Okay, let’s get one thing straight: this is not a lecture. I’m just as guilty as the rest of you. So let’s all chant this mantra together:
Put. The. Phone. Down.
Let’s call this what it is: a rant. I’m beyond fed up with our collective smartphone obsession. I mean, I can’t even escape my own urge to check my phone every five minutes. You know that moment when you get a text, and you check it (totally reasonable, right)? But then you find yourself spiralling down the rabbit hole of your notifications? Suddenly, you’re knee-deep in emails, WhatsApp, and before you know it, you’re lost on Facebook Marketplace—shopping for something you absolutely do not need. It’s like we’ve all signed up for a weird addiction support group, but no one’s showing up.
Turn. It. Off.
As I write this rant, I actually paused to plug my phone in… and then promptly got distracted by Instagram. UGH!
Ignore. The. Notification. It. Can. Wait.
I’ve been lucky with a short commute lately, mostly driving, which means I don’t have to face the mobile zoo of public transit. But last month, I took my kiddos to Science World and rode the SkyTrain. Let me tell you, it was like a scene from a dystopian movie: every single person was glued to their phone. The only reason I wasn’t scrolling was because I was busy wrestling my two little monsters. I started to observe what everyone was doing, and shocker! Almost everyone was lost in some social media app. Oh, the irony!
You. Are. Wasting. Your. Time.
News flash: life isn’t on your phone. The answers are not in your device. You do not need your phone. Seriously, this isn’t a lecture; it’s a reminder to myself.
Let’s commit to checking our phones less and being more present. Instead of Googling the answer right away, let’s take a moment to actually think about it. Let’s embrace boredom and stillness instead of instantly reaching for our devices. And how about we try actual eye contact for connection instead of just sliding into DMs?
And please, for the love of all that is holy, can we leave our phones out of yoga class?
Written by Prestonne Sehn