I’m going to paraphrase here so go easy on the details around this thought.
There was a study that took place where kids were brought in and sat in front of a marshmallow on a tabletop. They were told if they did not eat the marshmallow for a certain amount of time they would get two marshmallows at the end of the specified time. The kids were being tested for willpower. Some kids waited for the study to end and the others just dove in and ate the marshmallow.
Think of which kid you are in this experiment and also you should know that willpower gets drained throughout the day. There are more studies on that — google it. The point here is that I see this “study” comes to life for us everyday — only the marshmallow has been replaced with the phone.
The phone just makes it everywhere with us. It’s on the dinner table, the night stand, in the restroom, on our lap while driving and even as a note taking device during work. It’s everywhere.
This “marshmallow” leads to distraction because of the nutrients (apps) it comes with or can be loaded with and it tests our willpower by the minute. Most of us are that kid that didn’t wait to get two marshmallows. I’m not entirely sure what we would get at the end of us refraining from using our phone but it may be that we enjoy the use of the phone a lot more, we continue to be in awe and not overlook the advanced technology in our hands. We will cherish the capability I guess.
I say we cover this “marshmallow” in instances where we have to practice focus and be present. The phone shouldn’t make it into the bedroom if you are going for a good night rest (by the way there are so many suggestions like this out in the web–nothing new here).
I guess — I’m just thinking… cover up the marshmallow. Don’t see it and you won’t be tempted to eat it. And we actually have that power. You can take this phone you are reading this on and put it 20 feet away from you, lock it up somewhere and go enjoy dinner, the movie, time with friends, the present.