PHONE ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH.

Ada lay in bed, her phone’s glow painting the walls blue. A cascade of notifications demanded her attention. One more scroll, she promised herself—just one more.

Her lectures were a blur. Assignments sat half-finished on her desk, while friends’ messages went unanswered. Every ping pulled her deeper into the screen, and yet, she couldn’t look away. Sleep became a stranger, and the hours blurred into endless scrolling.

One morning, she stared at her reflection. Eyes rimmed with fatigue, shoulders tense, a feeling of emptiness settled deep inside. Weeks had slipped by, filled with notifications, likes, and endless scrolling, and she realized how disconnected she had become—from the world, from friends, and from herself.

Slowly, Ada placed her phone face down. She stepped outside, feeling the sun warm her face. The sounds of birds, laughter, and conversation felt almost magical after so long in silence. She laughed with her friends, truly present, and noticed the simple joy in small moments.

The notifications could wait. Life wouldn’t.