A little background for those of you who weren’t there. At book club on Monday night, I was telling my friends about a book I just finished by Jennifer Ashton called Self-Care. She gave herself a different challenge every month of the year to promote health and well-being in every aspect of her life. One month the challenge was reducing her phone usage. She said that the average person does something on their phone 80 times a day!!! (300,000 times a year!) OMGosh!! No way!
I said there was no way that I used my phone that much. And then went on to say all the ways I do NOT use my phone—not really thinking of all the ways that I DO.
Well, I started to think about it. Actually, I might have to try to track it. I’m pretty sure I DO interact with my phone 80 times—or MORE a day!
Here’s just a sample of what I discovered:
1. When I wake up in the morning, before I even get out of bed, I ask Siri what time it is. Then I ask her what the weather is (that’s how I determine whether I’m walking outside or on the treadmill (under 50 degrees).
2. I use my phone to check the time a lot because I’m not always wearing my watch. In fact, I remember years ago reading that checking the time was the biggest thing people used their phone for.
3. I take pictures just about every day for one reason or another and sometimes more than once a day--at least several times a week.
4. People text me and I respond. Sometimes I’m the initiator. I mentioned how I don't like texting because I'm so slow at it. Unlike everyone else, it is not my favorite way to communicate.
5. I play games a lot—while I’m watching tv or listening to a book. Never without doing something else at the same time.
6. I listen to podcasts while walking.
7. I don’t talk on the phone much—probably 2 or 3 times a week. I’ll stand by this and pay attention to see if it’s true.
8. I ask Siri all sorts of questions throughout the day—like, “What did Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo get paid for Wicked?” She usually answers me.
9. I’ll check on the weather for the next day.
10. I check my heart app to find out how many steps/miles I’ve walked.
11. I might check my plant identification app.
12. I might use my calculator.
13. I probably check my Regal app every day to check on movies and times.
14. I access our Sonos sound system and Spotify app to play music just about everyday and sometimes more than once.
15. I use my Starbucks app and Panera app a couple times a week.
16. I read my book on the Kindle app while waiting anywhere.
17. I’ll check the Libby app to see if any of my books have come in or to put a new one on the list.
18. I probably check my calendar for one reason or another at least once a day.
19. I add appointments to my calendar a couple times a week when I'm out.
20. I might have theater and event tickets in my wallet on my phone.
21. I might have airline boarding passes in my wallet.
22. We have a bird buddy which alerts us when a bird visits the feeder. I don’t really check it much because the bird that visits the most is a squirrel!
23. My friend, Diane from England contacts me through the “What’s App”.
24. When I’m alerted by the “ring” app, I’ll look to see who’s at the house.
25. I might send or receive money through Venmo.
You get the idea, the list goes on and on. My phone is invaluable to me. It’s ridiculous that I ever thought I didn’t use my phone all that much!! All of this to say that I am as addicted to my phone as much—if not more—than everyone else around me!
Oh, and one more thing that Jennifer Ashton mentioned in her book. She talked about a derogatory term called "phubbing." It's what the action of checking your phone is called while you are with someone. Personally, I think it's rude. It sends the message that "you are not important enough to spend time with without checking my phone." It really is out-of-hand. I'm certainly no saint when it comes to this, but I do try to remember to turn off my phone if I'm having lunch with someone. If I forget and my phone rings or dings, it's pretty hard not to look at it.
Okay, I've just wasted a lot of your time with this post. Go ahead and check your phone!
