I have a bad habit. Whenever I have to do an assignment or project which I can predict that I would have difficulty with, I easily get distracted. Then I procrastinate and end up choking myself at the last minute. I usually escape to my phone, visit Instagram or open other social media and come back to Instagram. This cycle over and over again even there is no notification. Or worse, start watching movies or go to Youtube until I realize it has been two hours and feel so terrible. I don’t want to spend time like this. Especially during this limited three years of high school here outside of my home country, I want to focus on what I am supposed to or explore more about things that actually will benefit me. Browsing on phone make time passes so fast, but I would never feel fulfilled. Some major causes lead to a lack of concentration; are stress and anxiety. The biggest one for me, are phone and my soft tofu-mental which farther myself from things I have to do. They are a huge distraction not only while studying but also my daily life. I wake up and check notifications. I sometimes eat and look at the screen at the same time. When I take a shower, I again bring my phone to listen to music. I hardly can spend any minute without my phone, and the one letting these happen is me. It is beyond the addiction, it is more becoming a lifestyle. I didn’t have my phone when I was young, even after I got my first smartphone, I still could spare my time for the priorities than my temporary interests unintentionally. Since when do I have to think not to let myself slide thoughts of resting than keep going? I needed to do something with this bad habit so I tried screen timer on iPhone or deleting social media app, Youtube or Netflix, yet I always come back to bad routine Finally, a great opportunity appeared. Since my phone screen cracked when I dropped it on May 1st, and it completely untouchable so I haven’t used my phone. It hurts looking at the broken phone, but this incident was what I needed. I did not have to conflict with self, because the solid object was simply not working. Also as I actually experienced phone-free school days, I found out that it is inconvenient obviously, but I could feel less suffocated and controlled. It could be the totally same thing for any other that leads to a lack of concentration. Just try to spend a day without whatever trapping you. Forcibly put yourself in a situation or space where you cannot reach them, other than cracking the screen. Not every time I have a broken phone. It would be great if I had strong mental and with perseverance, I could prioritize tasks and then don’t have to have a hard time struggling to concentrate. A similar trait one person could have is grit. Angela Lee Duckworth explained, “It is to have passion and perseverance for long-term goals, having the stamina, sticking with future for years and working really hard to make that future a reality”. She also said “Grit is usually unrelated to talent, or even inversely related to measures of talent”, which could mean it is a trait we can develop. I am sure grit is not something we gain overnight, coming over hard times and gradually acquire a strong mindset. Time is always passing equally to everyone, how to spend is all different. Let’s have one however you want to spend that makes you fulfilled.
9 Comments
Matthew
5/13/2019 08:27:34 pm
Thats so great that you took a crappy situation and made the better of it. It is sad to seee that these adictions are really becoming a lifestyle and that so many of us cant life withought our phone in one hand. We definatly need more broken phones....
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georgia
5/14/2019 12:55:43 am
Love this blog, I'm sure everyone can relate, myself included. These days it's hard to find distance between, adolescents especially, and technology because it's everywhere. Although it can be inconvenient to not have a phone sometimes, it's nice to have a detox every once and a while to get back to nature and what not. Good for you for taking a shitty situation like cracking your phone and turning it into something productive! Nice blog, Maiko :)
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Kai
5/14/2019 10:13:19 am
You crack your phone screen so I don't know if I should say good experience. hahaha. But I like the way you think that it was good experience to you and actually you learn something from that. You need to teach this way to all people who cracked phone screen;)
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Belle
9/12/2019 11:24:47 am
I love your writing, I was in the same situation as you were. The phone keeps attracting me when im doing work. I believe everyone else do,too. Because internet is everywhere, we cant actually escape from it. But we can manage our own time, and try to not be effected by it.
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riley
9/12/2019 11:30:06 am
I also put off assignments and projects because the pressure is very high. I usually finish a part of the assignment and then reward myself. Still my cellphone is an addictive device.
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Cole
10/6/2020 02:22:43 pm
This post totally spoke to me, I always get distracted by my phone and feel so stressed and ashamed when I haven't gotten any work done. The other day I forgot my phone at school and actually had a better day then when I have my phone because I had to find something to do rather than the habit of resorting to my phone.
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Eunseo
10/7/2022 01:54:41 pm
I agree. I've been addicted to cellphones before. The cell phone made me put off all the important things I had to do, and the cell phone also separated me from my family.
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Sunsia
9/28/2023 01:55:29 pm
I admire your ability to look at a potentially devastating event positively as a chance to distance urself from the device. I too have screentime issues that im trying to work on and i think ur advice on putting the phone at a place where i cant reach them will help a lot.
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I relate so much to the loop of checking every social media just trying to find something that would catch my attention and keep it for a minute or two. Honestly I wish my phone would brake at some point and I wouldn't even have the choice to use it. I really think it would just make me a lot more happier.
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