Constant Craving: 5 Easy Ways to Beat Digital Dependency
You have a "phone problem", your sister told you one more time. You were annoyed, but you didn't tell her that you were exchanging messages with your old buddy. Likewise, you were green with envy at his parents allowing him to study in Paris. He has an unlikely friendship with another student, who chooses not to wear a mask. It reminded you of Boris Vian's "Mood Indigo", prompting you to ask him if it would be "official". Your conversation ended there. You turned to your mother: Is it normal to be depressed after being vaccinated? You asked her the other day, but she didn't seem to hear you. She is hooked to the news (after watching the stampede outside Kabul airport). Does she have a "TV problem"? Hard to tell. You still think that you don't have a "phone problem", but you can't deny that you had an unhealthy attachment to your cellphone these past months. There's a way to change your relationship with your cellphone - and other digital companions.
In her book "Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence", Dr. Anna Lembke reveals that we are all addicts to a degree. And she calls the cellphone the "modern-day hypodermic needle". There's nothing wrong with a swipe, like and tweet, but constant doing could be the equivalent of binging on online shopping. And the pandemic resulted in an explosion in the number of people struggling with minor addictions. Teenagers may be unaware of it, but the iPhone can be a distraction. It can lead to unhealthy habits, consequently affecting their studies. It would remind you of "Fahrenheit 451", wondering if Ray Bradbury was a seer. (Your professor commended you after reading your essay.) Your coursemates would think otherwise, as they never have endless founts of fun at their fingertips. You somehow agree (after reading those comments on Marvel being a victim of its own success), but you can't deny the fact that being alone with your thoughts would be rewarding. (And you're not saying it to please your professors.) These past months have made you aware that the pandemic exacerbated your dependence on digital vices, which is not good at all. You want to start the new term on a positive note.
How to Make Space in Your Brain
Abstain. You must keep your cellphone (or other beloved gadgets) in the drawer for at least 24 hours. The first 12 hours would be filled with anxiety, so it's better to do it during the weekday. (You must focus on lectures, assignments, and examinations.) If you have experienced "real freedom", then you will be able to look at your phone (or other gadgets) differently. It's a good thing, as you need to be alone with your thoughts while writing your essays. It's the only way to keep the creative juice flowing.
How to enjoy pleasurable things in small doses? You can rephrase the question: How is the time you spend on your phone (or other gadgets) affect your ability to be a good student? Friend? Sibling? You almost forgot son/daughter. There's a cost, which is hard to see when you're so into it. Act now (if you don't want to regret it later).
Try to put a barrier between you and your phone (or gadget). You remove the screen from your window months ago, and you don't want to put it back again. Autumn is near, so a stroll should keep you away from your cell phone (or other beloved gadgets). You can badger your mother on vaccination. You can message your buddy after posting pictures of his weekend holiday in Toulouse (on social media). Make sure that you won't wander (after that conversation). And don't forget to check your phone (for messages) and iPad (or laptop) for emails. It might be related to the coursework.
Have you heard of digital detoxes? No. Don't worry. It's not about sunshine and rainbow, though. Your best coursemate once said that life is a slog, which you took comfort at it. Everyone has been struggling during the pandemic, a thought that doesn't make you happier. But you can get through it. You will finish all the tasks. And wearing a mask doesn't make your life less normal. (You'll dismiss those who make an issue out of it.) If you're still at a loss, make an appointment with the university counselor. Stop hunting for the thrill (or pleasure), which your counselor would gladly explain to you.
Do things that are challenging. It may be too early for an ice bath, but you can go for a run. Read a book on philosophy (or a novel that you've been dreading for months). And you can start the new term by talking to a student whom you haven't met (or conversed) the previous term. (If you're an incoming freshman, don't be afraid to approach a second year, if not a final-year student.) Doing such things will bring you pleasure, which will be enduring.
A New Form of Asceticism
You were surprised at your old buddy's last email, where he described the oldest tree in Paris. It was planted in 1601, which he doubted, but this tree, a black locust, came originally from the Appalachians, in the United States. Your friend was amazed at the fact that this old tree survived the French Revolution. It didn't pique your curiosity, but you were thankful to your friend nonetheless. Your phone is still in the drawer. And that piece of information gave you an idea for the opening of your next essay. You have browsed through the module (for the upcoming semester). Your tutor keeps on telling you to think of a great opening on your essays, and the subject is idleness.
