Have you ever woke up and felt like you were living in isolation, even with friends and family constantly surrounding you? Well, you’re not alone. After the pandemic, a study gathering people’s feelings of loneliness and isolation rose from 33% to 50%. A good majority of people didn’t let it affect them. A total of 41.6% of respondents in a COVID survey said they misrepresented or didn’t follow at least one public health measure, and one thing to point out is that many of those people lived a technology-free lifestyle.
While most people would state that technology actually betters human development, what many don’t see is the negative, long-lasting effects that we are raising those around us to live by. Many of us were raised on devices. We became the data and statistics that show the harm that can come out of getting your dopamine from your phone and not your friends and family.
Instead of bending your neck and scrolling while with your friends or family, try to look up, breathe, and live in the moment. Slow down, take the time, and make more memories. A big pro to putting down your phone is calling your nervous system and allowing you to think more clearly. This clear-thinking mindset may help you jump into new hobbies or find new people with different hobbies. This can help you branch out your interest by developing skills that positively affect those around you.
Drawing in my sketchbook is one of my favorite hobbies when not focusing on technology. It allows me to empty my thoughts onto paper and live in the moment while focusing on the actual drawing itself. Many great hobbies stem from art, for example street art/graffiti. This may be seen as vandalism but when someone puts their personality and skill into an art piece that they can display in the public it can be used as a gift for bringing different communities together.
For example Banksy is a street artist who randomly pops up his spray painted images around the world. This reaction caused by positivity allows a chain reaction of love within the area. This can change how a person goes about their day after seeing an inspirational piece of art so always keep in mind that there are great things out there in the world you just gotta look up, and live in the present moment. Basically, Put down your devices and embrace the moment. Look up, connect, and create memories together, there is more to life than the screen.
O’Sullivan R, Burns A, Leavey G, Leroi I, Burholt V, Lubben J, Holt-Lunstad J, Victor C, Lawlor B, Vilar-Compte M, Perissinotto CM, Tully MA, Sullivan MP, Rosato M, Power JM, Tiilikainen E, Prohaska TR. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Loneliness and Social Isolation: A Multi-Country Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Sep 23;18(19):9982. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18199982. PMID: 34639283; PMCID: PMC8508181.
