Today, technology infiltrates our everyday lives in a distinctive and unquestionable way. It affects us to such a degree that we feel void without our devices. In our society, we have become accustomed to having the internet at our fingertips and the world just a few taps away. The Information Age has proven fruitful and progressive; however, the more accessible information becomes, the more difficult it is to detach and appreciate the quietude of life. Social media makes this increasingly challenging. These platforms cater directly to a dynamic audience and are continuously evolving to fit seamlessly into our versatile lifestyles. This causes us to believe that social media is a necessity in contrast to a luxury.
Personally, the interconnectedness of our contemporary world has created cause for concern for me, as I am reserved and have trouble reconciling public sharing of personal information within myself. Though social media’s gravitational pull occasionally manages to weigh me down, I find that I feel more at peace and resolute when I am intentional about planning time away from social networking. In a perfect world, I would seek to limit my use of electronic devices and find time to participate in activities that stimulate my mind, spark creativity and foster innovation. This “perfect world” briefly became a possibility in the summer of 2019 when I went on vacation and dropped my iPhone in the ocean. I was left without a working mobile device for about two weeks. Adjusting to life without access to my phone, apps, messages, notes, GPS, photos and more was a bit inconvenient for the first couple of days, but, with time, I overcame my “fear of missing out” and began to learn new ways to navigate my challenges. I grew to cherish life without my device.
During this time, I was able to use my watch in Wi-Fi in place of my phone for basic communication such as sending messages and answering calls. Overall, I became much more productive and felt more fulfilled. I contacted my mobile network carrier and sought to replace my phone with my watch by adding a data plan to my watch and eliminating my mobile device altogether. I quickly learned that this was not possible, as Apple watches are not designed with the capability of operating independently from a mobile device. My “perfect world” came crashing down. Today’s gadgets are designed to captivate us in such a way that it may not be possible to fully escape them. Furthermore, we live in a world where one device is not enough. It is commonplace to acquire multiple devices that work together and rely on one other and less common to have one device that assists us with our true necessities. In some cases, the best way to access the information we truly need is through the use of our devices.
The next best solution for living in my “perfect world” would be to seek balance between the use and misuse of my devices. This is an ongoing battle, consisting of both victories and losses. My main focus is to continue this fight. I have noticed ways in which the use of my gadgets has resulted in me being distracted, scatterbrained and not able to focus at times. However, I have also noticed that I tend to be more content when I am away from my gadgets than my peers. This motivates me to seek to be a person of drive, focus, substance and deep concentration.
This week’s readings could not have come at a better time. The start of my career as a graduate student made me feel a little uneasy. In the past few years, I have shifted my focus from being a student who seeks to learn continuously to being a professional, seeking stability and establishment. I have lost touch with my love for reading, writing and the like, and, up until last week, I feared that I was ill-prepared for grad school. In reading “I have forgotten how to read,” Michael Harris confirmed my thoughts of myself as a reader and the need for me to continue reading and read “patiently, slowly, uselessly.”
Farnam Street’s “How to Remember What You Read” refreshed me with practical tips I can use to effectively read and retain information as a student and in general. Harvard Business Review’s “Having Your Smartphone Nearby Takes a Toll on Your Thinking” and NPR’s “The Distracting Draw of Smartphones” confronted me directly with factual evidence of the effect that my smartphone and other devices have on me. Finally, the introduction and first chapter of Deep Work by Cal Newport, helped me understand the value of thinking deeply, researching deeply, limiting distractions and challenging myself to pursue, become and accomplish more.
I am now ready to accept the challenge of compartmentalizing my daily activities. I want to ensure that I maintain a healthy relationship with my devices, my entertainment and other luxuries so that I can commit a significant amount of time to deliberate practice and deep work. I look forward to reevaluating my priorities and minimizing the time I spend participating in insignificant activities for the sake of maximizing my time spent on purposeful research, work and development. Cheers to a successful graduate school career!
Sola's Thoughts 