This is a crazy experiment that I wanted to do since forever. I couldn't do it earlier because I always made up reasons to myself that I would eventually do it some other day. Social networking is a widely used term and a widely accepted term. We all believe it has somehow improved our lives and helped us to connect with the right people at the right time. Well my little experiment proved otherwise.
Before I jump on to the results of my experiment, I would like you share how I used to be. Most people will agree with me on this. Not publicly. But they will.
My day always started with checking my phone. The moment my eyes are open, I start a relentless search for my phone, which is usually under my pillow/bed/table. Mornings are greeted with tons of Notifications from Twitter, some useless game requests from Facebook, unread whatsapp chats from people who sleep really really late (I'll talk about that later). I go through most of the interesting tweets and dismiss most or save articles to Pocket and get up from bed. Eh, with my phone. After all the morning routines, I get ready and come down for breakfast. I usually watch a 20 min programme like The Last week Tonight: John Oliver or usually its another episode of MayDay. While I eat. Some day's I really have to think when someone asks what I had for breakfast.
Twitter
I'm a twitter addict. Or you can call me an information addict. Or you can call me an attention seeker. I would probably agree with the last one. Yes. I want constant attention from people who would not come and meet me if I had an accident or needed help. We all do that all the time. We spend time and energy sharing things that would get us attention from people who literally doesn't exist in your life. Sure they will help you out over DM but you very well know how that will end. My point is, I was extremely depended on Twitter. If you count the distance I scroll the timeline, it would be equal to 4 times to and fro from my work. During the experiment, I tried to learn how news affects us. It's actually a fascinating study, the results which I'll share later. Whether it's lunch, evening tea, with friends, dinner, at home, I always stared down the pixels. My life some how got depended on it. If you see me from a third person perspective (someone who is not using a smartphone) you would see a total waste of human life.
I used to give reasons like I use twitter only when I'm bored or when I'm not doing anything. Well it actually consumed me to a level where I had withdrawal symptoms. I never imagined that.
On 10pm 19th June 2015, I deactivated all my social networks, reset my phone and went to bed.
7am: I woke up and as usual, took my phone and had a sudden realization that I had reset my phone. I really didn't know what to do next. Silence followed. Sound of the fan spinning. I had never "noticed" that before. It was making more noise than normal. Something needed to be fixed. There you go, in the first 5mins, I actaully did something useful. This constant buzz continued in my head to pick up the phone and check for messages.
8am: Breakfast. I'm not kidding on this one. I had one of the best breakfast that I had in a long time and actually had a good conversation with mom. She asked if I had lost my phone. I realized the over abuse I did on the phone ignoring a lot of things along the way. Small conversations. Those small talks. They mean a lot. It was a weekend. I literally didn't have anything to do. Anything. I went over to my cousin's place and ended up having lunch there and spending a lot of time with people whom I literally ignored all these time. I was happier than before. Yes. Happy and my head fixed on correctly. I began to notice the simpler things in life. Time made sense for the first time. Time is really a perspection. The faster it goes the more fun you're having and vice versa.
Before I jump on to the results of my experiment, I would like you share how I used to be. Most people will agree with me on this. Not publicly. But they will.
My day always started with checking my phone. The moment my eyes are open, I start a relentless search for my phone, which is usually under my pillow/bed/table. Mornings are greeted with tons of Notifications from Twitter, some useless game requests from Facebook, unread whatsapp chats from people who sleep really really late (I'll talk about that later). I go through most of the interesting tweets and dismiss most or save articles to Pocket and get up from bed. Eh, with my phone. After all the morning routines, I get ready and come down for breakfast. I usually watch a 20 min programme like The Last week Tonight: John Oliver or usually its another episode of MayDay. While I eat. Some day's I really have to think when someone asks what I had for breakfast.
I'm a twitter addict. Or you can call me an information addict. Or you can call me an attention seeker. I would probably agree with the last one. Yes. I want constant attention from people who would not come and meet me if I had an accident or needed help. We all do that all the time. We spend time and energy sharing things that would get us attention from people who literally doesn't exist in your life. Sure they will help you out over DM but you very well know how that will end. My point is, I was extremely depended on Twitter. If you count the distance I scroll the timeline, it would be equal to 4 times to and fro from my work. During the experiment, I tried to learn how news affects us. It's actually a fascinating study, the results which I'll share later. Whether it's lunch, evening tea, with friends, dinner, at home, I always stared down the pixels. My life some how got depended on it. If you see me from a third person perspective (someone who is not using a smartphone) you would see a total waste of human life.
I used to give reasons like I use twitter only when I'm bored or when I'm not doing anything. Well it actually consumed me to a level where I had withdrawal symptoms. I never imagined that.
On 10pm 19th June 2015, I deactivated all my social networks, reset my phone and went to bed.
7am: I woke up and as usual, took my phone and had a sudden realization that I had reset my phone. I really didn't know what to do next. Silence followed. Sound of the fan spinning. I had never "noticed" that before. It was making more noise than normal. Something needed to be fixed. There you go, in the first 5mins, I actaully did something useful. This constant buzz continued in my head to pick up the phone and check for messages.
8am: Breakfast. I'm not kidding on this one. I had one of the best breakfast that I had in a long time and actually had a good conversation with mom. She asked if I had lost my phone. I realized the over abuse I did on the phone ignoring a lot of things along the way. Small conversations. Those small talks. They mean a lot. It was a weekend. I literally didn't have anything to do. Anything. I went over to my cousin's place and ended up having lunch there and spending a lot of time with people whom I literally ignored all these time. I was happier than before. Yes. Happy and my head fixed on correctly. I began to notice the simpler things in life. Time made sense for the first time. Time is really a perspection. The faster it goes the more fun you're having and vice versa.
For a week I gave enjoyed absolute harmony and I have made some good real life friends. Life is really once more. And I appreciate that.
Maybe you should give it a try?
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