Haven’t been able to watch the Ghosts movie. I erm. Shrugs. Guess y’all get to hear about my journey to lessen screen time. Buckle in because it’s a LOT of stuff I’ve started doing.
I guess I’ll start with my current favorite thing that I’m working on right now. JOURNALING!!!! Yes. The thing that we were supposed to do every day last year? Yeah I’m doing that by choice. And yeah. I’m fweaking loving it. It’s so helpful for coming up with writing ideas or getting emotions out. It’s almost like… everyone ever has recommended journaling, and it’s actually a good thing?? Yeah YEAH yeah. Whatever. Just let me talk about it, okay? Journaling is something that I’ve tried about one million billion times in the past. Like I have TRIED, but it never seemed to stick. I don’t actually know why I started journaling again. It just felt good. It felt good to write… And that writing got me off my phone. Being off my phone made me to want to start writing in my journal even more. Didn’t even mean to do that. Just got creative or whateva…
Even though the journaling thing was an accident, this next thing wasn’t. That thing is EMBROIDERY! I haven’t been able to embroider in a bit because my current project is at home, but I’ve fallen in love with embroidery thread. Mostly I’ve been using it for friendship bracelets… shut up. It’s a nice repitetive motion! I need guides and stuff so it didn’t work super well… but I’m still having a grand time with it!
Right now I’m working on a project that was completely an accidental “off the phone” strat. It’s something fun called HAND SEWING MY HALLOWEEN COSTUME THE WEEK OF HALLOWEEN. I know I’ve complained about this to some of you, but I promise I’m having a lot of fun. Sewing requires a lot of attention, more than embroidery. While embroidery still has you using a needle, sewing needles hurt much much more. I’ve stabbed my shoulder so many times while trying to pin the sleeve to the middle part. Guys I am DYING. Dying of a really fun time.
Because of wanting to make my own costume, I’ve ended up on a side of YouTube that really wants me to stay off the internet and do this thing called “hobbies I enjoy”? Whatever that is. Sewing Youtubers and just people that make think pieces are really interesting to listen to. They’re the only kinds of creators that I allow myself to watch anymore. Internet drama? Things that don’t matter? Situations I don’t care about? Commentary YouTubers I’ve been watching for years? How about ambient music, ladies who are really passionate about their analog hobbies, think-pieces, writing advice, and creative works. Yeah. Oh yeah. That’s what Papa wants to see.
I have a limit to only be on Instagram and other social apps for I think three hours. I also have a limit where I can only be on my phone until 9 pm. I ALSO have a limit where I can only be on social apps for like 15 minutes at a time. AND I deleted YouTube off my phone, so I can only watch it on my computer. I feel like a loser, but I’ve genuinely been feeling better about myself and my mental health.
Please don’t think that I’m just spewing bullcrap. I’m not saying we should all burn our phones and run into the wild. While that would be fun for about an afternoon, I think that would lead to a lot more bad than good.
To continue with my Hippie nonsense, my desire to get off my phone has also inspired my dad to stay off HIS phone. And my mom took up a hobby to stay off HER phone. I didn’t inspire my brother or his girlfriend because they’re the ones that inspired me to go on this journey. BOO!!! JOURNEY??? LOSER!!! Okay anyway. I feel like I’ve had more time to connect with my family because we’re more present.
This has extended to my friends. I don’t think that I’ve inspired anyone to do anything, but I’ve been more open spending time with those friends when they’re free. I’ve always had time to spend with others, but in the past I would rather just be on my stupid dumb idiot dumb phone. Now I want that thing away from me most of the time. I weened myself off with the screen time stuff and having a fun time away from my phone.
I don’t want you to get off your phone. Well I do, but I don’t want you to unless YOU want to. The force of making this kind of change is what makes it so very hard. I’m not gonna preach or anything. I’m just gonna leave this here for any of your, just in case you need inspiration to get off your talking brick. Okay. That’s enough for now. ByeBye!
Wait Nick I love this. I struggle with screen time so much, but over The Big Break of 26′ I was barley on it which was cool. Very refreshing, just wish I could keep it up lol.
One of my tips for keeping it up is not looking at your phone for like… ten minutes after you wake up. At least for me it really helps with not getting the urge to be on my phone during the day.
Hope you can watch your move!!
I do be acting like a chud sometimes. I took up a personal project, though I think it’s the season of change and growing frontal lobes.