Bullseye. I think we're all finding it easier to engage with the unknowns in the world compared to the effort of maintaining and building with the people we are connected with in real life. Attention spans are scattered, influencers are being courted and celebrated-as with almost everything in life, we choose and decide. I go with checking messages at certain points in the day only and remaining logged out of social media on two platforms only, once I've checked it (twice in a day). Has given me more time to read and yes, even tidy up my living space.😊
Honestly this comment is exactly right. Part of the addiction to hyperconnectivity is also the disappearance of real life third spaces thanks to a late stage capitalism so less places to meet people in real life. You’re doing it right, checking but in moderation!
Oh, the creativity-aspect is so true! It’s as if social media is killing creativity because my head is only filled with other people’s ideas of visual aesthetics.
For quite I while I have this thought in my head with the question: Does an artist like Taylor Swift (you can fill in whatever artist you want here) ever go on instagram by herself? Or is just everything done by people who are paid for that? Maybe that’s just the secret to creativity ;)
Speaking from knowing enough artists who do this now, LOADS of artists are passing over the keys to their social media to a team they pay so they can focus on their art!
Understandable! I limited my social media to 1 hour per day and my girlfriend has the code to unlock more time. So without having a good reason I’m limited to 1 hour and it’s so so good!
I hardly used my phone on holiday last week and took a complete break from social media. It was heavenly! I think you're right in so much as picking up our phone and carrying it with us becomes habit. But habits can be broken...
I go to teach at a writing retreat in Devon which is cut off from any kind of internet and turns my phone into an old school phone that can only make phone calls - it’s the most spiritually healing week of my life each year!
I have been slowly realising that part of the lie of social media is that it convinces you that you can't live without it. It creates this energy that there is something RISKY in turning away, like you'll miss out on something vital. It increasingly made me feel like my popularity, my livelihood, my success, even my self-worth depended on it and... I just don't think that's true! What I have learned is that it often stops me thinking creatively, in ways I had not realised. It keeps me small. Mine is a messy, slow break-up and I'm definitely not there yet!
As someone who has been thinking about reducing their screen time this was a massive help. I recently realized that if I wanted to live the life of my dreams then the phone usage was going to have to go down. Now I know where to start.
This is exactly how I've been feeling! I do get enjoyment from certain apps, and don't wish to break up with my phone entirely, but it's the mindless times when I pick my phone up without thinking. That's scary. Sometimes I'll be scrolling and I don't remember pausing the task I was doing and picking up my phone. After reading it's sparked me to use one sec on more of the apps on my phone.
I wrote an article yesterday about boredom and how as a child, there were vast periods of boredom (I'm late 50's so no Internet, 3 TV channels, village life etc) but how that boredom taught me so much. I'm grateful for it. Now. I can see how vast amounts of time spent with so little 'entertainment' (ie distractions) gave the space for creativity to flourish. I also think that overwhelm is now the new boredom and how worrying that is for our children and grandchildren.
I love the idea of the One Sec app. And checking emails once a day. These things have invaded our lives and at what cost?
A thousand yeses to this. I was unwell this past week and I went most of the day without having my phone beside me. Picking it back up and imagining I need to be ‘on’ again felt like the biggest weight and told me everything I need to know about how much I need a new more distant relationship with the online world. Just wondering how I do that. It helped to read this. Thank you.
100% - I get what I call scroll brain in the middle of the night if I scroll too much - no more than 15 minutes a day. But reading articles is not as bad and no screens 2 hours before bedtime! Sensory/data overload is a real problem for 21st century humans!
I LOVE this! I have been writing recently about exploring how to have more fun in my life and I realised that when I turn off notifications on my phone that really helps! Those notifications zap my attention and makes me feel my phone dictates pockets of my time rather than it being an aid for my life.
So much yes to all of this (and perhaps a special mention to GaryMcGuy83746421).
My phone operates like it's own weather system inside my body, it's own storm and pressure that builds up inside my head. There is a noticeable sense of ease and spaciousness that is created when it's not on me or around me.
As for the balance between being on my phone and making art... I choose art, I choose art, I choose art. Thank you for all of these reminders 💛
So many good points! It’s also helpful to remember that a lot of the “angry people” are bots & trolls. So much online just isn’t real. But our brains don’t know that so by being overly online we create an environment for anxiety to run wild
Oh Nikita, you’ve said aloud ALL the things I’ve been thinking recently. As always, your words and view on the world is pure magic, thank you for sharing them. I’ve recently had some enforced rest due to some surgery and switching off all the noise, notifications and distractions has been SO incredibly joyful and uplifting. My attention has strayed and wandered in the most unexpected and beautiful ways and there have been so many cloud gaps of magic and shimmers of connection. Thank you xxx
Bullseye. I think we're all finding it easier to engage with the unknowns in the world compared to the effort of maintaining and building with the people we are connected with in real life. Attention spans are scattered, influencers are being courted and celebrated-as with almost everything in life, we choose and decide. I go with checking messages at certain points in the day only and remaining logged out of social media on two platforms only, once I've checked it (twice in a day). Has given me more time to read and yes, even tidy up my living space.😊
Honestly this comment is exactly right. Part of the addiction to hyperconnectivity is also the disappearance of real life third spaces thanks to a late stage capitalism so less places to meet people in real life. You’re doing it right, checking but in moderation!
Oh, the creativity-aspect is so true! It’s as if social media is killing creativity because my head is only filled with other people’s ideas of visual aesthetics.
For quite I while I have this thought in my head with the question: Does an artist like Taylor Swift (you can fill in whatever artist you want here) ever go on instagram by herself? Or is just everything done by people who are paid for that? Maybe that’s just the secret to creativity ;)
Speaking from knowing enough artists who do this now, LOADS of artists are passing over the keys to their social media to a team they pay so they can focus on their art!
Understandable! I limited my social media to 1 hour per day and my girlfriend has the code to unlock more time. So without having a good reason I’m limited to 1 hour and it’s so so good!
I hardly used my phone on holiday last week and took a complete break from social media. It was heavenly! I think you're right in so much as picking up our phone and carrying it with us becomes habit. But habits can be broken...
I go to teach at a writing retreat in Devon which is cut off from any kind of internet and turns my phone into an old school phone that can only make phone calls - it’s the most spiritually healing week of my life each year!
That sounds heavenly!
GaryMcGuy83746421 thinks women aren’t actual people?!?!?!
Sadly he’s not alone as that footballer reminded us last week 😭
Too soon </3
I have been slowly realising that part of the lie of social media is that it convinces you that you can't live without it. It creates this energy that there is something RISKY in turning away, like you'll miss out on something vital. It increasingly made me feel like my popularity, my livelihood, my success, even my self-worth depended on it and... I just don't think that's true! What I have learned is that it often stops me thinking creatively, in ways I had not realised. It keeps me small. Mine is a messy, slow break-up and I'm definitely not there yet!
This is why I switched to the Lightphone! We aren’t meant to live like this. I couldn’t do it anymore.
As someone who has been thinking about reducing their screen time this was a massive help. I recently realized that if I wanted to live the life of my dreams then the phone usage was going to have to go down. Now I know where to start.
This is exactly how I've been feeling! I do get enjoyment from certain apps, and don't wish to break up with my phone entirely, but it's the mindless times when I pick my phone up without thinking. That's scary. Sometimes I'll be scrolling and I don't remember pausing the task I was doing and picking up my phone. After reading it's sparked me to use one sec on more of the apps on my phone.
I wrote an article yesterday about boredom and how as a child, there were vast periods of boredom (I'm late 50's so no Internet, 3 TV channels, village life etc) but how that boredom taught me so much. I'm grateful for it. Now. I can see how vast amounts of time spent with so little 'entertainment' (ie distractions) gave the space for creativity to flourish. I also think that overwhelm is now the new boredom and how worrying that is for our children and grandchildren.
I love the idea of the One Sec app. And checking emails once a day. These things have invaded our lives and at what cost?
A thousand yeses to this. I was unwell this past week and I went most of the day without having my phone beside me. Picking it back up and imagining I need to be ‘on’ again felt like the biggest weight and told me everything I need to know about how much I need a new more distant relationship with the online world. Just wondering how I do that. It helped to read this. Thank you.
100% - I get what I call scroll brain in the middle of the night if I scroll too much - no more than 15 minutes a day. But reading articles is not as bad and no screens 2 hours before bedtime! Sensory/data overload is a real problem for 21st century humans!
Love every word of it. I'm trying to spend less time on social apps.Thanks for recommending that one sec app!
I LOVE this! I have been writing recently about exploring how to have more fun in my life and I realised that when I turn off notifications on my phone that really helps! Those notifications zap my attention and makes me feel my phone dictates pockets of my time rather than it being an aid for my life.
So much yes to all of this (and perhaps a special mention to GaryMcGuy83746421).
My phone operates like it's own weather system inside my body, it's own storm and pressure that builds up inside my head. There is a noticeable sense of ease and spaciousness that is created when it's not on me or around me.
As for the balance between being on my phone and making art... I choose art, I choose art, I choose art. Thank you for all of these reminders 💛
So many good points! It’s also helpful to remember that a lot of the “angry people” are bots & trolls. So much online just isn’t real. But our brains don’t know that so by being overly online we create an environment for anxiety to run wild
Oh Nikita, you’ve said aloud ALL the things I’ve been thinking recently. As always, your words and view on the world is pure magic, thank you for sharing them. I’ve recently had some enforced rest due to some surgery and switching off all the noise, notifications and distractions has been SO incredibly joyful and uplifting. My attention has strayed and wandered in the most unexpected and beautiful ways and there have been so many cloud gaps of magic and shimmers of connection. Thank you xxx