Dating back tens of thousands of years ago, humanity lived in chilling caves and were forced to hunt for their meals. Yet, when cavepeople were curious, humanity’s creativity and curiosity kept humanity from dying off. Humans forged fire from friction using rocks; they created spears with pointy rocks to make hunting easier, and for fun they would paint on the walls of their homes. Cavepeople developed into civilized beings who farmed food because they planted a seed in the ground. Then, entire civilizations like Mesopotamia emerged.

Iron working gave humanity better tools for farming and weapons for fighting. The rise of writing systems unfolded as humanity recorded history, and eventually people developed ways to use writing to entertain themselves. During the Renaissance humans embraced the arts, literature, and began questioning traditional values; it was a revolutionary time for the human race.

But, in the twenty-first century humanity has steered away from creativity because of technology. It is, of course, ironic that an invention created by humans has helped to diminish what younger generations strive to create.

Imagination is what has fueled humankind, and it is most prominently seen in children. Children are drawn to the arts, even if it is simply finger painting with vibrant colors. Children play make-believe games where they play princesses, dragons, and monsters. Kids are fascinated by the formation of bubbles; kids are fascinated by the world and just want to know about it. Yet, with the introduction of technology, children at younger and younger ages are hooked to iPads, phones, televisions, computers, video games, and other forms of “entertainment.” As children grow up, they care less and less about reading, music, painting, outside activities like sports, writing, and other community or individual activities because of their screens.

Sadly, the term “screenager” is a commonly used term that describes the upcoming generation of adults because, ever since they could talk, they’ve been surrounded by technology. It’s not even entirely this generation’s fault- the world surrounding them is just advancing so fast and the overuse of technology is not seen as a problem by all.

Research suggests that technology does affect critical thinking skills and imagination, especially in those who rely too much on technology. Artificial intelligence is what has truly set back humanity’s innovative thinking, because people would rather use AI instead of thinking for themselves. That’s the problem with society all across the globe, taking the easy way out of work destroys creativity and intellectual capabilities. But in addition to these setbacks, the overuse of technology has caused humanity to lose the spark that originally brought it so far.

Think of how much time the average person spends just on their phones alone. Out of fifteen high school students, the average time spent on their phones was six hours, the low being three hours and the high being eight and a half hours, which is more than one third of the day. Of course, technology has its advantages, like being able to call anyone for help or just to say hello to someone anyone on the planet is an amazing factor to consider. But there is also not denying that humanity has a problem when it comes to spending all of their free time scrolling on their phones.

When I asked Hingham Highschool students about their views on how their phones affect them, the majority believed that before they had phones, they were more productive. Paige Bartlett, a sophomore at Higham High School, describes how, “When I was younger, I didn’t own devices and because of that I was able to be creative on my own, without the influence of screens.” Paige believes that she would be able to express herself more creatively if she was not on her phone as much as she currently is.

Another sophomore at Hingham High, Susanna Grissom, explains how, “I want to spend less time on my phone and focus more on activities. For example, I want to play more piano in my free time.” Susanna also hopes to use her phone less often to work more on outside activities, and she herself already enjoys playing the piano so she hopes to practice more.

Even though the problem revolving around technology is atrocious, it’s not too late to fix. Yes, most adults need technology for work and students for school, but what about during their free time? What if, instead of spending time on social media or Netflix, people focused their efforts on more productive pursuits that stimulated the mind?

Students at Hingham High should learn to devote their free time to hobbies and activities they can do off their screens. Something a large majority of the student body does is play sports after school, which is a great way for students to get outside and get good exercise while clearing their minds. Outside of sports, school, and homework, students should try to find other pursuits that interest them personally. It can be as simple as discovering a simple love for puzzles or baking sweets. The puzzle could be a hundred or a thousand pieces, and the sweets could be a batch of cookies or a four-tier rich chocolate cake. The challenge can be a personal one. When starting out a new hobby, do not feel discouraged because it’s hard to get better at this new skill. Take your time and practice so you can improve and grow to love this new activity.

The arts are another great way to introduce yourself back into that imaginative world you may have disconnected from since childhood. Learning to express your emotions through art is an extraordinary skill people aspire to achieve. With practice and finding the perfect medium, it is possible to adore art. Whether pencil and paper, brush and canvas, camera and object, or hand and clay, there is always something in art for everyone.

Try picking up a paintbrush and paint a serene image, a wild ocean, a wandering animal, because the options are endless when it comes to painting. Let your mind run free and learn to express yourself through the paint. Take a pottery class. Create a mug to sip steaming morning coffee out of, create a bowl to eat fresh pasta out of while laughing with family at the dinner table, or create a vase to hold your favorite types of fresh flowers.

Maybe, you never found working with your hands appealing, so pick up photography. Sign up for a photography class and pick up a sleek camera and captivate whatever appeals to you and entrap it in a photo forever. Art is a never-ending source of inspiration that you could add to if you give it a chance.

Music is also a great way to express yourself, whether creating or even listening to music. In the car ride listening and singing along to your favorite songs is not exactly a hobby, but it is definitely still fun to do. Making music is an impressive accomplishment that is not as common as it once was in the youth outside of school. Less and less students practice their instruments, just as Susanna said earlier about her piano. So instead of spending an excess amount of time on a phone, continue practicing an old instrument or start learning a new one. Those songs you love to sing along to in the car– learn to play them yourself! Better yet, write your own songs or melodies that mean something personal that you want to share with the world through a tune of your own.

Another popular and cozy activity students could indulge in could be reading and writing, which not only is calming for the mind, but also is intellectually stimulating. When you hear the word writing, what comes to mind is an essay assignment or an entire book that could take years of your time; both are actually productive and insightful, but students mostly won’t be attracted to writing if it takes too much time. If that is for you, then go for it!

However, if you want something more laid back where you can let your exclusive thoughts flow, try journaling. Keeping a journal is actually extremely healthy for the human brain because at the end of a stressful or exhilarating day, it gives you a chance to debrief on your own. Also, it is such a gift to be able to look back on meaningful days of your life that you wrote down. That way the memory is with you forever is a magical feeling. Reading is a way to distract yourself from the worries of your life and dive into another world curated for you through words. Try classic novels, like The Catcher in the Rye, War and Peace, The Great Gatsby, or Anna Karenina. A mystery, a romance, a science-fiction-the list goes on for eternity. Curling up with a great book helps the dark nights of winter pass quickly.

Even though 2025 is coming to an end, it is not too late to try something new. It is never too late to try. Don’t give yourself another twenty minutes scrolling on social media. Finish that unfinished sweater you’ve been knitting for years; start that new book; try that pasta recipe you never thought you’d have time to complete. Take a break from technology and discover what you are capable of accomplishing through creativity.

It is not too late to fix humanity’s problem with over attaching themselves to technology, and it will never be too late, unless inside a chilling cave a group of people are holding two rocks in their hands with a pile of wood in front of them and they don’t know how to get warm because google is not loading.