• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • About Us
  • Contact
  • Advertising
  • Join PGM
Pepperdine Graphic

Pepperdine Graphic

  • COVID-19
  • News
  • Sports
  • Life & Arts
  • Perspectives
  • GNews
    • Staff Spotlights
    • First and Foremost
    • Allgood Food
    • Pepp in Your Step
    • DunnCensored
    • Beyond the Statistics
  • Special Publications
    • Peace Through Music
    • Climate Change
    • Everybody Has One
    • If It Bleeds
    • By the Numbers
    • LGBTQ+ Edition: We Are All Human
    • Where We Stand: One Year Later
    • In the Midst of Tragedy
  • Currents
    • Currents Fall 2022
    • Spring 2022: Moments
    • Fall 2021: Global Citizenship
    • Spring 2021: Beauty From Ashes
    • Fall 2020: Humans of Pepperdine
    • Spring 2020: Everyday Feminism
    • Fall 2019: Challenging Perceptions of Light & Dark
  • Podcasts
    • RE: Connect
    • Small Studio Sessions
    • SportsWaves
    • The Graph
    • The Melanated Muckraker
  • Print Editions
  • NewsWaves
  • Sponsored Content

Unplug and Unwind

February 8, 2017 by Lauren Davila

Graphic by Nate Barton

During my senior year of high school, I went a week without my phone for a retreat. It was terrifying to be stuck up in the woods, leading a group of my peers from my all-girls Catholic high school without a connection to the outside world.

I hated not being able to check my group texts or call my mom. But at the same time, it was so liberating. And that freedom is something I can say with certainty I haven’t experienced in the past four years.

While at college, I roll over in bed in the morning, say a prayer and then check my email to make sure I haven’t missed anything. I check group texts for work schedules, meetings and the memes I missed from someone at 3 a.m. Then, after I am up to date, I roll out of bed.

I like to think that I am not as addicted to technology as I am to coffee, but the sad truth is I am. I completely and utterly rely on the iPhone that has become my lifeline. And that is a bit sad.

I love technology of course. It has aided and empowered our generation to speak our mind, discuss politics, have opinions and share that new brunch/protest spot on Instagram. But sometimes, it is good and healthy to disconnect.

I know, the thought makes me cringe too. The FOMO is too much. But I promise, 24 hours (OK, I can concede to 12 hours), will not hurt you. Schedule your tweets and tell your significant other you are disconnecting.

Everyone will think it is bizarre. And while I’m all for communication and connection, disconnected from the plugged-in world is an important mean of self care.

So turn them off. Grab your favorite blanket and curl up with a young adult bestseller. Throw on your workout clothes, do some yoga and take a nap. Snatch gelato from Ralphs and binge a Netflix show (“Galavant” and “Supergirl” highly recommended).

So for just a couple hours, take a risk, and disconnect. It’s worth it. I promise.

________________

Follow Lauren Davila on Twitter: @laurengilmore03

Filed Under: News Tagged With: A2 column, Communication, connection, disconnect, health, Lauren Davila, Netflix, news opinion, personal, phone, Self care, technology

Primary Sidebar

Categories

  • Featured
  • News
  • Life & Arts
  • Perspectives
  • Sports
  • Podcasts
  • G News
  • COVID-19
  • Fall 2021: Global Citizenship
  • Everybody Has One
  • Newsletters

Footer

Pepperdine Graphic Media
Copyright © 2023 ยท Pepperdine Graphic

Contact Us

Advertising
(310) 506-4318
peppgraphicadvertising@gmail.com

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
(310) 506-4311
peppgraphicmedia@gmail.com
Student Publications
Pepperdine University
24255 Pacific Coast Hwy
Malibu, CA 90263
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube