Imagine sitting in your economics lecture class right now. Look around at all of the bored students: some are “typing notes” on their computers (aka Facebook stalking and looking at the pictures they were tagged in from last weekend), some are doodling on their papers, but chances are half of the class is BBMing on their Blackberries or texting on their iPhones. Any given time of day, a college student can be found on their phone, whether it’s texting, on Facebook, checking the score of a game, or Tweeting. I never realized how much I used my cell phone each second of the day until I sadly lost my phone last week. I was forced to be phoneless for four days, and while it was a very, very, very long four days, it taught me a lot about cell phones, and life without one, such as the following:
1. Life CAN Be Refreshing Without A Phone
I know, I never in one million years thought I’d say this, but without the constant need to check my phone every five seconds to see if I have a new BBM, text, or Facebook notification, I felt free. For four days of my life, I was slightly disconnected from the world and didn’t need to respond to people on a constant basis.
2. But, Life is Easier With a Phone
While I did feel a little refreshed without a phone, it’s nearly impossible to communicate with anyone. I couldn’t shoot a text to a friend to meet me for lunch, go to the gym, or do work with me at the library. I know it may sound superficial, but cell phones are necessary for everyday life. EVERYONE nowadays has a cell phone, and it’s the quickest, easiest, most convenient way to make plans. So yes, some would consider having a cell phone a luxury, but in the 21st century, it’s become the standard communication device.
3. How to Get Creative with Communication
Just because I don’t have a phone, doesn’t mean I’m disconnected from my family and friends completely. I was forced to resort to Facebook chat (always fun…). I ran down hallways knocking on my friends’ doors (or just opening them and walking in). My roommate and I even tweeted at each other while we were both in class to meet for lunch at 1:50. You learn to make do with what you’ve got.
As a person who is guilty BBMing on my Blackberry at many given times of the day (my mom always so kindly reminds me to put my phone away), I survived the four day hiatus from a cell phone. If I can survive four days (three of them being the weekend!!), I challenge all of you Her Campus Tulane readers to do this: go one whole day without a phone. You may surprise yourself!
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Tulane chapter.