Smartphone Madness.

Hello, my name is Daniela and I am addicted to my smartphone. 

How smart is a smartphone really? As I prepared dinner for my family today and I finally sat down I realized one thing. My son is watching a cartoon that he likes and my husband sits next to me being on Facebook on his phone. If I do tell both to put the phones away they comply. No problem.  When we drove to Berlin last week we rented a car. The navigation system reminded us every single time we turned of the ignition  to take our phones with us. What the hell! How did we live without smartphones? I remember it all too well. I did purchase my first cellphone when I was almost eighteen years old, in 1998. You do the math! My father even had to sign the 2-year contract back then. This was my first phone:

It was awesome and you could send text messages with 160 symbols. Yay!  I felt so great when I finally walked around with this phone and was able to put it on the table – first thing, at a café.  If anybody would have told you back then that one day we will be able to purchase and pay things with our smartphones we would not have believed it. We used our phones back then to text message or to call. That was that. And it was okay. I wondered that it is somewhat strange and annoying that people can reach me all the time. Now, WhatsApp, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and so much more let’s your “friends” know where you are and what you are doing 24/7. And of course it is always important to share as many selfies and food pictures at restaurants. 

Recently, there were times when my phone did not work. Or my son threw it in the toilet and it sadly buzzed for a while until it died. You know what the big surprise was? It felt amazing after a while. Kind of free. Not being able to be constantly reachable and to check how many people like my Facebook status or how many people read my blog and follow me on Twitter.

Isn’t the first question usually when you go to a restaurant, café or bar if they have wifi or you try to log in instantly? And these constant notifications that pop up on your screen, aargh. I mean, honestly, who the hell cares. I am not saying that smartphones are a bad thing. They are good. You can read your emails, read a “book” online, make “important” phone calls and sent even more important email back right then and there, wherever you are. You don’t need to wait until you come home to do so on your computer. 

Whenever I don’t have my smartphone with me it seems that the world slows down. I love that. I rather play with my son and enjoy the present moment at the Kids Playland for example than taking pictures, texting friends on WhatsApp or checking my emails every two seconds. It feels like a relief for me to know that my phone is not in my pocket at all times. I remember what we used to do when we were kids. We wrote little notes and kept them on the table in the kitchen for my parents to know where we were. “At the playground mom. Home at 6 pm”. Now, I am still surprised how many times I absent-mindedly reach for my phone in my pockets or purse.

Of course things and time change, technology evolves but I believe that – even more when I lived in New York City – resting and slowing down a bit with the gadgets does not harm anybody. Who is annoyed at the person talking so loud on the phone that it might be necessary to remind them that they are not talking into a megaphone but a “smart”phone? Me! Reminding some of my “friends” that I am sitting at the table and that it would be nice to look up once in while is just sad, no?

When I go out with friends now, this phone stays in my purse and on silent. Or even in the car. I am seriously making a concerted effort to stay away from my smartphone, especially when I am out with anybody. This is called respect! [I am not talking about an emergency phone call here]

Here is a little test. Just honestly ask yourself if you are at a restaurant and your friend goes to the bathroom, how long does it take you to check your phone? Is the phone the first thing that you put on the table when you arrive at a restaurant? When you wake up in the morning, how long does it take you to check your phone? How many pictures of food are you taking and posting it on Facebook? (plus pictures on what your friends eat, how your friends look and a group picture?) This one is for you Jean: Do you take your phone to the bathroom?

How uncomfortable are you when you have to turn your phone off or put it on airplane mode? How long does it take before you – while in a conversation- show the other person (s) something on the phone? Like a funny picture, a YouTube clip? Can you watch an entire movie, TV show without checking your phone? Do you keep your phone close to you when you sleep without using it as an alarm clock? You look outside the window and you see some clouds. Do you check immediately any of your weather apps to tell you exactly when the rain or snow will start falling? 

My smartphone can drive me nuts. Checking my phone constantly  is just a silly habit. I constantly remind myself how great it was before I had this phone. Shouldn’t we all once in a while? 

Here is a great video on single tasking and here an article I found on gadget sickness. Enjoy! 

Are you addicted to your smartphone? Would you take a break for your phone? Do you have any rules when it comes to your phone? Like no more emails-checking after 10 pm? I would love to hear from you. 

Thank you for reading my blog.