Life As A College Student As Told By Seinfeld

1. Your reaction to when you fail an exam

2. Rolling out of bed and heading straight to class in your pajamas 

3.  Finding out you won't be able to graduate on time

 4.  Your reaction going into finals week 

5. Accidentally locking yourself out of your room

6. Finally, when you pull an All-Nighter 

Read My Lips, Not Your Texts

One of my biggest pet peeves are people who check their phone while having a conversation with someone. Last night, my bible study group discussed about how society has become  highly tech driven to the point people actually struggle with living in the moment.  We established that all four of us would spend less time checking our phones, and more time focusing on the present. For me, I have decided to limit myself to checking my phone no more than 3 times a day: once in the morning, afternoon, and at night. We live in a digital age where we check our Facebook likes on our profile picture, instead of making eye contact with the person sitting across from us. 

Frankly,  it is quite saddening how people can become so easily attached to their smartphones. I recently attended a Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Social Media Seminar and discovered this startling fact: 94% of Americans keep their phone within arms reach 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Now look, I get it. We do not want to fall behind on checking our email; we want to text our friends from back home about our latest adventure, and not miss out on any major social gatherings. It is quite apparent that people have a fear of missing out, especially high school and college students.  Trust me when I say you can still maintain contact with people; you just need willpower and motivation to not peek at your screen at the dinner table. Save it for another time. 

Here is a list of reasons why you should your phone down: 

1) It kills productivity- Shocking, I know! All that time you check your phone, you could spend that time exercising or working on that paper that's due tomorrow. 

2) It makes you look unapproachable and antisocial-Let me ask you this, would you approach someone if they were on their phone? No! So, why are you the exception to the rule? You're not. 

3) It is rude-If you are having a conversation with a friend and they check their phone, you are going to feel hurt because it seems like they are not interested in your conversation. 

4)  It is addicting and controlling-How many times do you check your phone a day? You check it when you walk to class, during class, during meals, and yes, even the bathroom. If you can't imagine your life without your phone, you definitely are an addict.

5) Increased phone usage has been linked to depression-We see people on Facebook sharing their latest photos from their exotic vacation. We can't help but think, "Oh her life is so exciting". Remember, Facebook is a highlight reel. People show their best moments, not their worst. Why would I want to show off depressing moments? That isn't going to get me many likes...sigh

6) Too much texting can cause medical issues and disrupt the sleep cycle- Yes you heard me, it can cause "text neck" or text claw.  If you are suffering from smartphone aches and pains, it is time to put the phone down. 

7) Finally, you miss the world around you when your eyes are glued to the screen! 

Bottom line: limiting your phone usage will greatly improve the quality of your conversations, personal relationships, and productivity.  So next time you read, it better be your friend or family member's lips, not your texts.