On November 2, 2023 the police department of Victoria, Australia, posted a TikTok regarding road safety under a minecraft video. Although it seems odd to have these two different videos playing in the same frame, this style has become common. In this case, the dual video had a simple goal, to encourage more people to be informed of road safety concerns while also being entertained with a game. One can argue how this choice of format reflects how quickly people consume content and how easy it can be to swipe endlessly until we find something of value to watch.
As someone who was born in a time when the internet was still evolving and most cell phones didn’t include high speed internet, it’s hard to imagine the world now without cell phones being a common necessity. They tell us the weather, wake us up, store our favorite songs, and keep us connected to our friends and family. Our inner thoughts can be made public in the matter of seconds and with a click of a button, reaching people faster than any jet could. Instead of a device for making calls, it serves hundreds of uses.
However, cell phones have their downside. Our digital devices have a knack for keeping people glued to them whether they want to be or not. Our attention is being challenged every time we sense a chime, vibration, or ringtone. Cell phones can also perpetuate the idea of separation between each other. Having a buffer between our dialogues can cause us to feel disconnected from direct conversation. Posting mean comments online can be a quiet act but the effect could tear someone apart.
As a student trying to complete deadlines and stay on track, distractions can be the hardest thing to manage. Time management is a constant problem during the year. Even when I want to be alone, my phone is always near me, waiting. Having this access to infinite information, from the horror happening in Gaza to TikToks on how to be more organized to news about the climate crisis, there’s always something to latch our attention onto that can be hard to ignore. With a tool so powerful, I wonder how one can use it wisely.
Phones have created many conveniences for people, ordering food on the go or calling a friend anytime, but they have also created a blockade of noise.
Something that students can try when they get distracted is to get present and check in with the body. Even a few minutes in the morning before we go to work or school, to tune into our body could give us some clarity. If we can learn how to sense ourselves from the inside, our state of consciousness changes. By noticing when we’re spending too much time on an app or watching a show for too long, we can acknowledge what is happening and ask if we need to take a break from our screen time. By going on a walk or journaling, one can also try this mini-meditation. If you don’t have a penny to spend on one:
Take a moment and try to sense the inside of your finger, what does it feel like? Take your time. After, try sensing the inside of your whole hand, gently let your attention go up your arm. Then add both of your arms and legs. That is presence because you are not in your mind. Scanning our body in this awareness helps us come back to a state of presence.
de Vianey Cortes