Today, we are all consumed by the technology that is so readily available to us. We have phones, active watches and even goggles that can take up most of our attention. Whether it’s checking that important work email or the grade you got on an intense test, we are looking down at our devices for a good majority of the day. According to a study done by Nottingham Trent University, the average person looks at their phone for a third of the time they are awake.
I am no exception. I probably spend even more than a third of my day on my phone. I will send Snapchats while walking to class and check emails on the way home from a long shift at work. I am constantly switching songs playing on my Spotify and texting my friends about dinner. I once told my mom that I purposely keep my phone in my pocket while walking on the “L” platform because I just know that I will be one of the people to fall on the tracks. I just know.
That’s what made our self-defense class with Northwestern Aikido so eye opening! For the last event in Her Campus Northwestern’s Health Week, we hosted a free class with the Aikido club to teach us about self-protection. But a huge part of the lesson wasn’t even about physically counter-attacking someone. It was about being aware of your surroundings and not having anything distract you. Especially a phone.
This really impacted me and I decided that for a week, this phone addict would put her phone firmly in her pocket and would not take it out while walking around Evanston. And it was one of the hardest things I had ever done.
On my first day of this challenge, I had to stop myself multiple times as I pulled my phone out. It was such an ingrained habit to use my phone between the walks to class that I didn’t even realize what I was doing until I unlocked my iPhone. Then I would give myself a peptalk as I shoved it back in my pocket.
I was constantly worrying about what I could be missing. Did I get that email from HR yet? What if my friends snapped me and I didn’t reply in enough time and mess up our streak! I couldn’t tweet my many, silly, musings between classes and had to hope that I remembered to post them later (I didn’t).
The worst was not being able to listen to music. No walk is too short for my headphones and Spotify to accompany me. I have a playlist for every mood and hardly ever go without music unless I have to. And this week I had to.
I gradually went into it. I started with no music between classes but definitely during my 20-minute walk to work. Then as the days went on, I stopped putting my headphones in all together. And it was surprisingly refreshing. I didn’t have to bother changing a song I didn’t like or worry about my headphone cords getting in the way. I was definitely more aware of my surroundings and I found myself making more eye contact with those around me, something NU Aikido definitely encouraged.
I also stopped reaching for my cell. My body was getting used to the routine of walking being meant for just that: walking. No “head down” position, not hunched back trying to flip through my Instagram feed. I just enjoyed my walks and even found myself walking with people I knew and having conversations. I really enjoyed leaving the social media update for when I was sitting in the dining hall or stepping off to the side of the sidewalk as if I were driving a car and had to stop and text.
Another hard aspect, at least in the beginning, was having to deal with all my thoughts. That may sound silly, but when I had nothing to distract me, I couldn’t escape my worries about class and boys or the annoying day-nightmares I would have about getting hit by a car on Sheridan (although I should always be worrying about that one). But then I started appreciating these little times I had to reflect on things: my day, my friends, what the future (or that coming weekend) would hold.
Overall, I would do this again. Walking around without a phone glued to my hand was really relaxing and made me realize that I am way too dependent on it. I will continue to listen to music – albeit not nearly as often – but I will try my absolute hardest to not pull that cell phone out from now on.
Next time you walk across Sheridan, look up and enjoy Northwestern’s beautiful campus. That way you’ll notice the cute guy or girl walking towards you, the new spiles on some of the trees or that a police officer that is about to bust you for jaywalking. Regardless, the end result of letting go for a second is extremely refreshing and worthwhile!Â