Due to its addictive nature, many people find that social media affects their attention span and makes it difficult to manage their responsibilities. Assistant director of academic services Lauren Targ gives advice on using social media in moderation.
Transcript:
0:05: Welcome to Three to Know with the Columbia Chronicle, your go to source for the top three things every Columbia College student, faculty and staff member needs to know.
0:14: I’m your host, Levi Libson.
0:16: Social media is all encompassing, a constant flow of data and information.
0:21: And as useful as keeping up with your favorite influencers might be, it can quickly grow into obsession, preventing you from working on the things that need attention most.
0:29: However, don’t be embarrassed if you’ve ever fallen into this, because this week, our assistant director of academic services, Lauren Targ, has some notable tricks and tips on how to detox from scrolling.
0:40: My name is Lauren Targ, and I am an assistant director of academic services on campus. I’m also the academic life coach.
0:48: Lauren works with students to help them navigate campus resources and build the skills that they need.
0:52: I was an advisor for a really long time and I got certified as a life coach, probably about six, seven years ago because I really like helping students, and even some staff set goals, manage their challenges and find balance.
1:11: A starting point of all change is the desire for what’s good for you.
1:15: This means being able to identify why something might need to be changed in your life.
1:19: Your phone and all media attached within is designed to be addictive.
1:23: It is designed to grab your attention and give you hits of dopamine while slowly depleting your serotonin levels.
1:29: Being a student requires attention and commitment.
1:31: This can become a problem very quickly.
1:33: Having a real desire to do it is important.
1:37: So some of the reasons for a student to
1:39: want to stop scrolling on their phone is that it helps with sensory overload, screen fatigue, mental clarity.
1:48: It helps them have better sleep, because I know that’s one of the things that comes up as well.
1:54: So, recognizing personal flaws is a huge first step.
1:57: However, with all that said, in this current age, it becomes harder and harder to separate school life from our digital world.
2:03: It’s separating ourselves from this small computer.
2:07: Where actually you’re encouraged in some ways to use it for school.
2:12: Our SOS is on there.
2:13: You can read canvas on there, you can upload your assignments, you can read your books.
2:18: So how do you make it separate from your work life?
2:23: As long as you’re able to differentiate these two from one another, it’s okay to enjoy media in moderation.
2:29: So a lot of times I talked to
2:31: students about setting a time for them to enjoy their phone, enjoy scrolling but really limiting that time. Whether it’s using those parental controls, a timer or actually walking away from your phone, which I, I know people can’t imagine sometimes.
2:49: Lastly, utilize your resources.
2:51: According to Lauren, experiencing a detox can be different for everyone.
2:55: We all look for different outlets and alternatives, so this means different solutions.
2:59: If you feel you need help getting this ball rolling, the Academic Service Center will be hosting a detox from scrolling conference on Oct. 6 to help anyone in need.
3:07: So that, it will be a conversation and hopefully the outcome will be things that I can do to help me get off my phone and do something else that I’m really excited about.
3:21: Subscribe to our newsletter on our website, ColumbiaChronicle.com.
3:25: Be sure to also check out Chronversations for weekly campus highlights.
3:29: I’m Levi Libson.
3:30: Thanks for listening.
Copy edited by Mya De Jesus
