I'm tired of consuming.
It's time for a digital detox.
The first noise I hear five days a week is my boyfriend saying goodbye as he leaves for work. Approximately half an hour later (depending on his timeliness) it’s the alarm on my phone blurting out.
After that it’s around 16 hours of near-constant consumption. And I’m tired.
Notifications. Doomscrolling. Phone calls. Emails. More notifications.
I can’t even be consumption-free when I’m driving - there has to be an audiobook or podcast playing.
It’s reached the point where my phone buzzes and my stomach drops, filled with dread. I can’t bear the thought of catching up on my DMs or texts (from people I love, may I add) because it is just too overwhelming.
When did it get to this?
How did it get to this?
And where do I go from here?
A digital detox
I’m losing precious time to things that don’t matter on a tiny device in my palm, rather than the world around me. Hours spent scrolling on TikTok, that week’s trending song stuck in my head for days, and clicking through Instagram stories of people I know but don’t really know.
Take this as my vow to cut my screen time. I work in social media so can’t abandon the apps completely, but I can set boundaries with myself.
Outside of working hours I barely need to touch my phone (except for Substack, of course!).
Cooking, reading, writing, creating or simply just being - productivity not necessary - I can do so many things away from a screen.
No tech before bed
When I cut my tech an hour before bed, I sleep so much better - probably because blue light affects your melatonin levels. A screen-free hour also makes my night routine much more enjoyable.
Instead, I’ll read a book (currently The Dictionary of Lost Words) or work on a cross stitch project. This simple step to winding down helps my brain feel far less cluttered when I go to sleep.
Admin hours
It sounds silly, but it works.
I dedicate time each day to go through my texts, DMs and other notifications, usually as soon as I get home from work. I’m by no means a popular person, but if the little red dot above my Messages app shows any number higher than three then consider me overwhelmed.
Staying on top of these notifications breaks down that overwhelm and I’m not suddenly panicking because I’ve not been in touch with so and so for a month.
Boundaries
Tech was designed to be addictive, from the chosen colours for each app interface to the perfectly-honed algorithms that show you exactly what you want to see.
At first it’s easier said than done, but just putting your phone down is a simple move to make. Setting boundaries with your apps and tech usage makes such a difference.
Lately I’ve found myself clicking on those time-sucking apps less and less simply because I’ve trained myself not to.
Trust me - once you’re out of the habit, you don’t even miss them.
It’s crazy what technology has put on us. I’m overwhelmed too with the amount of messages and emails that reach me daily, and I don’t get THAT many. Still too much. I love going on hikes, and I never listen to anything when I’m out walking. It’s my thoughtless time. And it’s becoming more and more precious.
I applaude your detox. Sometimes wish the world would mandate a tech-free day once a week, like they did at the end of «Ready player one». Tech and car free, that’s the dream.
What works for me is deleting the apps or getting occupied. Also, I use the “one-sec app” and have tried a couple of techniques but I still find myself doom-scrolling. What’s the way out, is it about having some sort of discipline or?