Logging my usage:
Day 1- 9/11/19
8:30-9AM- My mom and I listened to her book on tape during the drive to work. It was a little hard for me to follow because I am not always in the car with her.
9:20-9:25 AM- I listened to Music on my walk to class through Spotify. Thomas’s Rhett’s new album was on the agenda today.
10:45-11AM: I listened to music again while I was walking to my next destination and stopped to get a muffin. I continued the Thomas Rhett album because I had not had the chance to hear the whole thing through.
11:30AM-12:15 AM- Meme’s. My boyfriend and I frequently scroll through Facebook and send each other memes throughout the day. He had a break at work, and I had time in between classes so we were both scrolling through Facebook and sending them back and forth.
12:20 AM- 12:25 AM: I listened to Spotify on my walk to class. I placed it on shuffle this time and A Green Day song game on (I think Holiday)
12:35-1:45: I did a workshop for my digital editing class. Using my headphones, I went onto Netflix and watched the BuzzFeed Follow this series and their episode on the opioid crisis. I was also working on my WordPress blog page and ironing out a few details to make it happen.
2:00PM-4:00PM- I continued working on my word press Blog and began typing out some of my thoughts on the video I watched to prep for my assignment. I listened to Spotify during this time. I had it on shuffle but a few notable songs that came through were Perfect (by my favorite band simple plan) some Luke Bryan hits, Skillet’s new album (to prep me for their concert in two weeks). My music taste is so unique and eclectic that it varies minute by minute and song by song.
4:00PM-4:30 PM: I scrolled through Facebook again. I also am planning a birthday party for my mom this month, so I had to respond to a few Facebook messages giving the final party details. I was listening to Spotify again during this time. I have over 2100 songs so I do not remember what was playing but I was in a pop punk mood so I can assume Blink 182 and green day were among the list.
4:30-5:00PM- I was again listening to my mom’s audiobook on the drive home. Since I listen in bits and pieces, I have little to no clue what it was about.
6:00PM-8:00PM- I on demanded my current favorite TV show, Bring the Funny to catch up on the last few episodes. The show basically allows armature comics their chance to make it in big time comedy.
8:30-9:30 PM- I was facetiming my boyfriend to discuss our days and what had happened. During this time, we were both scrolling through Facebook and showing each other more memes. Anything from SpongeBob to relationships to cute dogs, no meme is too far out of reach.
9:30-10PM- I was online doing some research on adopting a dog. It has been something I have been thinking about for a while so I took the time to begin more research and looking at some dogs I might want. Specifically using the adopt a pet finder through PetSmart. I am going to look at one of the dogs I researched soon.
10:30PM-11:00PM- I watch relaxing YouTube videos and fall asleep to them. Usually relaxing nature videos. Or I will listen to a cooking video, something about a soothing voice lulls me to sleep. Tonight, I choose one of my favorite youtubers Nikki doing a relaxing night routine video to get me in a calm mood. Also, the time frame might be a touch off because I fell asleep to YouTube, so I do not remember the exact minute I did.
Day 2: 9/12/19
9:00-9:30AM- my mom and I listened to the radio on our way into GCU. A country station was shuffling through some songs. I am usually half asleep in the morning, so I do not remember exactly what songs came on.
10:50-10:55AM- I listened to Spotify on my walk to class. I listened to an Aerosmith song (sweet emotion).
12:30-2:30- I was using the NASA website to conduct research for an astronomy paper. I was researching the Mar’s curiosity rover and what makes it unique to write a per about it. Spotify was on during this time as well. I decided to listen to my boyfriend’s motivation playlist. A lot of positive Christian songs like Casting crowns, Chris Tomlin and others were on it.
3:00-4:00 PM- I caught on some of my favorite Youtubers new videos. I watched a couple of FBE videos (where people react to things) and a couple of videos from Trisha Paytas (I regrettably get sucked into the YouTube drama and must know what is going on)
5:30-6:00PM- My mom and I had the country radio station on for the drive. This time I was more awake, so I remember Carrie Underwood before he cheats, Jason Aldean Dirt road Anthem and Kelsey Ballerini Peter pan, just to name a few.
6:30PM to 7:00PM- I had my church’s annual welcome back ceremony for the children’s bible study program. For this chunk of the night we watched a video curated by the staff, going over the rules and expectations for the year on the church’s website.
9:30- 10PM: I watched an episode of Family Guy on Hulu. It was a long day and I needed to unwind my brain.
