Are we too dependent on our computers and mobile phones? If yes how can we reduce the addiction?

YES – A glaring YES!

Can you remember the last time you were a victim to an unhealthy habit: staying up late, binge eating, biting your fingernails, eating junk food or just being a couch potato (lazy)?  It’s easy to fall victim to a routine paralysis. 

 

While routine is an excellent thing, it also can be very harmful as well. It is important to step out of our routine so that we become more flexible and nimble.  While habits are easy to form and they sound ‘easy’ to stop, the reality is that it’s just not so simple to stop a habit; especially when we get addicted to them. 

 

One of the most common behavioural patterns may even go unnoticed by people, because they are just ‘automatic’ and compulsory behaviour patterns, such as shopping.

 

However, many activities such as using digital tools – such as computers or mobile apps have become more of addictions or unhealthy dependences, rather than your ‘typical habitat!’ We cannot imagine life without using such devices OR even if we did it would be extremely difficult!

 

We live in a time and age where we need to be connected with one another – both on a professional and personal basis. Long gone are the days when communication involved connecting with one another ‘IN PERSON’. Our mobile phones and computers have become important devices for us to work and communicate with one another – both on a personal and professional basis.

 

 On a professional basis, we need the cell phone for many reasons: to contact a client for a meeting, to contact a colleague; or any other reason. On a personal basis, we need to stay connected with friends and family for just about any reason.

 

We constantly stress the importance of how the cell phone is making us more productive, allowing us to engage in important communication ALL day long   - but is this really true? Are we really more productive or are we more connected?

 

Our cell phones have become like mini computers or rather “super-computers” in our pockets! 

 

To be connected in today’s time and age means an entirely different concept from its original meaning: i.e. the digital way. Connections are made in the context of the digital world via LinkedIn, Facebook, SnapChat, etc.

 

Sometimes your digital connections are even used to validate an offline relationship with the person. At the same time, our social networks allow us to not only manage more connections, but also stay connected to them and to a lot of marketing, networking and the exchange of ideas between people.

 

Our cellphones are on while we are sleeping, we fall asleep with our cellphones right next to us, eat meals, exercise, exercise and even go to bed with our devices refusing to shut our devices. This cycle is repeated day in and day out.  

 

Even while at office, our cell phones are placed on the table right next to us, allowing us to engage in important communication all day long. However, is that true or is it also a distraction as well? Research by by Éilish Duke (2017) entitled “Smartphone addiction, daily interruptions and self-reported productivity,” discusses the different ways in which smartphones impact productivity. 

 

The results indicate that smartphone addiction and actively cheking the phone have a tendancy to decrease the productivity both at work and at home.

 

Cell phones and computers (laptops, tablets, PC’s, etc.) permit a person to do just about anything they want to. It can be considered as our first and longest technology fad!! Giving a glimpse of how technology advanced a society we are, there are new models of cell phones and computers constantly being introduced in the society. 

Life without the cell phone or the computer is hard to imagine; and for that matter imagining life wihout the internet is one which is right on top!

Family time has become more of a distant past; as the use of cell-phones and computers have become more of an  extension of our memory. As the lines between digital and physical worlds blur, a greater percentage of our daily lives our carried out through digital intermediaries. 

 

Our phones become devices where we can write notes, make phone calls, send and receive messeges, and even have an internet browsing facility. These devices have become thoughtlessly grilled into our lives and the radiation caused by microwaves emiting from network towers as well as from mobile devices and effect our eyesight. They are also responsible for difficulties in concentration, headaches, fatigue, sleep disturbances and can trigger a number of health complications. Mobile phones are also one of the main reasons not only young people but practically people of all ages skimp on sleep causing a number of health complications.      

 

How can we reduce this addiction?

 Can we reduce this addiction and dependence? The answer only lies in the hands of parents, teachers and the government’s hands when they monitor and check on the usage. This includes their usage as well. An effective formula has to be created and followed to curb the negative influence on the minds of all people. 

Our youth is the future of the nation and easily impressionable. We cannot allow them to waste their precious years on mobiles, spending time using Facebook, Whatsapp, Instagram, Twitter, etc. They could be spending their time developing their life skills.