Rebuilding Rob

As WordPress continues to recycle old prompts, I pulled another prompt from The Coffee Monsterz Co to respond to today

What is an urge you resisted recently?

When Kid 2 and I went to Tiger game Sunday, Phred and I were discussing our students and how this current generation of children is completely addicted to their electronic devices – be it their tablets or smartphones.

I have to admit that I am, for the most part, addicted to my phone as well. It’s especially ironic that I see this, considering that I am writing this particular post on my WordPress mobile app.

I know this is only baby steps, but recently I have started trying to just wean myself, ever so slightly, off of my phone. Yes, I know, I am writing this particular post on my WordPress mobile app. But I am trying to take baby steps with it. For instance, as I’m getting ready for work in the morning, I’m trying to not sweat it so much if I happen to leave my phone in my bedroom, and not take it with me into the bathroom as I take a shower in the morning. Also, I try to leave my phone in the car when I go to the gas station and just make a quick stops like that.

I know these are baby steps, but baby steps lead to bigger steps. Ever since I taught oof Mice and Men, to my 10th graders, I have begun reading more again. Not even e-books, but actual hardcopy novels. I finished the novelization of Star Wars episode III: revenge of the Sith. After that, I decided to try to pick back up where I left off an Anna Karenina.

I think one thing that is holding me back from walking away from my phone more often is the fact that most of my communication I conduct is through text messaging. I hardly even speak to people on the telephone anymore, unless it’s necessary; like for customer service or billing purposes.

This is to say nothing about the fact that five years ago during the Covid lockdowns, many of us began working exclusively online. Some of us have never gone back. Some of us still do things both virtually and face-to-face. The irony is that much of the technology that we now use for virtual interactions has been available for several years. It’s just like Covid required that we start using it. Now that we have, we are more connected to our electronics the number before and there probably isn’t any going back

The big thing is weaning myself off of the dopamine rush that I get through in instant gratification from a like, a retweet, they share, or even an emoji response to a text message I have sent.

God knows I have a bunch of other vices that I’m still dealing with: eating like a crap, eating too much, not exercising nearly enough. The truth is, change only does happen in baby steps. I’m trying a little bit every day; to push myself a little bit further, but it really is like almost rewriting our body chemistry. Reprogramming ourselves to things from which we derive pleasure.

Thanks for stopping by Rebuilding Rob. Be sure to like, 👍 comment and subscribe to my blog below. It’s greatly appreciated! Also, feel free to follow me on social media as well! Check out my most recent posts as well as some earlier, related posts:

• Rob’s Retro Movie Review: This is Spinal Tap (1984) – The Movie That Scaled to Eleven
• A Death in the Family (And My Disposable Income): My Life in Comics
• The Supporting Cast: Navigating the Eras of Male Friendship
• Life is What Happens: A Look Back at My Non-Existent 2025 Vision
• The Moment I Walked Inside a Hallmark Movie

The article “Kicking My Vices” first appeared on Rebuilding Rob