Hello everyone! If you don’t know I’m Courtney and today’s blog is about our relationship with our phones and social media.

Today’s world is a global village. Think about it, everyone is connected to one another in this huge network generated by the internet. Social media has provided this platform for us to talk to people and access information from countries away and sometimes it’s difficult for us to turn it off. Our parents have sometimes vilified our phones, staying it makes us like zombies: so disconnected and zoned out. Sometimes, I agree, most of the time, I don’t. This is just the way it is. So let’s figure out a way to use it safely. When I say safely, I mean for our physical and mental health.

1.     Always remember to consider the source when you see or read something on the internet or on social media. Yes, buzz feed and chive articles are interesting and relevant, but you shouldn’t be citing them for papers or sources.

2.     That also goes for social media conversations. There are a lot of trolls out there. Don’t take things personally that you see on the internet. Anonymity has made us too bold, disrespectful and incredibly un-empathetic of each other’s feelings. Remember that the next time you are about to post something or if you see something posted about you.

3.     At one point before bed, put your phone on silent and put it away in a drawer or something. We need to be able to relax in order to fall asleep and there were so many times my phone has prevented me from relaxing and kept me up for hours so I couldn’t fall asleep. We need sleep! Turn your phone on silent and put it away.

4.     In a similar sense, we need to consider our phones and social media in the battle of time management. I can’t tell you how many times, homework or studying took a backseat because I was too involved in Instagram or the new Snapchat filters or I lost myself down the rabbit hole that is Pinterest…. The hours spent, that could have been much better spent doing productive things, whether those be studying or chores. Learning how to manage your time, takes time J! So be patient and set yourself little goals like “If I finish my math homework and English essay, then I can lose myself in Pinterest for an hour before going to bed!... After I place it on silent and in a drawer…”

I hope this gives a little insight to creating a better relationship with your phone and social media! See ya next time!