Why "Put Down Your Phone and Go Outside" Is Bad Advice.

A defense of befriending your devices.

In digital minimalism communities, internet communication technology is often villainized. Much of the advice boils down to “put down your device and go outside.” But what if it were a little more complicated than that?

It’s 2021. Many of us are working or studying online or have friend groups or hobbies that require using technology. “Put down the phone” is outdated and impractical advice. What do we do now? 

We must befriend our devices. They are not the enemy. Yes- social media companies are running an extractive business model, but this social paradigm is not going away any time soon. We may not like the current state of the world, but it’s futile to run from it. Focusing on how bad the situation is does not help us heal. 

Also, if we only use our devices when we’re slipping up, of course that browsing session is going to turn into a multi hour event. That’s the only way our brains know how to interact with devices: mindlessly. But what if we were aware? 

If we find ourselves browsing endlessly, it’s probably time to check in and see if something deeper is going on. Ask:

“Do I have pursuits in my life that I truly value?”

“Do I have attainable goals on how to make the next step?”

“How am I feeling? Am I trying to escape this feeling?”

Finding the answers to these questions allows your priorities to shift naturally and you might find yourself less drawn to wasting time browsing. 

Another tip for gaining awareness of our internet behaviors is something I stole from Mindfulness Based Relapse Prevention. The idea here is to use your awareness to fully experience what is going on at the moment you’re beginning to “relapse” (browse in this case) so you can gain more insight and possibly even control. I use the RAIN mindfulness technique:

Remember, slipping up is normal. What matters is that you make the choice to keep going every time you get off track.