I've been thinking about this often these days. I consume a lot of content. In fact, I am never 'not consuming' . Podcasts - when walking, working out, cooking or even taking a shower; Youtube for shorter breaks; Netflix or other streaming with my wife in the evening; Music - sometimes in the nights. If I am not consuming, I am writing. My reading has gone down the drain a bit and that's further reduced the time I am not consuming media (although, technically a book is media too).
So, my new hack the last couple of weeks has been to include silent breaks between tasks. Like, after working out, I would take 10 minutes before shower and the next inevitably sitting to write. Before writing, I would sit for 10 minutes just letting thoughts wander but not look at the screen to read anything, especially social media. My primary goal is to spur my thinking which has unfortunately suffered thanks to constant input. Going great for a few days but let's see how long it lasts. 🤞
Woah, didn't think of this silent breaks concept before and it sounds like an awesome idea! Please let me know how it goes. It sounds like a promising first few days already.
Great personal essay, Becky :) One of my own un-mindful habits is watching YouTube videos while I eat, if I'm alone. But I do take walks without earbuds or media and really enjoy that. I don't know whether it was growing up with the internet, or having a naturally inquisitive mind, but I definitely feel addicted to information on some level.
Addicted to information - that's it! I just feel the constant need to consume something new and "informative". Like an encyclopedia bender. It was so counter-intuitive to realize that constant consuming is NOT productive. I guess I'm still unlearning that.
This was great Becky! Now I'm tempted to try a screen-free day. Seems harder than it seems though. I've been using the time-limit feature in my iPhone but for the last couple of months I just ignore it. Funny how a warning that shows up every day doesn't do anything anymore.
This was great! Now I want to do this. I often find my partner is most annoyed with me when he can sense that my mind is elsewhere when he’s talking with me, which it is often. And I’m now wondering how much that’s because I was listening or looking at something else.... great provocation!
Omgggggg this was so good!!! It's crazy how so many of us are like "I have no time! I am so busy! Busy busy busy!" but you're so right in that time is incredibly abundant. It is endless. There couldn't be more of it if we tried!! If only we stop filling it with noise.
Gold. I think about this all the time. I'm constantly wanting music on, and my husband is like "BE ALONE WITH YOUR THOUGHTS!" I just wrote down this week that I want the month of December to be a time where we are more present (annoying language), but really putting our phone in the drawer instead of always out within hands reach. Maybe I should write about this... anyways, loved this one, Becky. Thank you for sharing. I have had Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow on my shelf for months. Closing the laptop and cracking the old spine open! TY for the inspo <3
You are in for a RIDEEEE the book is so darn good!
If you ever write about a day when your phone is in the drawer, I'd love to read your experience (and if you struggle with the same... boredom as I did :p)
Reflecting on this some more. I tried this setting on iOS that would attempt to block me from using certain apps past a certain time. I quickly got into the habit of just ignoring the warning. Instead of trying to do less digital, maybe the trick is to have more excitement in analog. Physical books, guitar, typewriting fiction. Maybe it’s less about a digital detox and more about making space for the neglected analog hobbies.
Same here. I now added an additional app called "One Sec" and it adds a 6s buffer to apps I tag it to.
I love the idea of having more excitement in analog. More of a pull factor vs push. Once I'm engrossed in something, I rarely go back to my phone/screens.
I've been thinking about this often these days. I consume a lot of content. In fact, I am never 'not consuming' . Podcasts - when walking, working out, cooking or even taking a shower; Youtube for shorter breaks; Netflix or other streaming with my wife in the evening; Music - sometimes in the nights. If I am not consuming, I am writing. My reading has gone down the drain a bit and that's further reduced the time I am not consuming media (although, technically a book is media too).
So, my new hack the last couple of weeks has been to include silent breaks between tasks. Like, after working out, I would take 10 minutes before shower and the next inevitably sitting to write. Before writing, I would sit for 10 minutes just letting thoughts wander but not look at the screen to read anything, especially social media. My primary goal is to spur my thinking which has unfortunately suffered thanks to constant input. Going great for a few days but let's see how long it lasts. 🤞
Woah, didn't think of this silent breaks concept before and it sounds like an awesome idea! Please let me know how it goes. It sounds like a promising first few days already.
Great personal essay, Becky :) One of my own un-mindful habits is watching YouTube videos while I eat, if I'm alone. But I do take walks without earbuds or media and really enjoy that. I don't know whether it was growing up with the internet, or having a naturally inquisitive mind, but I definitely feel addicted to information on some level.
Addicted to information - that's it! I just feel the constant need to consume something new and "informative". Like an encyclopedia bender. It was so counter-intuitive to realize that constant consuming is NOT productive. I guess I'm still unlearning that.
Thanks for dropping by, Chris :)
elated to be in the pod rotation 🫡
Gotta stay uPPdated 🫡
This was great Becky! Now I'm tempted to try a screen-free day. Seems harder than it seems though. I've been using the time-limit feature in my iPhone but for the last couple of months I just ignore it. Funny how a warning that shows up every day doesn't do anything anymore.
We become desensitized to it SO fast. A day is really tricky. I chalk it up to work but can't seem to give it up during weekends either!
This was great! Now I want to do this. I often find my partner is most annoyed with me when he can sense that my mind is elsewhere when he’s talking with me, which it is often. And I’m now wondering how much that’s because I was listening or looking at something else.... great provocation!
Thanks for stopping by, Cris! It's something so much easier said than done. I'm also very much out of practice...
Omgggggg this was so good!!! It's crazy how so many of us are like "I have no time! I am so busy! Busy busy busy!" but you're so right in that time is incredibly abundant. It is endless. There couldn't be more of it if we tried!! If only we stop filling it with noise.
Totally! The amount of times I always go "omg it's 10pm already!" when time was ticking so sloooowly without screens...
Gold. I think about this all the time. I'm constantly wanting music on, and my husband is like "BE ALONE WITH YOUR THOUGHTS!" I just wrote down this week that I want the month of December to be a time where we are more present (annoying language), but really putting our phone in the drawer instead of always out within hands reach. Maybe I should write about this... anyways, loved this one, Becky. Thank you for sharing. I have had Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow on my shelf for months. Closing the laptop and cracking the old spine open! TY for the inspo <3
You are in for a RIDEEEE the book is so darn good!
If you ever write about a day when your phone is in the drawer, I'd love to read your experience (and if you struggle with the same... boredom as I did :p)
Loved this Becky. So relatable. I find I often claw for distraction, noise, but when I can make room for quiet and stillness, it’s so rewarding.
Great work on this :)
Also hats off for writing these longer pieces. NOT easy to pull off
Thanks so much Tommy. I really wanted to trim this down to my usual 750 but CansaFis convinced me otherwise!
" I joined a Hong Kong LGBTQ+ mentoring program as a mentee" Based on what I know about you I see YOU as the mentor :D
Aw thanks Christin! I'm a mentor to some students but definitely a mentee in the working world :)
Thanks for sharing this! Also trying to set limits so I’m only analog past a certain time. It’s tough.
Reflecting on this some more. I tried this setting on iOS that would attempt to block me from using certain apps past a certain time. I quickly got into the habit of just ignoring the warning. Instead of trying to do less digital, maybe the trick is to have more excitement in analog. Physical books, guitar, typewriting fiction. Maybe it’s less about a digital detox and more about making space for the neglected analog hobbies.
Same here. I now added an additional app called "One Sec" and it adds a 6s buffer to apps I tag it to.
I love the idea of having more excitement in analog. More of a pull factor vs push. Once I'm engrossed in something, I rarely go back to my phone/screens.