New technology has been added to smartphones, which means more time to spend on the phone. When you hear the ring or feel the vibration, the urge to check the notifications is immediate. The ring tone is unsettling, as the unknown settles over the mind, wondering what could be waiting on the screen.

90% of the text messages are read within 3 minutes of receiving it. Wherever I go, I look around and see most people glued to their phones. Today people depend on their phones too much- they use it for work, social media, and make use of the widgets for time, date, and temperature.

I’ve tried going a day without my smartphone but quickly realized that it is not an easy task. I thought I wasn’t “addicted” to my phone- I always thought my parents were exaggerating.

At the beginning it was easy, but as time passed it became harder to be without my smartphone. I felt anxious to check my messages and social media. I realized that I use my phone more than I thought. I relied on it for even the simplest of tasks, like mental math.

I realize that I am not alone on this issue, my friends are always on their phones and it’s hard to have a conversation with someone whose mind is so preoccupied by a small screen.

Being without my phone for a whole day has taught me a good lesson- I have reduced the amount of time I spend on my phone. I don’t use my phone as much as I did before and when I use it set it to “Do Not Disturb” all day so I am able concentrate and get my work done faster.

I believe that we as teens should reduce time usage on our phones to be more productive.