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!
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
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!
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?
Honestly I feel this so much! Like even on holiday, we can't switch off from work enquiries and even from just being constantly contactable by family. A holiday is meant to be a break from our lives, but it seems we can't have a break anymore.
Love the tips, I need to take this more seriously, it's uncomfortable to know I'm addicted to my phone 😅😭
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
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
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!
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?
The irony of the situation.. I am commenting from my phone only..
I literally downloaded one sec as I read this. I used to put a timer on my IG cause it’s my most used SM but some days I override it.
I absolutely need to break up with my phone too
We all need this lesson.
Hi
Great tips on break up with your attention demanding phone
Needed this ✨
I use the brick app
I desperately would like to just force myself to put my phone down but I literally started scrolling on instagram halfway through reading this.
Gary McGuy 😂
Honestly I feel this so much! Like even on holiday, we can't switch off from work enquiries and even from just being constantly contactable by family. A holiday is meant to be a break from our lives, but it seems we can't have a break anymore.
Love the tips, I need to take this more seriously, it's uncomfortable to know I'm addicted to my phone 😅😭