I'm A Dick, Ted

Dopamine Meets Its Match, Hopefully

Do we really need to be constantly engaged and connected? Can we just go back to the times of sitting on the front porch with a glass of tea and a radio playing in the background? Can we treat our smartphones more like the old school landlines that used to be tethered to the wall and use them just for communication with people who are close to us? How about leaving them at home sometimes?

It certainly seems impossible, but I’m giving it an unapologetic shot. I’ve uninstalled all social media from my phone. I can call, send messages, listen to music, or look up information. While at work, I’ve set up “Do Not Disturb” settings so I don’t get messages or alerts during my 8 hour workday. The only thing that I can get are calls, but those are scanned by spam blockers and contact limitations so the only calls coming through are the ones from people that I know and those are extremely rare since we now live in a messaging world. It’s sort of like a restricted phone and computer combo.

I’m keeping my phone more out of reach than before. I have a desk drawer at work so I may as well use it. I’ve, also, been setting up a space on my balcony where I can sit and relax with some food, drink, or a book in the mornings and evenings. It’s that little front porch retreat just for me. I’m even considering starting to leave the phone at home when I go out for evening walks. This has all been coming for a long time.

I remember the early days of smartphones and all of the different apps that they brought along with them. Ways to be constantly connected and engaged with everything around us, not just the people close to us. For many years, I swore off most apps and messaging services. My smartphone was literally an internet browser where I could get phone calls and text messages. My friends often thought I was strange for that. They would tell me, “You really should get this app. Everybody is using it to talk with friends and it’s free.” They would also try to prod me towards various social media spaces. “You like photography. You should get on Instagram. You also like sports. Twitter is a great place to talk sports.”

With time, I slowly gave in. I downloaded all of the free messengers. I signed up for accounts on all of those platforms. I was now connected and constantly engaged with everyone and everything. Sounds wonderful, right? I can now see photography, talk sports, and message friends continuously while I’m doing things. I’ll never miss anything. I’ll always be informed because I have it all in the palm of my hand. There are little chirps and pop-ups to constantly remind me if I start to drift away and forget. It all sounds good and it’s all kind of fun, until it isn’t.

Those things that I once found engaging and fun slowly started to eat away at me like a cancer. I was always seeing everything so I was informed, but I didn’t like a lot of what I was seeing. My mood started to get worse. I started to battle with a lot of anxiety, which is something that I’d never really had a problem with. The person that I was was evolving, but evolution wasn’t kind. Not all, but a lot of it was that constant connection.

The dopamine hits were maxed out. I was addicted. I was reaching for my smartphone like it was a cigarette from a pack. In the mornings, I would pick up my phone from my bedside and immediately open social media. The first drag of the day, if you will. After that, I’d keep going back to the pack until it was empty. Seems silly doesn’t it?

I needed to change that. Now, I’m limiting myself and I’m feeling good about it. Hopefully this is the reemergence of better things. I won’t call it the start of better things because the better things were there before and I know they are still there. They are just a bit buried and I have to dig them up. I’m becoming a regular Indiana Jones I suppose.

Cheers,

George