People hate being uncomfortable. Even if you think that taking risks and ‘getting out of your comfort zone’ is something you enjoy, while that’s a great thing to use as personal motivation and you shouldn’t shy away from those opportunities, being uncomfortable, by definition, implies that you kiiind of want to escape your current situation to some degree; we’re wired that way so we’ll avoid danger and survive! So what do we do when we feel just little uncomfy in a given situation? According to a recent study, we take out our phones and into the digital abyss we go. These are the top four triggers that are probably contributing to some, if not most, of your phone addiction:
- Unoccupied moments of boredom
- Tedious and repetitive tasks
- The anticipation of getting a message/notification
- Socially awkward situations
Am I the only one who feels exposed after seeing this? I doubt it! But where there is a problem, there is certainly a solution, so what do we do about our compulsive need to use our phones as a crutch in these uncomfortable, yet totally unavoidable experiences? My suggestion is that we first catch ourselves in the act, and then use it as an opportunity to grow! I can’t speak for you, but 10/10 of the uncomfortable situations that I’ve managed to push myself through, no matter how big or small, common or rare, made me a better person in one way or another. They made me more empathetic, more observant, more disciplined–at the very least, they prepared me for future circumstances that required the knowledge and strength I gained from being uncomfortable before.
IknowIknowIknow…a little preachy for something as simple (and completely understandable) as getting your phone out when things get awkward. BUT I do think that we can afford to dial back a bit on how much we let this habit control our lives. Next time you’re standing in line for coffee, instead of scrolling through your Instagram feed for the eighth time that morning, notice what’s taking place around you (which is probably a bunch of grumpy people also resorting to their phones for entertainment), or–dare I say it–start a real-life, face-to-face conversation with the person next to you! You never know what could come of it.
Full disclosure: I need this advice just as much as the next guy. But you’ll probably be better at putting it to use than I am.
