Distractions (your phones an asshole)

If you grew up and lived through the 90’s and before you probably remember a completely different world and society. The way everyone operates now is almost unrecognizable from what it used to be.

We had no cell phones

No social media

No texting

and plenty of other things

I remember going out to skateboard or play with friends as a kid all the time and the only thing I would know is that I had to be home when the street lights came on

That was my queue

Not a phone call

Not a text message

No one tracking your location

Just simplicity

We live in this state of constant communication now. And while this can be great for plenty of things it’s also taken away a lot of our life.

We no longer have an easy time “living in the moment”

Our attention is constantly pulled away from whatever we’re doing.

A text message that pulls your attention from a conversation you’re having with a friend

An Instagram notification that pulls you away from playing with your kid

A barrage of other endless notifications that pull your focus away from whatever you’re doing

Back before all of this you lived your entire life in the moment

When you we’re having a conversation with someone - that was your only focus

When you were out playing with your friends - that was your only focus

When you we’re at work - that was your only focus

Shit remember ICQ and MSN Messenger? Even when you used to sit down and chat with your friends on those THAT was your only focus

You we’re 100% completely in the moment with whatever you we’re doing

When you sit and think about it it’s actually quit sad

Not only has the cell phone and social media distraction era destroyed our ability to focus - it’s had a negative effect on everyone’s mental health

Even if you don’t think it has I fucking guarantee it has

We have this new inability to NOT be in contact with the people we care about now that’s caused so much stress and anxiety.

We have constant communication and conversations with no end

No longer do you have to deliberately make a phone call to catch up with a friend, shit, you can stay in a never ending conversation for years on end that pulls your attention away from all the other important shit in your life.

Can’t go to the grocery store without twiddling around your thumbs on your phone the entire time

And god forbid someone doesn’t text you back right away - better panic because they might be dead.

I’m joking

but it’s fucking awful - and the more I write this the more I hate my phone.

And you feel so attached to the damn thing that you truly believe you can’t live without it

Imagine if you could spend a week without your phone just to focus on yourself, your family, your immediate surroundings, your hobbies, your work?

How much do you think you could get done?

How much time would you free up from your life?

I swear to god the people that say they don’t have time for anything if they we’re to look at their screen time I bet the time they “can’t find” is right fucking there

And I’m going to let you in on a secret: