An iPhone Update: 2 Months Later

4.30.2015

Well, I've officially had my iphone for 2 months now. (Remember my huge giant announcement?) I figured since I made such a big deal for so long about not having a smart phone, I owed you all an update about how it's been going in the land of the 21st century.

FIRST OF ALL, lately I have been very displeased to find myself with the ridiculous desire to check social media at stop lights. What is that about? Can I not sit patiently for the light to change like a normal human? 

Clearly the pull of the iphone is powerful. However, I am happy to say that I resist the desire to pull out my phone, because I think Twitter will be okay without me for 10 minutes.

So that's a bad thing.

Another bad thing is that because I now use my phone's camera so often, I rarely get out my DSLR to take "real" pictures anymore. Of course, I have no one to blame but myself and my own laziness, but the fact remains that the photo capabilities of my iphone 5s make it SO easy to take pictures. This was one of my main reasons for getting an iphone, so I guess that's at least paying off. I knew it would be difficult to properly document life for my Project Life book without a phone handy to take pictures on the fly. I also knew (although I didn't tell you guys yet) that I was pregnant, and I would want an easier way to take pictures of Baby Bum once she's here.

So that's a good thing!

Another good, I'll even say awesome, thing is the GROUP TEXTING. I seriously think it was worth the money just for that. Remember before when I said how sad and alone I felt with my family and friends would group text without me? It was like that scene from Home Alone where Macaulay Culkin watches the family have Christmas dinner together from outside in the yard.

Now I can group text with the best of them! Send picture texts! See emojis! 

Okay, actually I could do without that last one. I told Jordan that if I ever use an emoji in a text message, he's to call the police because I've been kidnapped. To say I hate emjois is putting it lightly. Blame it on my day job, but those stupid things are completely ruining our ability to form normal sentences. It's like a dang puzzle just to figure out what someone is saying with all the abbreviations and thumbs ups. STOP IT.

Overall, I would say my level of obsession with social media has risen, as one would expect. I won't lie and say I'm the same person I used to be. It's just easier to get online now, so of course the temptation is higher. However, I have all notifications off for everything except a text message or a phone call, and I often turn off the cellular and wi-fi when I'm out and about, just to make sure I can handle it. I also don't take my phone into the bedroom with me at night. No late-night Instagram sessions for this girl!

And, most importantly, I think, I resist the urge to check the socials at stoplights. Probably if I were doing that, I'd be in real trouble.

Do you check your socials at stoplights? What's the best and worst thing about having an iphone?

Jenn @ Optimization Actually said...

I have definitely checked my phone at stop lights, but not for social media - when I've gotten a call or text. It's still not something I'm proud of. We might be stopped now, but it's a slippery slope into checking while moving forward, which is dangerous and I see people doing stupid things all the time because they're doing just that. I think maybe my phone needs to live in a purse or bag instead of in my pocket and then I won't be able to reach it while driving.

Bailie @ The Hemborg Wife said...

I also have told Fredrik if he ever gets certain things via text from me to be very alarmed! Always good to have a safety system in place!

shelleystirs said...

I still don't have a smart phone,and I don't text. I have days where I wish I had one, but also don't want it to become an extension of me. I kind of like not feeling as though I must be available to everyone, all the time. When I get one (and I will eventually), I will have to be very careful about setting those boundaries.

Caroline @ In Due Time said...

ha yes! Definitely get on my phone at stop lights! I love Siri for texting people too :)

I agree, we rarely use our DSLR anymore :(

jaime said...

I love group texting. I also love the playlists on my Amazon app. I have one for running and it's so great. I resist the urge to check social media at stop lights if I'm playing the music from my phone in my car. (That doesn't mean I never check my phone, but it's also illegal to text and drive in NC, so I try to remind myself that every single time I'm in the car.)

Ali said...

Nope, the phone stays in my purse while driving, unless I'm actually talking on it. I do like the talk to text feature though, that has made things convenient a few times.

Group texting typically starts to annoy me after awhile. Only because my Dad and 2 brothers just can't stop. Eventually I leave my phone and go somewhere else, then just catch up later. They can be pretty persistent!

Brittany said...

Hahaha...I'm glad you're enjoying your foray into being a modern person. ;) I also hate the emojis and never use them.

Kerry @ Till Then Smile Often said...

They can totally pull you over for checking at stoplights. It is addicting though to check when you have a free moment.

Anonymous said...

I've never had a smartphone either but I've been considering getting one lately because 1) my current phone is about 6+ years old and 2) group texting. Or just any kind of texting that isn't ridiculously annoying to do. I think I'll never use my social media on it though, because I don't want to be like one of those permanently semi-hunched over teens I see wandering around college campuses.

Andrea H. said...

Great idea about not talking it into the bedroom. I use mine as an alarm, but maybe I can implement not actually bringing it into bed with me. I am a frequent social media scroller. Fortunately, we don't drive here in NYC. Although, now that many of the subway stations are wi-fi capable, I have had to seriously fight the urge to check it at every stop. Totally ridiculous. Totally. Oh, and I'm with you on the emojis. They kind of stress me out. I am a pretty regular :) person though. I still use that old school smiley often...but I haven't crossed over to the dark side of emojis...and I'm not sure I will!!

Kayla MKOY said...

I will say - I freaking love emojis! BUT I like when when used properly. After a full sentence *insert happy emoji* etc! I can't stand the dumb abbreviations all the time though. LOL! Glad you're using the camera a lot ;)

Laura said...

