As people living in the 21st century, we are reliant on our mobile devices such as laptops and tablets, but many of us cannot imagine life without our smartphones. We are so dependent on them that, according to the Huffington Post study done in 2017, we use our phones for around five hours a day. What’s even worse is teens and young adults waste approximately nine hours of their day on their phones, primarily using social media. I used to have more separation anxiety with my phone than with my parents which should have been a wakeup call for me. 

A few months ago, I spent all of my energy on edge about texts, snapchats, likes, and comments. The quality of my day was dependent on my social media status. It had gotten to the point where I craved constant affirmation from everyone around me and I couldn’t be self-sufficient. I lived a fulfilling lifestyle and got what I wanted, but for some reason I was still feeling vacant and abandoned. It took me a while to realize that my phone was distracting me from living in the present and prevented me from truly getting to know myself. 

Once I had my “eureka” moment, I decided to give up social media for a couple of months. Once I had done the deed and deleted the apps, I felt bored and as if my world was gone which sounds dramatic but was accurate. I didn’t know what to do with my free time. It didn’t take long for me to realize how free I felt without the additional anxiety and stress that social media puts in my life. 

After my withdrawal symptoms faded away, I started to enjoy my new social media free life. I appreciated my family more and spent time with them. Instead of constantly depending on the latest fad, I found my own likes and dislikes. I didn’t need a certain number of likes and complimenting comments on Intsagram in order to feel self-worth. Although giving up social media was very difficult in the beginning, the pros definitely outweighed the cons and it shaped me into the person I am now. I am very thankful for the time I decided to give up my (not so) strange addiction.