For the past week, some people have thought I’ve fallen off the face of the earth. I am writing this to ensure you that this myth is not true and that I, in fact, am still kickin’. However, I did turn my phone off and refrained from using social media for the past week, so if you really did think something happened to me, rest assured that I’m alive, okay, and still in Blacksburg.

Why did I do this? There is a plethora of reasons I decided to take the week “off” from social media and my phone, a lot having to do with taking some time for me, focusing on my school work, and really thinking about my relationships with friends and even Jesus. I also took a step back from committing myself to seeing other people and scheduling meetings to really milk this experience for all it could have been (and was) worth.

Was it hard? Absolutely. There were many times when I thought to myself, “It would be so easy if I could just text ________ right now.” It’s no secret to anyone that technology has made our lives so much easier. But this week for me has been one of the best weeks I’ve ever had as a person, a friend, and a Christian. I’d like to share with you what I’ve gained from my break from technology (aside from email and school work, of course, #college).

Lessons Learned from a Life without an iPhone and Social Media:

• We take so much for granted when we hide behind social media and our phones. We neglect to realize how important every moment is with a loved one, or even a stranger. Being fully present in every moment and conversation this week was one of the best things that I have ever experienced. I had conversations that lasted hours without interruption because of not worrying about who texted me and without having to be somewhere at a certain time. I’ll remember these conversations for the rest of my time in college and beyond.
• You can complete a LOT of homework when you’re not storming up a funny Snapchat story or nifty Instagram post and caption.
• It’s not impossible to say “no.” Sometimes that’s the best option for you.
• Taking care of yourself is incredibly underrated.
• It’s okay to not be “okay” for a while, but make sure you’re working on making you/your life better.
• Distraction takes away so much in our lives. After this week, I reflected on what I gained from my experience being away from my phone and social media, and a common theme through it all was how distracted we are behind these things. At this point, I feel like I could write a book on how we daily distract ourselves with these devices. It’s almost effortless to hide behind the distraction of Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and texting people. It’s easy to ignore the problems that we’re really facing because we pour ourselves and time into others and what we think of them/what they think of us with phones and social media. It’s easy to be distracted in conversation by that guy or girl who hasn’t texted us back or how many likes that post has or hasn’t gotten. It’s so tempting to be distracted by our phones as we walk or are bored and to neglect to appreciate where we currently are and what we have. It’s even easier to try to capture moments with our cameras for that perfect post or Snapchat story and to forget that we’re even experiencing it now in the first place. Don’t let the distraction of your phone or your social media presence keep you from loving and living your life in all the ways you should and could be. There is potential in people, situations, and events hiding behind your distractions and rushing to get from point A to point B. Don’t let that take over.
• Sometimes the greatest things in life are not planned. Leave some time free every day to let those great things happen.
• You don’t have to explain yourself to anyone. What you’re going through is not everyone’s business, and own that. But on the flip side, sharing who you are with people who genuinely care about you (and vice versa) is beautiful. Being vulnerable with people brings you closer and helps you understand each other and yourself even more on a deeper level.
• Being honest with yourself is the key to happiness. How can you be honest with others if you’re lying to yourself?
• Time is measured in experiences and moments, not seconds, minutes, or hours.
• Social media can be a wall that we hide our problems behind to make our lives seem great. If you look at someone’s Facebook, you see all of the great things in that person’s life through pictures, posts, and other things he or she is tagged in. You don’t typically see people posting about their life problems. If you ever feel like you’re struggling with comparing yourself to others, something you should not do is go on social media for comfort. You won’t find it there. But don’t be afraid to be your real self, even if it seems like the world is going right for someone else.
• The caliber of Virginia Tech students is unreal. The people here are, in my opinion, the best people in the world, who are innovative, compassionate, and always willing to do more and to do better.
• I don’t have to heal people. But if I want to help anyone at all, I need to take care of myself first.
• Resting is so, so, so important. Even Jesus did it when He was with people, and even God did it after He created the Earth. You are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t rest at least once a week. And you’re doing God a disservice if you don’t use some of that resting time to grow closer to Him.
• My relationship with Jesus will get me through the hardest of times and make my best times even better.
• God is in our life so very frequently, but we fail to see it behind the distractions around us. This week I saw God in SO many ways that I never realized before. I’ll never forget how much I valued recognizing Him in the simple moments in my days.

Wow. That was a lot of lessons learned and thoughts, right? Yes. That’s the point. When you take time to really reflect, to be honest with yourself, and to love the life you have without distractions, you think and learn a lot. That’s exactly what this week did for me.

If you’re having a hard time seeing God in your life, making time for yourself, being honest with you and your life, or you just would like a break from keeping up with your phone/social media, I’d highly suggest turning your phone off for an hour or two a day, or maybe a day, or even a week if you’re up for the challenge like I was. It will be hard, but it will be worth it.

Think about how much time you spend on your phone or on social media a day. Think about how much face-to-face interaction you spend with people a day, or even how much time you spend praying. If the number is greater for how much you spend on your phone/social media than the number of face-to-face or praying, then reconsider how much time you invest in each. Your life is so much more than your social media presence or how fast you respond to text messages or calls, and thanks to this week, I know that for a fact.

Thanks for reading. Now go outside, find a friend, and enjoy today.