• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Mike Robbins

Infusing Life and Business with Authenticity and Appreciation

  • About
  • Speaking
  • Books
  • Podcast
  • Blog
  • Contact

Are You Addicted to Your Device?

July 9, 2014 7 Comments

This past weekend, while we were away for the 4th of July holiday, I had a profound realization of how addicted I’ve become to my iPhone. While I love many aspects of how technology enhances our lives and allows us to connect with one another in some very cool ways, I’m also aware of the potential dark side of being so connected technologically that we lose connection with ourselves, those around us, and what truly matters.

In this week’s video blog, I talk about this challenge that many of us face these days. I turned my phone off for 24 hours over the weekend.  Although this was simple to do on the surface, it wasn’t all that easy… but some amazing things happened when I did.

Check out the video below and feel free to leave a comment here on my blog about it. You can share thoughts, questions, ideas, insights, or anything else that this video inspires.

Related posts:

  1. Are You Addicted to Struggle?
  2. Can You Survive Without Your Phone?
  3. Think Big
  4. Watch More Sunsets

Filed Under: Blog Tagged With: addiction, connected, device, disconnected, iPhone, Mike Robbins, technology

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. KC Anderson says

    July 9, 2014 at 9:43 am

    Mike,

    Thanks for the great reminder about making sure our devices don’t become our lives.

    I’m not a great personal connection guy to begin with, so reliance on my devices for communication has certainly kept me at arms length from everyone I communicate with.

    Thanks for making me open my eyes from time to time.

    Onward and Upward!

    KCA

    Reply
  2. Debby Powell says

    July 9, 2014 at 10:31 am

    There are definitely pros and cons to using our mobile devices. I personally like having it with me for times like waiting in lines. It makes the time go by more quickly. One of my pet peeves is people who constantly have earphones plugged in and are listening to their own music while working out, jogging, walking around and so on. These are true “isolation devices”. It’s difficult to communicate with anyone while you have earphones stuck in your head. So, for instance, going to the gym used to be an opportunity to meet up with others who are working out, now I feel like I don’t want to bother them because they’re listening to their own music, or an audio book or something.

    Reply
  3. Billy Strean says

    July 9, 2014 at 12:11 pm

    Thanks Mike,
    Shortly after receiving your post, I got the following from Upworthiest.
    Louis CK talks about his device and being a dad … definitely something up your alley.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkMi_X-Hwgc

    There’s something obvious, yet something deeply important about being more mindful about how we use our devices. I’ve been watching my 13 year-old wake up and get his face in his iPhone before his eyes are fully open – like a nicotine addict grabbing his first cigarette.

    How much am I like that? What crucially important stuff am I going to get on my device or in my e-mail that couldn’t wait? I’m thinking of going back to Tim Ferris’s advice and limit checking my email to twice a day. That seems like a revelation.

    Keep up the good work.
    Cheers, Billy

    Reply
  4. Ric says

    July 9, 2014 at 12:15 pm

    Mike,
    Great message and very true. Technology has changed our lives for the good and also not so good. There have been occassions where I have seen entire famlilies out to dinner and everyone was on their device and not talking with each other and I felt sad for them.
    Thanks for the reminder! I will be more aware of the time I spend with friends and family.

    Reply
  5. Donne Davis says

    July 10, 2014 at 5:03 pm

    Love your message, Mike. As a grandma, I’m not quite as addicted to my phone as your generation is. But I do sense there’s an even bigger problem than just checking our devices all the time. That’s why I invited author and addiction specialist Stephanie Brown, PhD to speak at our GaGa Sisterhood meeting this Sunday. Her newest book is called “Speed: Facing Our Addiction to Fast and Faster — and Overcoming Our Fear of Slowing Down.” Yes, even grandmas get caught up in needing to be constantly connected and I know we’ll get some good ideas on how to break out of the speed trap!

    Reply
  6. missa says

    July 12, 2014 at 4:41 pm

    Thanks to remember us.

    Reply
  7. maxwell ivey says

    July 28, 2014 at 3:47 pm

    Hi Mike; i look forward to your videos. don’t know how i got behind or missed this one. you are so obviously a real person struggling with many of the same issues we do. i wonder if sometimes i should work less and pay more attention to my family. I have noticed more times when i don’t have my laptop open. i don’t have an iPhone or other smart phone and have been thinking of getting one. Now, i am not so sure its a good idea. i have met some nice people at doctor’s offices or waiting other places i too would have missed if I could have ben playing on my phone. thanks for sharing, max

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Recent Blog Posts

  • Are You Avoiding a Difficult Conversation?
  • The Art of Allowing
  • The Importance of Celebrating
  • Why Taking Breaks Is So Important
  • The Importance of Letting Go of Control

See Mike Speak

YouTube player

Newest Book

We're All In This Together

Speaking Info
All Books

Footer

Speaking & Media

  • Booking Info
  • Videos
  • Online Press Kit
  • Client List
  • Testimonials
  • Resources & Archives

Subscribe

Enter your name and email address to receive the first chapter of Mike’s latest book, We're All in This Together. You’ll also get Mike’s weekly inspirational email.

Connect on Social

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
© 2022 Mike Robbins, LLC. Privacy Policy & Terms of Use
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Privacy Policy
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT