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I know that we live in a super connected world these days.  Every time I take the subways, all I see are strangers looking at their phones while trying to get to their destination.  WhatsApp, Instagram, and TikTok dominate the social spheres of young people.  Streaming services have overtaken traditional TV as the preferred medium to watch shows on.  And yes, everyone these days requires a laptop to work. 

So, it’s kind of impossible to get away from screens these days.  They are a necessary part of life especially as technology continues to advance forward.  Large language models like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are dominating the airwaves and have literally billions of users worldwide. 

For me, I am no stranger to screens.  Every day I wake up on the weekdays, I roll out of bed and head directly to my laptop to open up my emails and get to work.  Then, when I need a break, I head over to my smart TV or my iPhone and watch funny YouTube videos to get myself distracted.  I read the latest news online through the Wall Street Journal and the Economist.  I just can’t seem to get away from screens wherever and whenever I go!

But recently, I’ve been trying to make the case to do more activities that don’t rely on “screens”.  And honestly, it has made me happier and less agitated.  I try to find some time to meditate, to chat with my partner, to read a good book.  When I eat lunch or dinner, I simply eat for the sake of eating without needing to eat while turning on the TV.  I try to go out for walks more often now that the weather is getting better.

I’ve made it a case to have hopefully at least an hour a day of screen time free activities, where I can get back to how it was like decades ago when we didn’t have computers.  Where we would call up a friend to chat.  Where we would do more outside activities and put a priority on face-to-face socialization.  I try my best, though admittedly it is hard to do on a consistent basis.

I only just started this experiment maybe one or two weeks ago.  I decided to meditate and from then on out it was like a compounding snowball of good habits that followed.  From reading to exercising to spending quality face-to-face time with my partner. 

I understand that in the modern age that we live in today, having absolutely no screen time is probably impossible.  After all, people do need to work.  They need to use their phones now to text and to communicate with others.  They need to watch TV to unwind.  They need these artificial screens now as a part of daily life. 

But I just feel like when I put down the phone and close the laptop, I am more at ease and my mind is more focused.  Sometimes, we don’t need to be connected 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  We can find an hour or so to detox from the everyday workings of screens. 

It’s something that I will actively work towards doing for the foreseeable future.  I think it’s important to instill this type of habit amongst the younger generation as well, especially when they are brought up in a schooling system that provides them with laptops and iPhones at an early age.  I think their parents should try their best to minimize the screen time every day for the sake of improving their mental health.

Even for me, I find more peace of mind when I put the phone away and not have it hover around me for the entire day.  When I’m on the subways, I try to just take a nap or free think in my mind. 

These days, I try to find the opportunity to just rest and relax without the need for screens.  Reading a book helps.   Meditating.   Even washing the dishes in a focused manner can help ease my mind.  I think it’s important to get back to the basics. 

I’m not sure what the future holds going forward.  I think that, for better or worse, the world will be more dependent on screens and technology.  These AI models like ChatGPT and Gemini require lots of screen time engagement and people are using them religiously now.  There are more innovations down the pipeline that will get us hooked on screens.

I hear OpenAI is working on another digital device that may supplant the iPhone.  Meta has their digital AI glasses.  iPhones are still not going away.  There’s a plethora of technology that will make us more dependent on machines and AI and thus require more screen time for us.

Regardless of all this happening, it’s just important to detox from the non-stop action of everyday life and just rest and relax your mind.  Rest and relax your eyes.  It’s important to know that the world does not need to revolve around screens.  Sometimes, just go out for a walk, chat with your significant other, eat a good meal undisturbed.  Those small wins can help create good memories and a more lasting type of peace of mind.