I struggle to remember a time before social media. Nowadays almost everyone has some sort of online presence where they design a persona they want the world to know. We condense our lives down into a presentable portfolio filled with perfect smiles and groups of friends. Looking at social media alone, you’d assume we lived in a happy world where you can be whoever you want. You’re allowed to influence those around you and change who you are so you can be happy. The world revolves around you. It’s wonderful because you can keep up with old friends who moved away and meet new people you’d never meet without the internet.

Our networking has expanded through the internet, but our personal relationships have diminished to posing for photos and surface level interactions. Not only have our personal relationships been hurt through this, but we have been training ourselves to expect constant stimulation. If we don’t know something instantly we feel as if we’re missing out. We want to be in the know so badly that we overload our brains with excess information. We attempt to keep up with the lives of our 500 closest friends as we forget the ones we’re around everyday. How many times do you find yourself on your phone, on social media, when around others? How many times do you take pictures to prove to others that you’re a social person? (Nothing against taking pictures—I believe they’re a wonderful way to remember the past—but analyzing your motivation can be beneficial). Do you ever have free time anymore or do you just mindlessly scroll? Do you ever take time to just think? Do you sit outside with a cup of coffee as your phone is inside or is it constantly within reach? I write this as my phone is less than an inch from my laptop.

I challenge you to put your phone on do not disturb for a whole day. Don’t touch your phone while in your bed. Don’t check your email or texts before you eat breakfast. Try deleting a few apps off your phone or turning off their notifications. If people need to get a hold of you they can call you. No social media relationships need daily interactions. The people who are actually in your life can pick up the phone and call or make plans to visit. You aren’t responsible for keeping up with all of your friends’ public portfolios—after all we know these tend to show only one side of the story.

Be a friend to those around you and have meaningful conversations. Value your time. Perhaps try getting a decent amount of sleep with the time you save. Pick up a new hobby, apply for that dream job, sign up for some online workshops, take a meal to a friend. Look up from your phone at the world around you. Notice how the sky changes colors in the wind and the sun reflects off the morning dew. Remember it’s okay to not be okay. You don’t constantly have to put up an act for the benefit of others. Learn how to be content with your own mind. Come up with your own ideas. Form your own opinions. Stop expecting others to tell you who to be. There is no societal mold we have to fit into. We are all created as unique individuals with unique thoughts and ideas. We all bring to the table different life experiences and ways of analyzing the world around us. Let us embrace these differences instead of forcing the world to be bland and monotonous.