Not having a phone makes college life harder, but way less distracting

Some of you might balk at the idea of not using your smartphones for six months. You’ve used your cell for many things from necessary work functions to entertainment – and probably on a daily basis. I got rid of my own smartphone to be free of all the restricting and reducing consequences to a life hooked on electronics (and to get away from a boyfriend, but I digress). While life became in some ways less convenient, my actions were about as freeing as I’d expected.

The first thing I noticed was how the lack of app games allowed me to focus on life as it came to me. Whenever I got bored, I was forced to be mentally present in the moment whether I liked it or not. If at a lazy day at the mall with family, or when sitting before a lecture or lunch with a friend, I wasn’t allowed to resort to quick, accessible games to sate my short patience and attention span. Instead, I had to pull out a book, initiate a chat with another person, or sit and enjoy the day and life’s pleasures as they arrived. (I feel that this has improved my attention span, which makes me feel somewhat proud.)

Students distracted by apps and social media

Of course, when you stop owning a cell phone, everyone around you keeps owning one. Thus, you find yourself in a bit of an isolation problem; I found myself actually having less opportunities to socialize without a phone.

I realized my friends had circles strictly on text, which I was not allowed the pleasure of being apart of, for my lack of a cellular device.

I wasn’t able to give my number to campus clubs, part time jobs, or others for whom it was important to have. Neither was I able to give my number to newfound friends on campus, to provide an in to socialize with me. People were snap chatting and Instagramming together all around me, and I could have no part in their social media hangouts.

My favorite app on my emergency corner-store flip phone

Another thing is that my eyes have felt less weird. I would no longer experience the feeling of staring too long at a phone screen, and feeling odd looking at normal things a couple moments afterward. I was able to skip out on feeling dazed and tired after using my phone, in the middle of a busy day.

Without a phone, I found myself having less of an obligation to text people back, not having anything to text people with. Whether I had something fun or something I needed to do, or I just wanted to live in the moment, I wasn’t bound by the mindless habit of checking my phone every ten minutes.

Student taking a picture of textbook assignment

Lastly, perhaps the worst aspect to not having a phone as a college student was the inability to take pictures of assignment textbook pages or useful in-class information. It really sucks when professors assume damn near every student has a smartphone that takes excellent pictures – even if it is true.