Written by Maeve Cox | Graphic by Maeve Cox | September 10, 2023
I spent an average of eight hours a day on my phone last week. This is despite having an eighteen-credit course load, a part time QU Residential Assistant position and a Social Media Chairperson position on QU PRSSA’s E-Board.
I have always been an individual who works off schedules and checklists. There is a sense of relief when I can see free time for myself or that I have completed a something, but this does not mean I have not fell victim to procrastination. With commitments that require me to be on social media and the Internet, I do tend to fall into the rabbit holes of my own interests, primarily when on my phone.
One way I have learned to prevent these rabbit holes from occurring is designating my computer for only work and school related commitments. For example, I am logged into only job-related social media accounts on my computer while my phone has all personal and work accounts logged in. Google Profiles has been my best friend when I need to focus on a specific position. My phone is a distraction however by setting it next to me, face down and notifications silenced, with either music or a pomodoro playing I have no reason to touch it. Notifications have always been my biggest distraction, so I have had social media and group chats always silenced. Additionally, my class schedule is programed into my phone as focus times and only my parents, siblings, and boss’s contacts are enabled to be notifications.
With my notifications silenced, I still have a daily average of eight hours on my phone. These hours are justified to me based on the priority of socialization and alone time I have set for myself. Though I agree with the text that socializing through social media is not a real connection, there needs to be a way for me to stay connected to my friends when they are living on a different campus, and I cannot look them directing into their eyes. I balance my socialization time by reaching out and scheduling hangout time.
On Monday, September 11th, I will begin a part time position within Quinnipiac University’s Marketing & Communications Department. This will be another commitment on my weekly schedule however it will encourage me to procrastinate less and keep my daily average screen time less than my number of hours slept.
With written goals and schedules I will continue to solidify a school, work and personal balanced schedule for current and future semesters.
Maeve Catherine 
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