Put the phone down!

Not surprisingly, 40% of Americans are addicted to their smartphone—an average person checks their phone 110 times a day! And, while we all know the perils of driving and texting (don’t do it), there’s not a lot of dialogue about texting and walking. In fact, it’s become so ubiquitous in urban areas that there is a term for it—twalking and it’s dangerous!

According to the New York Times, more pedestrians and cyclists were killed in 2018 in the United States than in any year since 1990, according to a report released by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. “The number of pedestrians killed grew by 3.4 percent [in 2018], to 6,283, and the number of cyclists killed rose by 6.3 percent, to 857, even as total traffic deaths decreased. On average, about 17 pedestrians… were killed each day in crashes.”

Why do we continually feel the need to look at our phones? We are curious creatures and our devices provide us up to the minute info on what’s going on in the world, and more importantly tell us our friends are up to. It’s not only irresistible, but our brains were wired this way for survival. Dr. Adam Gazzaley, a neuroscientist says, “studies have shown that our brains feel rewarded when we receive information, which drives us to seek more. That’s similar to how our appetites feel sated after we eat.”

“Be happy in the moment, that’s enough. Each moment is all we need, not more.”
— Mother Teresa

The reality is however, that is is not safe. Although it’s sometimes necessary—like when we need to look at a map or get directions—more often than not it is compulsory behavior that makes it impossible for us to actually live in the present moment. There is so much to see, to learn, to experience when we are out in the world. The details we pick up in our everyday lives can fuel our creativity, sparking connections in our brains that we would ultimately miss if our noses were buried in our phones.

So, be safe and be mindful, tuck your phone some place away from temptation when you are out walking in the world. And when you feel that phantom buzz, and are oh, so tempted to grab your device, ask yourself, who’s in control here, me or my technology? And, make a smart choice.