The plan had been to Blog every day in October, but after my pre-written pieces ran out I realised that I didn’t have enough time to write everyday. The problem I have is that I tend to spend a bit too long thinking about what I am going to write, rather than actually writing, and as I generally leave the house at 6 am, and do not return again until 6 pm or later, this means I need to get a lot more organised in terms of when and how quickly I produce posts…and a laptop, I really need a laptop!
Therefore I would like to introduce a pilot episode of: Polly’s Pondering.
Polly’s pondering’s are very quick posts (that I can type into the WordPress App during my lunch break!) It is just me chatting about something that I have ‘pondered’ today and speedily typed up while munching on my bread-sticks and hummus. Consider it a take on modern miscellany with an older person’s perspective. This weeks pondering?
Phone addiction – Yes. I am writing this on my phone –Yes. I am fully and painfully aware of the irony.
My name is Polly Thompson and I am addicted to using my mobile phone. I didn’t think I was, after all, it wasn’t like I was sat mindlessly playing games on it; I was using it to check emails, to research articles for my blog, to find out how old Leo Sayer was (70, apparently) and to tweet out about my latest posts.
Today I forgot to bring my phone to work – I know what you’re thinking, ‘nice try Polly, but you said you were writing this on your phone, so you must have it’…and you are right…I made my husband drive home and bring it back to me. The mere idea of being without my phone for the day filled me with utter dread, and it was at that point I knew I had a problem.
As I said, I have always used my phone for practical purposes: texting and organising meetings, getting hold of the kids, looking up which bus I needed to catch, that kind of thing, and I have therefore never considered myself an actual addict. There is no denying that the Smartphone is a very useful tool; I had to pre-organise a time and place with my husband when he dropped my phone to me because he couldn’t just text ‘outside’ as he normally would. I told him I definitely needed it so as to confirm my dinner date with my friend this evening:
“Just phone her from work” he suggested…
I then realised that I do not know anyone’s phone number apart from my Mum’s. Not even my own mobile!
Another important aspect of my phone?
All of my music is on it and the idea of a lunch hour without hearing ‘my boys’ doesn’t bare thinking about! (To be honest, my music addiction is a whole other ‘ponder’ for another day!) So on a whim, I took a test… The results were terrifying!
Mobile phone addiction is an actual recognised dependence syndrome, comparable to drug use that can have massive impacts on your mental health.
While I would argue that the questions are a bit skewed towards everyone who answers appearing like an addict, if you do think you may potentially have a problem there are tips to help you reduce your use here.
I could argue that my phone use has only increased recently because I now have a blog which I administer via an app on my phone – I would consider myself to be technically working, but then an addict would try and come up with an excuse wouldn’t they? Maybe it’s time to try out airplane mode for a few hours…it’s fine,I will be able to cope… all my K-pop is downloaded onto the phone anyway; my music addition is one I don’t want to be cured of!
I agree with this too much, sometimes my wrist aches because ive been on my phone too much 😖 guilty as charged but again my music is all stored on there too xx
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Music is life as far as I am concerned 🎵🎵🎶🎶 Can never give that up!
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I definitely think I’m addicted to my phone too. Great post
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I’m definitely addicted to my phone too!! Excellent post!
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Same here. Sometimes it feels like it is impossible to live without these smart thingies. Great post, can’t wait for more of your ponderings!
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Thanks for sharing, I agree it can be very addicting. I used to not be too attached to my phone, but since blogging I’m on it all the time to promote my content. What are some ways you deal with this?
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I am sure my daughter mentioned that there was an app that let you grow a tree by not using your phone.
https://www.forestapp.cc/en/
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I think about how much I depend on my phone really often too. I’d hate the idea of going without it for the day, like you I want to listen to music when I’m out. Phones just suck so much attention, I really want to try to stop the endless scrolling on social media. I’m going to check out the article you shared.
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What a fab idea for a post, I sometimes feel the same way about getting blog posts written and spend a lot of time over thinking about what to write xx
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oooh really like the idea of a new series! I love hearing peoples unedited thoughts! I’m definitely guilty of being on my phone too much, and the addiction is definitely real. Starting a blog really hasn’t help with that either haha! Ive been recently trying to decrease the amount of time I’m on my phone though, its hard but worth it i think! Great post xx
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Hi, Polly! We are in the same page here. I mainly use my phone for almost everything! 😭 I’ve been blogging since January and I don’t own a laptop, so I really have to maximize the use of the WordPress app. However, I don’t think it’s pretty bad cos a lot of people are like us. We live in a digital world now :))
Mary | http://marychronicles.wordpress.com
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This is brilliant. I cant live without my phone and I know it really affects me. I spent too much time on social media, playing games or texting my partner. Now, I only use it for blogging and texting. It’s hard to stop using it altogether!!! X
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Getting a laptop for blogging is 100 times easier (I think so anyway). I feel that having a laptop for that purpose means less distraction and more focus on writing blog posts! I’m currently trying to get rid of my laptop which is great for blogging and I’d be happy to give you some more details if you’re interested? (I don’t mean to sound like I’m trying to force this on you I just want to help if you needed one, sorry!)
I love this post! I scored a 7 out of 15 so I’m a – “It is likely that you may have a problematic or compulsive Smartphone use pattern”. If I’d scored one more point higher then apparently I would need to see a therapist for addiction! Ooops. But it is crazy how much we rely on our phones these days and how we have no idea what we’d do if we needed a number or something isn’t it?!
http://witheverysunrise.com/
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I feel the same way, I think I spend much too much time on my phone. I am trying to be better at it but it is very hard 😦
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What an interesting post, I think it is true that we use our phones too much but it is undeniable they’re bloody useful. Like I use mine for contact, pictures, music and blogging which are things which I deem important to me. I mean when you’re working full time plus weekends there isn’t loads of time to socialise, so if I didn’t use my phone I would never have any contact with anyone!
Alex x
https://allthingsalexx.wordpress.com/
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Aww I love this and agree with you I waste to much time on editing pictures and thinking about what I am going to write about
But I am to addicted to my phone never really thought about it before but it’s awful how much I really am!
Hours go by in a flash and I’m still on my phone tapping away 😱 xx
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I think we all have a form of mobile addiction.
They’re just so damn useful, how we coped before I don’t know!
https://www.glitzandglamourmakeup.co.uk
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love this idea, i had a similar idea for a series. gets your audience knowing you on such a personal level. loved it!
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This is so true. I think everyone is so dependant on their phones these days whether they realise it or not. I like to think not really addicted to social media or browsing for the sake of it. “I’m working and researching” but the truth is I’d be lost without it!! x
Linda || Lindaroche.blogspot.com
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I’m buying a minilaptop to focus better. The phone is fine until someone texts or I need to research something, then I’m distracted for an hour.
http://www.melanie.city/
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Polly, I think your current system of writing “ponderings” on your phone works great – this post was terrific! It’s incredible how anxious we can become when we are separated from our cherished phones. I think it feels different when we choose to be – as opposed to your situation for example, where you forgot your phone at home. I try very hard to intentionally leave my phone elsewhere where I can’t just pick it up. It seems to help! I did not take the quiz for fear of the results!
Joan
My Best Friend Adeline
http://kindness-compassion-and-coaching.com
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this is what I’m researching for an extended project at sixth form, and looking into statistics is terrifying! when my phone broke for a week I found it difficult to cope at first but in the end I actually liked not having one because I felt so much more connected with the real world! x
-Charlotte / myownblogofthoughts.blogspot.com
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