Technology is woven into every part of my day—whether I’m working, studying, or relaxing. Like many people my age, I rely heavily on my phone and computer to stay connected, productive, and entertained. However, with this dependence comes a constant challenge: finding a healthy balance between tech use for academic purposes and personal well-being.
On a typical day, I find myself reaching for my phone first thing in the morning. Apps like Snapchat are my main way of staying in touch with my girlfriend, while Instagram is my go-to for mindless doom scrolling when I have a few minutes (or hours) to spare. BandLab is where I experiment with music, one of my creative outlets, and games like Clash of Clans and Everyday Puzzles, which are easy ways to pass the time. Spotify, on the other hand, is almost always running—whether I’m in the car, in the shower, working out, or even doing math homework.
When it comes to academics, my laptop becomes the main tool. UR Courses is my primary platform for accessing class materials, and Google Docs is essential for writing assignments—like this one. For help with challenging topics, especially in math, YouTube videos can be lifesavers. I also rely on alarms through the Clock app to stay on schedule, especially on days when I’m running low on sleep. Streaming services like Netflix and Disney+ are my default relaxation modes after a long day of classes or work.
Of course, not all tech use is productive. Instagram and BandLab, while fun and fulfilling in different ways, often end up distracting me from studying. I’ve tried strategies like deleting TikTok (though I’ll admit I redownloaded it), but my overall balance between screen time and productivity still needs work. One approach that helps me is setting alarms to block off time for focused work, giving myself breaks in between to scroll or listen to music.
Ultimately, I recognize that my relationship with technology is complicated. It helps me stay connected, creative, and on track with my studies—but it also eats up time if I’m not careful. Finding a healthier balance is a work in progress, but being more mindful of how I use my devices is a step in the right direction.
Hey Kaelin,
Thanks for sharing! I to heavily rely on my phone and computer on a day to day basis. It’s crazy if you think about it how much we are consistently connected to technology. How would we even function if we didn’t have such easy access to it all. Do you think the world would be how it is today? Maybe people would be better at communicating and interacting in the real world. Like you mentioned, it a complicated relationship with technology!! That so true. One thing I have done to be more mindful of my technology use is putting an app time out on my phone for evening use and I also try not to go right to my phone in the morning to start my day. Have you tried any way to limit your technology use?