My Media Diet

I am in the mood to dissect my media diet.  Although I consider myself someone who watches little TV compared to most, it is scary to see how much my life is actually controlled by my selected media addictions.  And they are definitely addictions.

It is as if I have a reflex to check my phone as soon as a get up.  I not only sleep with my blackberry (this is embarrassing) but I check it if I wake up in the night and as soon as I get up.  I like to tell myself this is just for the time but I find myself checking groupons, emails and texts in between dreams.  Sick.

So it goes like this:

Appetizer: check phone, check email, respond to texts, and go on Facebook.  I do these things before I can do anything it seems.

Main course: watching my downloaded TV shows or movies which even though do not have commercials I am increasingly realizing that they are riddled with advertisements and media influences.  But they fill me up.  For the most part.

Desert: A good book, always.  The best part of my day that levels me out.

Snacks: Same as my appetizer.  Facebook, email, phone and texting.  Sometimes I physically feel sick from being so cyber connected but I can't seem to stop.

I guess I'm not "eating" too bad, but it is scary to me to see how much my daily routine is affected by what I am addicted to.  I literally feel anxious if I don't have my morning appetizer of phone, Facebook and e mail.  It didn't used to be like this - why are we all so obsessed with being connected?  And why, like junk food, do we know we would be healthier without it but still continue to stuff our faces?