What is the balance of Technology in our lives?
The rush we feel when we get notifications, messages, likes, or comments on our phones is linked to the release of dopamine. Our phones are constantly within reach, keeping us connected 24/7 with the outside world.
Interestingly, the same dopamine release associated with these digital interactions is akin to what happens when we engage in activities like consuming alcohol, nicotine, or gambling. It might sound surprising, but yes, it’s a form of addiction.
Just like excessive alcohol can be harmful, an over-reliance on technology can lead to imbalances in our lives. I’m not suggesting complete isolation, just as I wouldn’t tell someone to completely abstain from alcohol. Moderation is key; having fun with technology is fine, but excessive use can be destructive and potentially take a toll on our mental well-being.
It’s essential to recognize that technology, if not used mindfully, has the potential to disrupt the wonderful relationships we have. If you have doubts about this, take a moment to observe your surroundings and the impact excessive technology use may be having on personal connections.
Not able to find examples? Let me give you a hook —
Imagine waking up each morning with bleary eyes, yearning for just 5 more minutes of sleep. Instead of reaching for your phone immediately, picture yourself extending your arm with a warm smile. However, in reality, most of us tend to grab our phones from the bedside table, navigating through various apps — a significant issue, no doubt. Dopamine rush early in the morning, when you aren’t even awake completely.
Do you find it difficult to get through your day without having any urge to check these apps — then it’s an alarming sign.
Circling back to the foundation —
- we do have age limit to drink alcohol, gambling etc — but we do not have age limit for social media platforms or cell phones.
- To break your bubble, we have entire generation which is growing up right now but addicted. Look at young generation around, most of them have headphones around their head, and eyes are constantly gazing to the phone screen. This is a routine, and not just one fine day.
- When we are stress, instead of turning to a person — hello world! billions of people on earth but we are turning into a device. Few may argue — but this isn't sustainable, my friend.
- What it does, despite connected to thousands or hundreds of people on social media — it does increase the sense of isolation, and loneliness among youth.
Let’s delve into a specific scenario at a Starbucks in Indiranagar, Bangalore. Two friends reunite after months, yet their immediate instinct is to check notifications on their phones. This habitual behavior raises the question of whether we truly appreciate the present moment.
We are seeing the reaction of overdose of social media platforms, yet we are not acting upon it. What sort of problems do we solve when we see a blue tick, seen by xyz. I truly have no idea.
/The current generation grows up with a facade of pretentious confidence and a lack of contentment. Instant gratification has fostered the belief that imperfection is unacceptable.
/. When we grow up and realise, oh we aren’t the perfect picture which our family painted for us — damm! boom! — we do end find ourselves scrolling on Instagram.
/. Relationships, which should involve communication and understanding, are reduced to breakups through blocking or ghosting, causing harm in numerous ways
/. Convenience is a key to our ecosystem we live in.
/. there is no app for relationship, family, and career fulfillment. Life is a journey, and there’s no shortcut. You can choose the pace, but you must embrace the entire journey, savoring all the flavors of life.
I’m putting together this article because I’ve realized in the last 5 years how much time I’ve wasted on social media, especially Instagram. A few days ago, I was pondering why I wasn’t hitting my goals. It struck me — how can I, if every spare moment I’ve got is spent snooping into other people’s lives instead of focusing on my own? That realization hit me hard, and I took the drastic step of deleting Instagram from my iPhone. Sure, I still use it on the web, but my time has gotten way better.
Now, I’m on a mission to increase my attention span. I want to reclaim that laser focus I had back in college. That’s my goal for this year — circling back to myself with little or no time spent in the virtual world. Let’s see how it goes!
It’s been a solid 10 days since I kicked Instagram off my iPhone, and guess what? I catch myself still searching for it! It’s kinda scary, you know? Realizing how addicted my brain is to this app. Even though I’m fully aware of it, my hands are like, “Where’s IG at?” It’s wild how ingrained this habit has become.
Wrapping this up with a movie recommendation that’s creating a buzz everywhere — check out ‘12th Fail’. This film beautifully captures the essence of patience, perseverance, resilience, and hard work. The takeaway is simple — be ready to start from scratch, but never let go of your dreams!
