We are connected. So much that we’ve opened up doors & windows to allow anyone to interrupt our lives anytime by being so connected. But wait, what life are we even talking about?
Right now, I am at Cafe Coffee Day. As I type this on my laptop, sipping over a cup of espresso, I am going to look around to notice people for 2 minutes.
After 2 minutes.
I am back. I noticed as much as I could. There are CCD walls painted with pretty conversation boxes with ‘Great conversations happen over a coffee’ written all around. And then there are some people, approximately 20-25. The cafe is quiet, with slow music humming in the background. I am sitting alone, glued to my computer. There are 3 men in crisp formal wear working over something, glaring at the screen of one mac book which is kept in the center of the table. Three coffees aren’t releasing any vapor now. Is it upset as well for being dejected?
Then there is a couple, they look like one. Both are showing something to each other on their mobile phones and giggling. There are two coffees glasses – Frappe and Iced Eskimo. The water droplets have begun to develop on the outside of the glass.
There is a boy in his 20s. With 3 more boys in their 20s. They have their headphones plugged in. May be they don’t like CCD’s playlist.
The cafe of 25 people is quiet. With music humming in the background. No conversations, no connect.
By the time I finished the above line, a girl next to my table just called out to the waiter to help her with setting up WiFi on her laptop. She is accompanied with one more girl, almost her age. I am not even making this up.
It was yesterday that I came across Kissan‘s advertisement and would love to share with you.
Isn’t this a beautiful depiction of a society we live in? In the above words, I’ve just tried to portray what I just looked around and saw. Nothing made-up.
A few studies have revealed how people aren’t yet able to break-free from technology, despite being aware of its negative consequences and the benefits they’d have once they get rid off this addiction. Deep down, we are all aware about how disconnecting would be great. One would be more patient. I am currently dealing with a client who pings me 3 times a day asking about progress with his work, a deadline for which is 30th October. It just makes me want to ‘turn off’ chat for him. People have just become impatient! True that they are just worried about their work, but one must give it a break at least somewhere! One would have more time, more attention span and lesser stress. I am a testimony to side-effects of this syndrome.
I’ve decided a few things to get rid of this addiction:
- Not checking phone first thing in the morning after I wake up. Not checking it for at least next one hour after waking up.
- Not using mobile phone while talking to someone.
- Not rushing to reply to any message.
- A dedicated 2 hours of the day when I would – blog and do whatever I want to on my social media. There is always Buffer and Hootsuite to take care of scheduled posts!
- Spend at least 1 hour in the park or by Sabarmati river everyday without headphones plugged in, or mobile phone in pocket. Just not acceptable.
- Spend time with family, friends and people around me. Without being aided by technology.
I am adamant to follow this and hopefully soon I will disconnect from technology and reconnect with real humans. Because I believe this is what is real togetherness 🙂
Shruti Chaturvedi 