I try and keep my phone in the diaper back in the back seat of the truck when I'm driving. Then it's not a temptation. :) But yes, it's ridiculous to have that urge. Ugh! I do look to scroll through Instagram before bed, but I keep all my notifications off too. And I'm TRYING to be 'unplugged' when the baby is with me, meaning no cell phone in my hand while he's there too. Working on that one....Probably should've started before he was born. Sigh.

Kate said...

I've been known to check my phone at red lights, but it's more to see if I have any important messages than it is for checking social media.

I DO like to use emojis within reason. For instance, if I feel like randomly texting Michael something during the day, I might just send him a heart or something as a "Hey. Thinking about you." which he knows I don't need/expect a response. It's just a little pick me up. I also like to randomly send stupid things when I'm purposely trying to be irritating. Such as when he's trying to make me pick what I want for dinner, and I choose to send him a dragon instead. (Sometimes I wonder why he stays with me.) But I don't understand people who use 50 billion of them at a time. Or or or! Students are apparently obsessed with the face that looks like it's cry-laughing. I've watched them send it with almost every message to their friends. It's basically the new and improved "lol". They put it at the end of every line. So weird.

Unknown said...

We only have one stoplight in our town.... so yeah. I also dislike emojis (partially because I don't know how to pronounce it), but I do love having the ability to take good pictures in a snap anywhere I am, super fantastic!

Ashley said...

Haha this is hilarious. So glad you shared an update with us :) I reaaaaaallly didn't want a smartphone when I got one 2 years ago and now I feel like it's a big part of my "normal" life which kind of makes me sad. My husband and I have gotten into the bad habit of playing with our phones in our bed, so I think that will be a big change coming soon!

Tracy said...

I have to keep my phone in my bag and keep the bag on the floor in order to not check it at stoplights. Fortunately I don't drive very much so it's not a big problem. I like emojis, but within reason. Thanks for the update! I'm glad that joining the 21st century has mostly been an improvement in your life ;)

Amy @ A Desert Girl said...

Haha! Your strong reaction to emoji's cracks me up. I'll try to avoid using them when I comment on your Insta photos. :)

I'm glad that overall your time with the iPhone has been positive. I went through a phase where I was checking the phone at stoplights so I started sticking my phone in the glove box. Out of sight and out of reach (well, technically I could reach it but it would be a stretch and even more dangerous so I wasn't very tempted).

Steph @ Three Loud Kids! said...

Congrats, you are officially an iPhone user. I am forever checking Twitter and Instagram at the stop lights, its amazing how the pull to check it nonstop is so strong.

Rach said...

Haha! I totally check Instagram at stop lights. Probably because I sit in so much traffic when picking the kids I nanny up from school. Stop lights and car line. And grocery store lines. It's not every single time, but pretty frequently. Unless a song I really like is on the radio (or if someone else is with me - clearly then I'm not on my phone) - I'm likely to be checking social media at those notoriously long lights. ;)

Glad you are enjoying the Iphone!

Unknown said...

Thanks for the update. I was wondering how you two got along, you know.
It sems you are developing a healthy relationship with Mr iPhone, even though social media now takes a bigger place in your mind/head/stop lights breaks. :)

Beka @ Sunshine to the Square Inch said...

iPhones! They for sure suck you in.

But girl! I love my iPhone. It is a life saver overseas. I mean I am in Myanmar and can text you in Oklahoma!

Emojis ... all I gotta say is you fought the iPhone for so long and it won. Emojis will win too! They are so fun! Now I don't think that should replace grammar but neither should things like 'ty' or 'hbd'. I mean that takes my brain forever to figure out what the heck it means.

I like emojis after a sentence and after the hashtags. Sometimes those are just so funny!

Michelle said...

I love that you don't take your iPhone in your room at night. I would do that too (more reading time! less instagram stalking!) but it's my alarm clock :( Not that I really need an alarm with a newborn, but I at least use it as a clock. Maybe I should put it on airplane mode and call it good. You've just given me a lot to think about.

AMEN to emojis. I loved them when I first got them a few years ago, but now they annoy me 96% of the time.

Sarah @ Sometimes Photojenik said...

Haha I love how you update us on your iphone usage... only you would do that :) I don't check my phone that often at stoplights but I'm REALLY bad about doing it before bed which I think lately has been affecting my sleep (no I am not typing this comment on my phone in my bed). For awhile I had an ipod touch (I was required to get it for nursing school >:( ) and a separate phone so I remember having to carry around BOTH of them which was just obnoxious. I love that as long as I have my phone I have pretty much most of what I need... texting, phone calling, my Bible, my notes for various things (books to try, restaurants to try), shopping lists, my music, and of course... social media.

Paige @ Reasons to Come Home said...

Unfortunately, I check social media at stop lights. Shame on me!

Laura | Making Baby Provence said...

I am REALLY far behind on some of my blog reading. Oops! (Insert strange-grin emoji here.) Anyway, I have to admit that I check socials at stoplights AND take my phone to bed with me at night. I’m ashamed of both. I’m thinking of starting a support group for it. I could do it right after Infertile Myrtles. My night would be, “Here’s how to enjoy your infertility journey” quickly followed by “Here’s how to enjoy life without your phone plastered to your hand.” I think I’m onto something here…

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