Are Our Phones Stealing Our Time Alone?

'Without solitude, no great work is possible.’ Pablo Picasso

Do you spend time by alone with your thoughts? Are you finding time to learn and reflect?

I recently began listening to Digital Minimalism (by Cal Newport) and at first I didn’t like it. I don’t believe social media is to blame for it’s addictive nature and I don’t believe social media is making us any worse as human beings, it’s just exposing who we are.

We are told that people lie about the ‘things’ they have so they can appear cool on social media. I agree and, I don’t see any difference between lying on facebook to your followers vs. lying to your friend’s face 15 years ago when we’d go out for coffee or drinks together.

The platform might have changed, but human nature is the same.

All my negativity towards the book changed when I read heard the chapter on solitary. In my personal experience alone time has been a powerful time to reflect, learn, think and strategize. Some of my best experiences in life have come when I am all by myself.

Newport paints a very strong picture that our constant addiction to our phones is interfering/ ruining our solidarity - that made me pay real close attention.

-Dr. K