Marina’s Lifestyle Blog
Digital technology has made its way into all areas of our
lives. We spend time staring at screens, checking our
phones, and scrolling through social media every free minute
we get. I know it helps us stay in touch with our friends and
family and get in touch with old friends, but what is the cost
of always being online?
My teacher recently gave a talk about technology. She said
that we never give our brains, or our emotions, a rest. We
never truly focus on what we’re doing or the person we’re
with. We’re always interrupting the flow to check our phone
or see what else is happening. We’re inside all the time and
losing our connection with the natural world. I wanted to find
out for myself if this was true …
I decided to go for a digital detox and give up my phone and
tablet for a month. No apps, no social media, no streaming
music or videos, no online shopping! I went completely
offline. I must admit, I was scared. Like most of you, my
phone had become an indispensable gadget that I didn’t
think I could survive without. So why do it?
I was inspired by another blogger, who decided to give up all
technology for six months. Yes, that’s right – everything! So
that included appliances like washing machines, TVs, as well
as no internet or phone. I knew I couldn’t do that, so I chose
to just give up my phone and social media for a month to
see what would happen and what impact it might have on
my emotional well-being.
The first thing I noticed was how much more time I had to
get important things done. I finished all of my homework on
time! I started reading a novel that had been sitting next to
my bed for months! I was walking more and it felt good to be
outside and getting more exercise. I was going to the park
and hanging out with friends because they knew it was the
only way to talk to me – so they were on their phones less,
too!
So, what did I learn during my digital detox? I found that I
was feeling happier when I wasn’t looking at a screen all
day. I wasn’t worrying about the constant stream of
messages and the need to respond immediately. I didn’t feel
the need to keep checking. It almost felt like I was getting
my life back! It’s good to have my phone back, but what I
learned was that technology is a tool, and not harmful on its
own. It’s the way we use it that’s the problem. I think we
could all benefit from taking a break now and again – just to
recharge our own batteries.
✏️Are the statements true (T) or false (F)?
1 Marina tried to go a month without using any technology at
all. T / F
2 There is some technology that Marina thinks is
indispensable, even for short periods of time. T / F
✏️Multiple Choice Questions
What is the main reason Marina decided to try a
digital detox?
A. Her phone broke.
B. Her teacher told her to.
C. She wanted to see the effect of being offline.
D. She lost interest in technology.
What technology did Marina give up for a month?
A. All electronics including appliances
B. Only her computer
C. Only television and music
D. Her phone and tablet
What inspired Marina to do the detox?
A. A conversation with her friend
B. A documentary about technology
C. Another blogger's experience
D. A book she read
According to Marina, what was one benefit of the
detox?
A. She saved a lot of money
B. She became more famous online
C. She had more time and felt happier
D. She got a new phone
✏️B. Short Answer Questions
What did Marina's teacher say about how we use
technology?
How did Marina feel at the start of her digital detox?
What were some activities Marina did instead of using
her phone?
What important lesson did Marina learn by the end of
her detox?
