Something has to be done, I pick up this bloody device close to 40 times a day, and I think I just might have withdrawal symptoms while in meetings, as I battle my mind to stop reminding me that I might just be missing out on something going on.
It is great that some of us have escaped the Crazy world of Blackberry, with that crazy red-light blinking to remind you of a new chat message or some irrelevant news event. Back then it was easy to blame the LED lights on the phone as the reason for constantly picking it up, but now with most mobile devices without the evil blink, things are even crazier.
I am not alone. According to the latest report by Ofcom, the UK communications industry regulator, which released figures a couple of weeks ago; the average amount spent online has more than doubled from 9.9 hours a week 10 years ago to 20.5 hours. And most of this online addiction is done on mobile phones.
Meanwhile, a separate report suggests that the average Briton checks his/her phone 50 times in one day. I wish I could quote accurate statistics for Nigerians on their mobile phones. I for one know that I need to break this addiction. It is getting to a point that I might just start introducing myself “AA” style- “Hi, I am Seyi and I am an addict”.
The first thing I reach for every morning is my mobile phone. My hand just goes on in search of it in the dark (Thanks IE,EKEDC etc), until it surfaces and blinds me with its bright back-light and then I struggle to adjust its and my focus. And throughout the day in moving vehicles, within meetings, in between conversations I still stare at it…and in the short time it has taken me to write this piece, I have picked it up about 4(four) times to verify and check random things I had no business looking for. I am so looking for the best way to break this bad habit. WHAT ABOUT YOU?
P.S- I do love distractions when working...hmmm...maybe, that's why I constantly pick up my phone :)
Image Credit: Nicolas DC