Be Where Your Feet Are
December 8th, 2024
Writer: Maggie Murphy
Editor: Jackson Zuercher
A guide to disconnect from your device and reconnect with the world around you.
I have a pet peeve, one that I notice often on Penn’s campus: we’re too reliant on our phones. Every spare moment not working seems to be filled with scrolling, checking, and refreshing our phones to see what’s going on in the outside world. Bumping into others on Locust, like zombies. Penn students, like most of our peers around the country, have a phone addiction.
“Be where your feet are.” This phrase is pretty important to me; it reminds me of a special teacher in high school who would remind me and my classmates to center ourselves and take in the moment that we’re in. She advised us not to look too far in the future, or lament about things that happened in the past, but simply to be. It’s a relatively straightforward idea, but oftentimes hard to accomplish in this age of technology. We’re so consumed by social media and stories that have no connection to our real lives that our human connections have gone by the wayside. By focusing on our screens, we rob ourselves of the opportunity to meet new people and form deeper connections.
The average college student spends 8 - 10 hours each day on their screens - approximately a third of our day. If the average human lives for roughly 78 years, 26 of those years would be spent on screens. Excluding the time dedicated to schoolwork, the biggest percentage of this time is spent on social media apps. We have limited time spent on earth; to waste the precious time we do have watching other people’s lives through a screen doesn't sit right with me.
Social Media & Comparison
I’ll admit, curating posts and sharing creative content can be a lot of fun. Yet, at the same time, you must acknowledge that you’re likely only contributing highlights, and as a consumer, you’re mostly consuming highlights. I’m not saying a total social media ban is necessary, but I think that everyone must be more aware that no one’s life is perfect. Everyone, and I mean everyone, has things going on behind the scenes that you have no idea about. So, don't judge a book by its cover, and remember that there's much more to a person than what their Instagram feed may convey. Another quote I really like to reflect on is the following: “The fastest way to kill something special is to compare it to something else.” Instagram easily pulls you into traps of comparison, but I must emphasize what I said before, these are just the highlights of someone's life.
As a society, we’ve become very accustomed to having everything at the touch of our fingers. But I would argue that it’s detrimental to our human relationships, connections, and inner growth.
So I have a few challenges for you:
Next time you’re in an elevator, put your phone in your pocket. If you don’t feel like striking up a conversation, that’s perfectly fine – but instead, take a moment to just be present.
When entering your building, say hello to someone who’s working at the front desk, or one of the security guards looking out for our safety. Treating people like they’re invisible isn’t cool, so acknowledge someone’s presence. You might just make their day!
Use Social Media sparingly
Personally, I don’t like to have Instagram on my phone; I’ll download it on another device so I have to meaningfully choose to put time into it. It helps thwart the urge to scroll in an awkward situation, such as those elevator rides.
Pick up a book! Reading allows us to escape from the present without the toxicity of screen time. There’s no comparison involved, it reduces stress, and it offers greater opportunities for growth.
Keep your head up. Make eye contact. Connect with your peers and fellow humans!
There’s a whole lot of the world to see and a lot more special people to meet. If we’re too busy staring at our phones, we’ll lose those opportunities. Look around you, take in your surroundings. Be where your feet are.
