Paper Hearts: Loving Life Through Physical Media

Image Courtesy: Maura Rutledge

As a college student, I spend most of my time wasting away behind a screen. My checklist, notes, means of communications, music, social media, entertainment and source of information are all in my hands 24 hours of the day, 7 days of the week. I am exhausted from always being tuned in, and nothing feels intentional. Until I realized it was not always this way. Gen Z has developed an almost codependent relationship to technology due to its increased accessibility in the past 20 years. 

Maybe the problem really is that damn phone. 

According to data used by the Guardian, “when members of gen Z are not on their devices and appear to be doing something in the real world, such as sitting in class, eating a meal, or talking to you, a substantial portion of their attention is monitoring or worrying (being anxious) about events in the social metaverse.” Phones are becoming our ball and chain. They dictate what we do, how we think, and how we present ourselves. One day it just hit me, I was never meant to be so connected to everything and everyone. In the past month, I have tried to use my phone less when there are alternatives. 

Writing Physical Notes and To-Do List:

I have been an avid Notion user for the past three years. I would call it my lifeline, but recently I have found myself being unproductive. The digital checklist makes it so easy to add, delete and move tasks around, to the point where I would just constantly ignore daily tasks. While in New York, I invested in a nice grid notebook and pens with the intention of writing things down. Something about being able to hand-check things off or strike through things that were not accomplished gives me more motivation to be productive. It also has encouraged me to work on my penmanship, which is something I have not worked on since getting a Chromebook in the 6th grade. Because I only write down the most important things, I experience less “having a billion things to do” anxiety and have stopped overworking myself. There is just a sense of permanence in physically writing things down that digital notes lack.  

Listening To the Radio: 

This might seem like an insignificant thing, but it’s made a big difference. Before I started this experiment, I would listen to the same music over and over again during car rides and get so bored. I would also get a sense of choice paralysis every time I got in my car, because I have unlimited music in my hand. Now, I listen to my local alternative station, 100.7 Underground Athens.  There is a sense of relief in not having to choose every single song, just a station. Even the commercials and host bring a sense of joy, due to the nostalgia I feel. It takes me back to listening to the radio in my dad’s truck and feeling the warmth of the breeze through the cracked windows––a feeling a Spotify playlist cannot replicate. 

Writing Letters: 

A forgotten art. Letters served as the main form of communication for decades, but have all but been lost. The only people I get letters from in the modern day are my grandma and my cat’s veterinarian. I wanted to change this in a unique way: finding a pen pal. Through social media, we are connected to millions of individuals at the touch of our fingers, but so many of these relationships feel artificial. I could have a mutual follower from the other side of the globe, but not know anything about them. Writing letters takes time and care, and creates a sense of intention to get to know someone. I am having the opportunity to learn about someone whose life and culture is different from mine, while I am in turn getting to showcase the things I enjoy about my life. It also creates a sense of forced distance. Through letters, you can have the anticipation of receiving a response, instead of the immediate Instagram direct message notification. 

Using a Disposable/Film Camera: 

Gen Z is hyper-fixated on looks, appearances and getting the perfect picture. It often leads to missing the physical moment happening in real time, and obsessing over every aspect of our bodies. With physical photography, there is a sense of one-and-done. Only one chance to capture the moment, and more time to enjoy it. It also allows the individual to have a keepsake of their memories, instead of mere pixels. 

Using a Physical Alarm Clock: 

This is another thing that might seem insignificant, but has an impact. When I wake up to the pings of the default Apple ringtone, I do one of two things: snooze and ask Siri to set an alarm for an hour later, or immediately get on my phone. Either way, I never get up at the time I intended to, and I often feel groggy and unrested. According to Forbes, checking your phone early in the morning makes your body become immediately alert, instead of slowly waking up. You immediately begin checking texts, emails, stories, posts, and reels in the first minutes of your day. I have noticed a sense of anxiety and stress in the morning due to this that prevents me from feeling positive about my day. By setting my alarms on something other than my phone, it is harder to keep sleeping and it keeps me from immediately becoming present in my social spheres. 

Going To the Library: 

Libraries used to serve as the gateway of knowledge and community, but have now been pushed to the side due to the rise of downloadable content. However, there is a charm to physical books and roaming through dusty bookcases that can not be replaced. There is also the sustainability factor. Through renting books and movies, the items can be reused over and over again without simply lingering on a coffee table. Most libraries, especially in Georgia, offer free membership cards that are accessible to users. So really, you are only gaining. 

All of this to say, it's almost impossible to go completely off the grid. I still connect with others and media digitally through the day, and my screen time is still relatively high. However, I have noticed that I am feeling lighter and more present in my day-to-day, and I’m enjoying being on “airplane mode.” 

Strike Out, 

Maura Rutledge

Editor: Emily Copp

Athens