Computers and smartphones have revolutionized the way humans interact with each other and the world around them. Think about it: Our ancestors needed to forage for food out in the wilderness, and now all folks need to do to get groceries is press a few times on a touch screen app, and the items will be delivered right to their front door. 

Virtual meetings over Google and Zoom allow family members to speak to one another over the internet when quarantined, and it has let spectators join in on the fun of live sports during the Super Bowl and the NBA playoffs. 

Still, living life from behind a screen 24/7 has become a problem. Technology makes it easy to connect, but it also disconnects us from nature and reality. Instead of just watching a momentous event like a comet or a solar eclipse, we look at it through the lens of an iPhone. We hardly ever lay our eyes right on what is going on around us any longer.

This leads to some dangerous ramifications if you aren’t careful. What happens when you are distracted by your cell phone screen when you are supposed to be focused on the road? Do cell phone tickets affect insurance, netting you expensive costs that will up your rates and dent your wallet?

We’ll discuss all the issues behind too much technology time in modern society. We’ll also talk about how we can properly balance the benefits and the distractions of the world that lives on the web.

Get in Touch With the Real You

One of the side effects of technology has been creating a social media persona that doesn’t match who you are in real life. Apps like Instagram and Twitter encourage you to create a version of yourself that will influence the population and garner more “friends” and “likes.” Doing it for the ‘gram is starting to become a toxic habit that can lead to depression. 

You don’t have to quit social media entirely. It’s become a great way to connect with former high school classmates, relatives, and companies that are recruiting you for a job. 

Taking a break from social media for a week or two at a time will get you to think about all the stuff you have missed experiencing out in the real world. Want to take a hike but have always been concerned with whether you are getting just the right photo to show your followers? Toss the phone away for a change and really experience the scenery.

Want to redecorate your house but are always worried that your internet friends won’t like your taste in the wallpaper? Then it’s probably time to forget about the virtual peanut gallery and go with your gut. The greatest hindrance of the internet age is that folks feel they are always being watched, even when they are completely solitary.

Put your screens away. All of them. No video games or movies, not even reading on a Kindle. Find a new hobby that immerses your senses and ignores the tech sphere. 

Grow some flowers in your garden. Go for a bike ride down the trail just a few miles down the road. Eat at a new bakery and take your grandmother to see what she has been missing while you were surfing the web. Play a board game or invent a new way to do your laundry, maybe with a new fabric softener or folding technique.

Technology and social media have blinded the world from all the little things. It has helped us capture the big events in life, but it has also made us forget to stop and enjoy the beautiful things we see every day. 

The Expenses of Overusing Technology 

Now we get to the more superficial, but still necessary, collateral of using too much tech. We touched on the expenses of distracted driving, but let’s also just talk about how much computers and phones cost in the modern age. 

Every time a new smartphone comes out in the fall, tech junkies run to upgrade their model with one or two tweaks on the previous one. They feel big and mighty, but they don’t see that they are accumulating thousands of dollars in paid expenses over the years by investing in objects that just don’t need to be purchased. 

Choose a phone and a laptop with the best features for your personality and your work-life balance. Try to block out all the advertising that convinces you to spend more than what you need. The technology doesn’t change enough to put more money into your tech collection yearly.

Technology Isn’t Bad in Moderation

We’ve been ragging on technology a lot, but it should be recognized how much smartphones and computers have helped the world in tough times. The COVID-19 pandemic would have destroyed our economy and our social life even more without the ability to work remotely and talk to family and friends over the internet. 

Many folks interacted with their grandparents and relatives while they were in the hospital because of modern technology. Kids could still attend school and get an education because of Zoom calls. And fundraisers and YouTube seminars about disease and vaccines have been instrumental in teaching the masses about what needs to be done to end the pandemic. 

Necessity is the name of the game. Using technology only when you need it is the best way to overcome the excessive use that is plaguing our society in the past couple of decades. You can use texting and driving applications to avoid the dangers of distracted driving to stay in contact with others while on the road, for instance.

There are so many positive qualities to these devices. They were never meant to become your whole world, though. If you can find the right balance between living online and living in real life, you’ll find that technology can enhance the world. It will only drag you down if you allow it to consume your whole existence. You are in control, not your screen. 

What are your tips for balancing living online and in real life?

Share your thoughts and comments with us.

About the Author

Shawn Laib writes and researches for the car insurance site, CarInsuranceComparison.com. He enjoys helping people make better decisions in the car and outside of the home to get the most out of their driving and transportation. 

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