Did we just design ourselves into a dependent bubble?

Kids these days with their mobile tel-lee-phone and their tweeters with their gimme-gimme-gimme-now-now-now. Lazy-spoiled brats! Back in my day...  

It is difficult to go anywhere without noticing someone on some kind of electronic device. Hell, I am on one now. I kind of need to be using an electronic device to communicate with anyone these days. I need a computer to check important personal accounts and to do my work. Even an amount of my leisure time is spent on YouTube or looking through Pinterest. We have advanced so much with technology that we're starting to not design libraries in schools (That is kind of scary to say). My most recent educational project was designing a high school. We were shut down at the hint of mentioning a library in the program. The director pulled out his smartphone saying "This is my library. I have the world at my fingertips!" Also, three to four years ago my own high school announced they were renovating the library into.... a cafe... I spent many, many minutes in that library and now it is a cafe?! The books in the library were so random and seldom relevant to anything I needed to research, but that is a tangent I should probably refrain from going towards.

(Video is of Louis C.K on Conan O'Brian talking about his plane experience )

I get it! We get information so much faster, with more choices and with great quality. Wait a couple of years and it will get even better! We also start becoming impatient because we are accustomed to instant gratification. Does instant gratification contribute to anxiety? I think so. You could make a drinking game on how many times a person refreshes a page when you're next to someone checking their Facebook on a slow connection. Any little notification 'ping' or highlight and the person is right back on the screen. One of my biggest pet peeves is when people are on their phone or pad during a meal. It is fine if you're by yourself, but at least have enough respect to give your company your attention (little rant, sorry). A lot of people just don't know how to be alone with themselves. That is a pretty tough pill to swallow when you can't stand being alone with yourself. It is almost comical that if you have done something wrong in jail they put you alone with yourself as a punishment.

I suppose today would be one of the worst days to try to be independent from technology because it is the start of the work week and everyone is trying to get back into the routine. I am not saying be totally independent, but just a having little alone time throughout the day dedicated to something that makes you happy.

Transition me this

Color of leaves transitioning from summer to fall.

When I hear transition I think about two materials transitioning into each other or how spaces transition from one defined space into another. But, I want to talk about other forms of transition. Like how we transition throughout the year. I think now would be a great opportunity since we just finished the majority of cultural holidays and we are getting ready for a new year. I refer to this changing time as a transition. Others may call it a new chapter in life, another page or leaf to turn. Doesn't matter what ya call it, it is something different.

As a student, we have two major transitions (winter/summer break). It usually takes me a week or two into the break to really get use to not getting up at three in the morning to go to school. It is a huge shock to my system because the last two weeks of school we're going all out to meet the deadline. We go from performing on our project every waking moment to an absolute stop. It sucks! At least for me. I get in a rhythm and get set on cruise control to just hitting a wall once the final project is over. How do I deal with the sudden stop? First, I get my sleep! Sleep and hydration are paramount! I usually take a solid day and a half to get all the rest I need. Second, I get selfish. I do not want to see, smell or hear anything about my project. I just want to focus on me and what makes me happy. Usually that consists of having a really great cup of coffee, cooking something I really enjoy, spending time with family and giving my dog lots of belly rubs. Third, I get back into a rhythm that keeps me busy. Usually that is just getting back to work and hobbies that I couldn't devote enough time to during the semester. My hobbies keep me busy and keep my mind fresh and clear in design without having to get burnt out with architecture. I feel all three of these steps are important elements to keeping me sane and allow me to perform well without having to worry about a hard crash or getting stuck in a lazy rut.

Okay... That is good and great for you, but how does that relate to me?  I think everything is relative in principal. When it all comes down to is a transition is a great opportunity to reflect on what you have done, what you're doing and where you're going. The process I have taken allows me to think clearly without much room for anxiety and keep me fresh for the next 'chapter' or event. The process allows me to fully enjoy the special nuggets of moments that I would have usually overlooked because I would have been too tired or wouldn't have enough time to enjoy.

I hope the process above can help you cope if you are dealing with holiday stress and feel like you can't catch a break. I also hope it can help you guys prepare and thoroughly enjoy the next beginning chapter in your life.