By Joyce Cary

One Saturday last month, I had a perfect day. I woke early, drove up the California coastline, and surfed for a couple of hours with friends. Then I met up with another friend nearby, went kayaking, and ate a late lunch. After that—sun-worn and salty—I drove home, washed off my gear, walked the dog, and ate pizza on my couch.

A big part of what made the day so perfect was all the time spent outside—away from work deadlines, chores, and screens. Yet despite my best effort to escape, I still logged six hours of screen time, more than usual. Two hours and 52 minutes of that was spent on Google Maps. An hour came from texting. I also spent 45 minutes on Safari (shopping for a dress for an upcoming wedding), 24 minutes on Spotify (listening to music), and 10 minutes on Venmo (paying some friends for recent meals). None of this was a bad use of my phone—it wasn’t like I was doomscrolling. Still, when I saw the total number that evening, after checking my iPhone’s Screen Time tool, I couldn’t help but feel a reflexive jolt of guilt. Six hours?One Saturday last month, I had a perfect day. I woke early, drove up the California coastline, and surfed for a couple of hours with friends. Then I met up with another friend nearby, went kayaking, and ate a late lunch. After that—sun-worn and salty—I drove home, washed off my gear, walked the dog, and ate pizza on my couch.

A big part of what made the day so perfect was all the time spent outside—away from work deadlines, chores, and screens. Yet despite my best effort to escape, I still logged six hours of screen time, more than usual. Two hours and 52 minutes of that was spent on Google Maps. An hour came from texting. I also spent 45 minutes on Safari (shopping for a dress for an upcoming wedding), 24 minutes on Spotify (listening to music), and 10 minutes on Venmo (paying some friends for recent meals). None of this was a bad use of my phone—it wasn’t like I was doomscrolling. Still, when I saw the total number that evening, after checking my iPhone’s Screen Time tool, I couldn’t help but feel a reflexive jolt of guilt. Six hours?

One Saturday last month, I had a perfect day. I woke early, drove up the California coastline, and surfed for a couple of hours with friends. Then I met up with another friend nearby, went kayaking, and ate a late lunch. After that—sun-worn and salty—I drove home, washed off my gear, walked the dog, and ate pizza on my couch.

A big part of what made the day so perfect was all the time spent outside—away from work deadlines, chores, and screens. Yet despite my best effort to escape, I still logged six hours of screen time, more than usual. Two hours and 52 minutes of that was spent on Google Maps. An hour came from texting. I also spent 45 minutes on Safari (shopping for a dress for an upcoming wedding), 24 minutes on Spotify (listening to music), and 10 minutes on Venmo (paying some friends for recent meals). None of this was a bad use of my phone—it wasn’t like I was doomscrolling. Still, when I saw the total number that evening, after checking my iPhone’s Screen Time tool, I couldn’t help but feel a reflexive jolt of guilt. Six hours?One Saturday last month, I had a perfect day. I woke early, drove up the California coastline, and surfed for a couple of hours with friends. Then I met up with another friend nearby, went kayaking, and ate a late lunch. After that—sun-worn and salty—I drove home, washed off my gear, walked the dog, and ate pizza on my couch.

A big part of what made the day so perfect was all the time spent outside—away from work deadlines, chores, and screens. Yet despite my best effort to escape, I still logged six hours of screen time, more than usual. Two hours and 52 minutes of that was spent on Google Maps. An hour came from texting. I also spent 45 minutes on Safari (shopping for a dress for an upcoming wedding), 24 minutes on Spotify (listening to music), and 10 minutes on Venmo (paying some friends for recent meals). None of this was a bad use of my phone—it wasn’t like I was doomscrolling. Still, when I saw the total number that evening, after checking my iPhone’s Screen Time tool, I couldn’t help but feel a reflexive jolt of guilt. Six hours?

One Saturday last month, I had a perfect day. I woke early, drove up the California coastline, and surfed for a couple of hours with friends. Then I met up with another friend nearby, went kayaking, and ate a late lunch. After that—sun-worn and salty—I drove home, washed off my gear, walked the dog, and ate pizza on my couch.

A big part of what made the day so perfect was all the time spent outside—away from work deadlines, chores, and screens. Yet despite my best effort to escape, I still logged six hours of screen time, more than usual. Two hours and 52 minutes of that was spent on Google Maps. An hour came from texting. I also spent 45 minutes on Safari (shopping for a dress for an upcoming wedding), 24 minutes on Spotify (listening to music), and 10 minutes on Venmo (paying some friends for recent meals). None of this was a bad use of my phone—it wasn’t like I was doomscrolling. Still, when I saw the total number that evening, after checking my iPhone’s Screen Time tool, I couldn’t help but feel a reflexive jolt of guilt. Six hours?

One Saturday last month, I had a perfect day. I woke early, drove up the California coastline, and surfed for a couple of hours with friends. Then I met up with another friend nearby, went kayaking, and ate a late lunch. After that—sun-worn and salty—I drove home, washed off my gear, walked the dog, and ate pizza on my couch.

A big part of what made the day so perfect was all the time spent outside—away from work deadlines, chores, and screens. Yet despite my best effort to escape, I still logged six hours of screen time, more than usual. Two hours and 52 minutes of that was spent on Google Maps. An hour came from texting. I also spent 45 minutes on Safari (shopping for a dress for an upcoming wedding), 24 minutes on Spotify (listening to music), and 10 minutes on Venmo (paying some friends for recent meals). None of this was a bad use of my phone—it wasn’t like I was doomscrolling. Still, when I saw the total number that evening, after checking my iPhone’s Screen Time tool, I couldn’t help but feel a reflexive jolt of guilt. Six hours?