Laugh or log off

dan-cook-MCauAnBJeig-unsplash
Photo by Dan Cook on Unsplash

Once upon a time, when a fan accused Rihanna of being insensitive for a meme she shared on her Instagram, Rihanna responded with, ‘laugh or log off.’

Discovering this gem a few days ago reminded me of another one from Tyler, The Creator. He tweeted,

“Hahahahahahahaha How The F**k Is Cyber Bullying Real Hahahaha N***a Just Walk Away From The Screen Like N***a Close Your Eyes Haha.”

Without minimizing the issue of cyberbullying, Tyler, The Creator had a point that completely changed the way I viewed my relationship with social media. Continue reading “Laugh or log off” →

Event recap: Practising digital minimalism in a digitally-caffeinated culture

annie-spratt-w17rvzEglgY-unsplash
Photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash

.  .  .

“Cal Newport has discovered a cure for the techno-exhaustion that plagues our always-on, digitally caffeinated culture.”
—Joshua Fields Millburn, The Minimalists

.  .  .

This past weekend, Toronto’s Digital Minimalism Meetup Group held our second event, practicing digital minimalism in a digitally-caffeinated culture. The event centered around discussing the challenges of the digital world and practical ways to implement digital minimalism to fit our lifestyle. Continue reading “Event recap: Practising digital minimalism in a digitally-caffeinated culture” →

Three digital wellness apps I use to tame my digital addiction

jonathan-kemper-ff96HE413W0-unsplash
Photo by Jonathan Kemper on Unsplash

Isn’t it ironic that there are apps designed to help us navigate our addiction to the digital world? Fight fire with fire, I guess.

Anyway, as mentioned in previous posts (here for instance), it is entirely impossible for me to use willpower or self-control to manage the time and energy I spend on mindless online activities.

The brain wants to avoid discomfort as much as possible so it will coax us back to the couch, our screens and comfort.  In comparison to digital distractions, everything else seems to require far too much effort.

It is simply too enticing to be idle and scroll through easy entertainment for instant gratification than to get up and do things that require effort, no matter how beneficial they may be. Continue reading “Three digital wellness apps I use to tame my digital addiction” →

Upcoming event: Practising digital minimalism in a digitally-caffeinated culture

meetup group event #2 poster

“Cal Newport has discovered a cure for the techno-exhaustion that plagues our always-on, digitally caffeinated culture.”
—Joshua Fields Millburn, The Minimalists

Join us for a discussion on how we can incorporate digital minimalism in practical ways that fit our lifestyle perfectly!

We will explore ideas to help us cultivate a sustainable digital minimalist lifestyle, including the importance of solitude, the necessity of cultivating high-quality leisure to replace mindless browsing and joining the attention resistance movement.

Group Website

Event Website

 

What I’ve learned from not browsing on my phone for a month

christian-wiediger-zhZydTyNMPg-unsplash
Photo by Christian Wiediger on Unsplash

I have been meaning to write a follow-up to my digital minimalism challenge post for the past two weeks now but there is always something easier to do, something more fun, at a tap of a screen.

Most can relate to the challenge of distracting apps and platforms that clutter our lives and make it harder to focus our attention on things we value. Continue reading “What I’ve learned from not browsing on my phone for a month” →

Youth cafés: creating youth-friendly spaces

farzad-mohsenvand-704474-unsplash
Photo by Farzad Mohsenvand on Unsplash

Providing physical spaces where young people feel valued and empowered is essential to positive youth development.

Safe spaces for youth should be places where young people can come together to express themselves and engage in decision-making processes that impact their lives. Youth should have an active and on-going role in creating a youth-friendly space, including guidelines, safety protocols, atmospheres, activities, and so forth. Continue reading “Youth cafés: creating youth-friendly spaces” →