I’m sure there are stats out there on how much time per day we spend staring at screens. I don’t want to look them up because they will only make me feel bad.
Between my desktop, laptop and smart phone, I’m guessing I spend at least 10 hours a day staring at a screen. That works out to over 60% of my waking hours. And I’m probably grossly underestimating the phone usage!
Think that’s impossible? Take a minute and add up how much time you spend looking at a screen. If you really want to scare yourself, include the TV. Houston, we have a problem. I don’t even know how to sit the living room anymore without a computer in my lap and I rarely make it through a family meal without pulling out the phone.
Yesterday at Sunday dinner, my 13-year-old sent me the following text: “Get off ur phone!!!!!” Yes, when your teenager daughter is bothered by your excessive phone usage it’s time to take some action. So here’s my game plan.
I want to be more present in 2013. I want to be more available to the people around me. That means the phone stays in the pocket at dinner. The laptop stays in the case unless I have actual work to do. A little less time on Facebook and Twitter. A little more time in actual conversation with real people. Remember that?
Of course, I realize this post will come back to bite me. My family will print it out, post it on the fridge and point to it the next time I’m caught staring at a screen. So be it. I’m an addict. It’s time to sober up.