10:30-11PM: I turned on another relaxing night routine video, this time from a youtuber named Allison and drifted off to sleep.
Day 3: 9/12/19
*I slept in (WOO)
11:00AM-12:00PM- I listened to Spotify while I woke up and got a few things done around the house. I folded some laundry, did the dishes, and straightened up my room. I have a cleaning playlist so lots of fun sing along songs including musical songs from shows like wicked. Also, some pop songs like Taylor Swift’s shake it off and my personnel favorite Veggie tales (yes, I am a child trapped in a 22-year-old’s body)
2:00-2:30PM: I got home from lunch and put my cleaning playlist back on to get myself ready for work.
3:00PM-11:00PM- I was using a system known as ONQ to do my job. I work at a hotel and this system is vital for checking guests in and out. I absolutely cannot perform any of my job functions without it. It is basically a database with every guest in it, there information and billing system. That is all I can say about it because of confidentiality and such.
11:30-12:00AM- I watched a relaxing YouTube Video to fall asleep to. I think it was a nature video with spa music behind it.
Day 4: 9/14/19
*slept in again😊
11:00AM to 12:00PM- I watched an episode of Beyond Scared straight on Hulu, one of my favorite shows to relax a little before work.
1:00PM to 9:00PM- I went to work, relying on the same computer system to get my through. I worked in a faced paced and busy environment so aside from occasionally answering a text message or googling directions for a guest (which did not happen on this day), I am strictly using this system and no other technology.
9:30 to 10:00PM- I facetimed my boyfriend again and we shared some Facebook memes during the time.
11:00PM to 11:30PM- I watched a YouTube video to fall asleep. This time it was a Sawyer Hartman vlog of him and his girlfriend on the beach in Hawaii.
Day 5: 9/15/19
7:00AM-3:00PM- I again was at work using my jobs computer system. One difference here though is the day got slow, so I used another one of our work systems called HU to watch a few training videos for the new quarter. Each quarter a few training videos get released to refresh the staff or tell us about a new policy/procedure. (My weekend life is not very exciting).
3:30 to 4:00PM- I was on the NFL website catching some highlights from the Steelers game (we lost by 2 POINTS!)
4:00PM-5:00PM- I was answering text messages and Facebook messages confirming the details for the party I am hosting on the 20th. Confirming what people are bringing and the guest list.
I took the night off from using media and went to the beach with friends from my college and career group (I left my phone in the car). Most Sunday nights my boyfriend and I try to go media free and either spend time with my church group for bible study or with each other.
10:30-11:00PM- I watched a YouTube video to fall asleep. This time I watched an essential oils hall. Her voice was very soothing, and it lulled me to sleep.
*Any blank time I was either: In class, eating, showering, spending time with family/friends or working (in which I stayed on the same ONQ system for eight hours at a time).
Analyzing the media usage after five days:
My grandmother tells me stories about how she and her sisters would gather around the radio (if they finished all their homework) and listen to Annie show. Then it moved into I Love Lucy taking over every American TV screen. Now with Netflix and other streaming Services, people can watch whole seasons of a show in one day. Media, for decades, has had a profound impact on the way people operate and communicate. As time has gone on people’s dependence on media has grown and changed. Now most people have the internet in the palm of their hands. I have found through this assignment that I use technology in so many ways, and I do not think I could function without it.
About a month ago, my job lost power for three days. In thinking about how I use our computer system for every aspect of my job, it was the most difficult three days I have ever experienced at my job. We were unable to access any of the reports we needed, and we had to hope we were placing people in unoccupied rooms. Learning how to do my job without technology proved to me just how necessary my relationship with media is.
One of things that has recently become a huge part of my relationship with media is the memes. I only have a Facebook and Twitter (which I hardly touch) but memes are a huge source of what I look for and how I communicate. My boyfriend and I spend chunks of our day looking for and sending memes to each other. It has become a way for me to express different feelings and emotions as well as convey humor.
I also value my relationship away from media as extremely important. I believe that sometimes people can go into media overload. If I were to look at my log and find my favorite part, it would be my media free Sunday night. I got to hang with my friends and watch the Sunset with my boyfriends’ arm around me. I understand that my relationship with media for both personnel and work-related uses is essential. However, I also thoroughly enjoy the moments where my phone is off, and I am taking in a moment for myself.
Katie's communication blog 