Copyright © 2012 by Per Palmkvist Knudsen
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “addiction” this way:
Compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance (as heroin, nicotine, or alcohol) characterized by tolerance and by well-defined physiological symptoms upon withdrawal; broadly : persistent compulsive use of a substance known by the user to be harmful.
That definition does not include technology. But many of us are literally addicted to our digital devices.
In the image above is a woman who’s fallen asleep while using her smartphone. According to eMarketer™ smartphone users will total 1.75 billion this year. And 4.55 billion people are expected to be using some type of mobile phone.
How many of those folks do you suppose will become addicted to their phones?
Here are a few questions I’ve asked myself—you might want to do the same:
- Do you feel lost without your mobile phone (or other device)?
- Do you sleep with your phone nearby?
- Do you answer your phone, email, etc. while having dinner?
- Why do you feel compelled to be connected all the time?
- Are you uncomfortable being alone with no digital distractions?
- Is technology harming your relationships—with others or yourself?
- Is technology actually endangering your well-being? (For example, do you talk or text on your phone while driving?)
I’m sure you can think of many more questions.
I realize most of us, including me, could not easily get along in our business and personal lives without technology. But have we gone too far? Can we have a life without technology or at least some regular time away from it?
Today we’re revisiting a post we did some years ago. It’s old, but still relevant—perhaps more so today than when we wrote it. Read it here.
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About John Cali
John Cali is a writer, blogger, and channel for a group of spirit guides. His next book is Conversations With Spirit: Real Answers to Life’s Pesky Questions, Book 1. John lives in northwestern Wyoming. Sign up for his newsletter here.
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