Most of us wake up to alarms buzzing on our smart phones and with sleep laden eyes we scramble to reach the phone. The day officially starts once we’ve replied to our messages and caught up on our social media updates.
Our lives are currently constructed in a way that using a smartphone is inevitable. Arjit Upadhyaya says, “There is no other way around it. As soon as I am up, I’m on my phone, scrolling through social media and checking my emails. I only fully wake up after that.” The phone becomes an extended version of you because you rely on it so much, for functioning on a daily basis. Srividya Sundaram a student of English Literature exclaims, “In fact, I treat my phone like a person. I bought it with my first ever pay check and it’s an important one.”
Every once in a while, it can get a bit overwhelming to constantly be online. But, for a lot of people their work culture keeps them connected and compels them to begin the day in such a way. Prerna Nautiyal a student of Sociology opines, “I have not only photos but documents on the phone which helps me a lot because I won’t have to lug my laptop around all the time. I try to get some work done while eating on my phone like researching or reading an article. Otherwise, I do read on my phone when I have a class that’s cancelled or free hour”. Leaving your phone aside for a little more than half an hour can be a task that requires a lot of will power, as Srividya explains, “It’s easier to let it be when I’m not talking to someone.” And those moments are definitely rare!
There is no better way to stay connected as Malvika Ohri a student of HR psychology says, “It’s just a part of our lives now. Even when there is no reason to be online, I find myself online.”Arjit agrees that there is always something to take care of in the morning and this habit need not see any change in the future.
But there is no reason to look down on this side of our lives says psychologist, Savita Mandhana. “This habit is not pointed at just students or youngsters. It is applicable to everyone as there is no better way to connect with the outside world. It’s important to stay updated with the world and the smartphone is an accessory that links us to everything The phone serves its purpose as long as it is used sensibly and constructively”.
