By deleting the social media apps, I have reduced my daily screen time tremendously. My daily average according to the app was 6 hours and today my usage was 44 mins. Granted, this was on a day off from work and I had errands to run, so I didn’t have time or a reason to listen to YouTube today like I normally do.
My previous plan was to check in weekly but I feel that daily checking in will help me to achieve my goal more efficiently since I will be keeping my eyes on it.
Back at the beginning of the year, I made a decision to stop my doomscrolling habits. Now at the end of the first quarter, I can say, that habit did not go away and it maybe even got worse.
I am here at the beginning of Quarter 2 to finally make and keep this promise and work on my habit of doomscrolling.
But first, my current habit:
My current weekly screen time
As you can see, in a week’s time, Instagram stole (actually I gave them willingly) about 18 hours of my time. In a week.
YouTube looks bad at almost 14 hours but for that, I mainly pop headphones on and listen to videos while I accomplish other things.
Facebook wasn’t terrible at almost 2 hours in a full week but again, that’s two hours of sitting, scrolling, maybe interacting, but doing nothing.
In a week, almost a full day was used on social media apps. A full day. 21 hours and 13 minutes.
A goal needs steps. First steps:
I have deleted Instagram, Threads, LinkedIn and Facebook from my phone. I can access them on my computer as needed, and with that, I can set aside an intentional amount of time in my office for using social media apps.
Next week, I will check in with how this time compared to last time.
Second step:
If I feel like I want to scroll, I will read a book. I have nine books I am currently reading from my TBR pile. Let’s see how many of those I can finish with the 21 hours not being allocated to social media.
Have you made similar time-management decisions? How did they affect your life?
“If you could permanently ban a word from general usage, which one would it be? Why?”
I can’t pick one because it depends on the latest buzzword that’s trending or the latest trending social media word. Whenever a word is repeated over and over by numerous people as a trend, I just want to throw the word out of the language. For example when everyone was using the word “demure,” I wanted to scream and throw the word out of existence. This happens every time everyone around me is stuck on a word or a term.
This is my own personal goal because I am done with the amount of time I spend scrolling on social media. I am infinitely glad that the screen time tracker on iPhone does not send each individual a “Your Year Wrapped” for that crap because it would be astronomical and I don’t care for it.
SO here is my game plan to stop doomscrolling.
First, I have deleted social media apps from my phone with the exception of Facebook because there is a crucial group that I am a part of that is family-related.
Second, I have a to be read pile with a goal to read a minimum of 6 books this year. Yes, I still have Goodreads to help track this but I also have a notebook that I’m tracking my activities in.
Third, I am buying my own copies of media to own. I’m talking books, CD’s, DVD’s, BluRays, physical copies of video games, like it’s the year 2009. I do not want to continue to be part of the algorithm feeding. I still have a CD player in my car. I’m good with doubling my gaming console as a DVD or BluRay player. I’m done with ads and algorithms. Let me find things organically. This does mean that I will have to have a specific budget for this, but it’s not too much worse than if I were to hold subscriptions to the streaming services.
I realize that I could own digital copies of these things to save space but I would rather them not take up storage space on my computer and on my phone. Buying physical copies means that they have their own storage built in.
Fourth, as much as possible, I will be buying these things in an actual store from the stock that is available. Unless I am thinking of a very specific nostalgia piece that I have to go searching for, I want to find it in my area rather than get it shipped.
Am I simply taking me and my family back to the early 2000’s? Possibly, but (and I know I sound like an old person) I feel like this level of technology was the perfect blend between digital and real life. Large swaths of time were spent digitally, but large swaths of time were also spent outdoors or playing board games with friends. I also feel like “the kids” are going back to this level of technology because of it being a good blend of the two. When I was at Barnes and Noble the other day, I saw someone aged anywhere from 17-20 combing through the one shelf of CD’s like she was searching through treasure.
I would be interested to know what you think as well. Are you also in a place where algorithms are disrupting your time and attention? Or are you perfectly content with how things are progressing?
Currently, my physical state and being out of shape is my biggest challenge because it affects more areas of my life, such as being able to keep up with my energetic toddler. I am getting better over time but it is taking a slow amount of time. I am making progress in this challenge.
“What relationships have a positive impact on you?”
My familial relationships with my immediate, small family are the most positive in my life. My work relationships are positive for my work life as well, but that’s not the main portion of my life.
“How have your political views changed over time?”
I think I’m just a lot more skeptical now of any politician on any side. I’m rather middling in my views anyway, so I can vote either side depending on the candidates, but I am now very skeptical of any individuals running for office because I now believe that all “promises” while running are just to garner votes, not to make actual changes.
I enjoy learning and writing. I wish I would practice more visual art but words have always come so easily to me. I curate the things around me that I like. I feel like this is creative as well because I’m intentional about what I listen to or read, instead of being passive like when scrolling Instagram or YouTube.
“What are your favorite physical activities or exercises?”
Lately, my favorites have been riding my bicycle or taking a walk but it’s become difficult to do these activities in the evening with how quickly it gets dark. Instead, in the winter, I tend to do more weight lifting and the elliptical because I have these in my garage.
PaperCat 