time for the friends and classmates around him in real life.

Because of all this, every now and then I try to pull back from this digital world, and plant my feet firmly in reality.

My daughter goes through phases of constantly asking me for the use of my phone. I become frustrated at the idea of this ‘screen junkie’ side of her, until the realisation dawns on me that she has been a constant witness of my face gazing at the screen for hours.

The idea that I might instil an addiction in her to Technology has made me put my phone away when I am in her company in the hope that I can lead by example.

Managing my phone usage

One particular app that I find useful is a phone usage tracker. I check this at the end of every day. Sometimes it gives me a jolt when I see an enormous figure beside my Instagram Icon. 

Sometimes I ‘clear out’ my social media accounts by using the ‘Unfollow’ profiles. The fact that I am following worthwhile accounts that promote positivity and are fun, all help to clear my head, and make me feel a lot more positive about things.

And if all of that fails, one of the most useful tactics to manage my phone usage is out of sight out of mind! My phone goes into my bag, upstairs or anywhere I cannot see it. Then I can get on with my day and avoid the temptation to check it every 5 minutes. 

It’s not all bad

Technology does have a place in my home in spite of its downsides. In our house we use it for practicalities of life, and it makes our lives easier as a result. Personally, I find that I can gain a lot from sites that deal with things such as Pregnancy and Childbirth, or Wildlife Photography, or Funny Memes, Classic Quotes the list goes on. So many things that inspire and lift you up.

Take the case of Online Banking for example. Nowadays I rarely carry cash, but transfer money digitally. When I am shopping, and I am stuck for money, I find that a few quick swipes where I dip into my savings account can sort the problem.

During the Lockdown of 2020, WhatsApp became a place for memes, videos, jokes that we can share with the people we could not meet in real life. All this made me feel more connected and less isolated.

Because my sense of direction is appalling, Google Maps have helped me find that coffee shop, or find that place that I need to get to so urgently. 

Balance

Like everything in life, a healthy balance is needed.

As someone once wrote “We must learn to balance the material wonders of Technology with the spiritual needs of our race”.