Let me ask you a question. Can you remember the last meal you ate: the texture of the food, the way it tasted as it slid across your tongue, the way it made your body feel? Or, were you doing an assignment, scrolling on TikTok or engaging in any countless other distractions while eating mindlessly, with no real thought of the food in front of you? If, as I suspect, you answered yes to the latter set of questions, I am not going to chastise you. In fact, I am literally multitasking right now, munching on a mozzarella and tomato sandwich from the Commons Marketplace while writing this article. Sometimes our schedules get too busy, and it honestly feels like we don’t have a choice.
But something tells me we have more of a choice in the matter than we know. For so many of us, myself included, our phones have become a permanent extension of our hands. Often, we can’t help but pull it out, whether it’s during an awkward moment of silence in a group setting or after a class has ended. We need to fight this insidious reflex, or it will continue to erode our ability to connect with one another and the world around us.
My hypothesis is that so many young people, particularly Generation Z, struggle socially because we were forced to isolate during key developmental years for socialization. According to the World Health Organization, the COVID-19 pandemic boosted anxiety and depression globally by 25%, and young people were affected disproportionately, experiencing a higher risk of suicidal and self-harming behaviors. When dealing with intense mental health struggles, it can be much harder to engage socially with peers. Thus, it seems that the quarantine handicapped much of Gen Z socially, depleting many of us of our interpersonal confidence and leaving us with a lingering sense of sometimes debilitating social anxiety.
The burrowing of our heads in phones has become instinctual to many of us and can create a feeling that we are in our own world — one separate from what exists before our eyes. I know firsthand that in fraught times, it can be hard to be present in the world around us and find beauty in the little things. In reality, though, the charming autumnal hues that have bloomed all around Tufts campus’ majestic buildings remain beautiful no matter what else is happening in the world. Appreciating them more might bring some much-needed joy during hard times.
This need to stay globally connected aligns with the term mindfulness. Mindfulness, which has ties to Buddhism, is the “practice of being fully present and aware of [one’s] current experience” — without getting carried away by thoughts or distractions. Many people misconceive that mindfulness can only be achieved through meditation in a seated position with the eyes closed, but in fact, it’s much less restrictive, and we can practice it as we go about our daily lives.
While writing this article, I made a strong effort to be on my phone less while walking around campus — instead practicing mindfulness, and I saw benefits. When I was being mindful, I’d notice things I normally wouldn’t, like the pleasant breeze on my skin or another student’s cute outfit, and I’d smile to myself. While being mindful, I’d notice a heightened sense of connection to the beautiful campus around me — something I couldn’t do if I had my face in my phone.
Researchers also say mindfulness boosts working memory. This may be because when all of your cognitive resources are devoted to keeping your attention on the present moment, you are more likely to accurately remember what happened. This makes mindfulness not just a state of mind but a way of being. If we intentionally choose to live our lives mindfully, we will be able to reap all the more joy from our experiences. Phones may provide an instant outlet for connection with friends, but we should save that for moments when we’re not out in the beautiful world. When walking around, be sure to look up — you never know what you’ll see.
