Yesterday, it dawned on me that I’ve finally managed to kill my phone. My phone, in all its capabilities and glory, bores me to tears these days.
I killed my phone two weeks ago when I removed the Safari app, the only app left on my phone that kept me glued to the screen. Besides its basic features, like texting, making phone calls, and taking pictures, the most entertaining app on my phone right now is the Hoopla app, a digital platform for borrowing books from the public library.
A while back, I was at a nightclub, slightly drunk and perfectly content to be in an establishment that encourages bad decisions when I experienced the joy of missing out.
My favorite songs blasted out of the speakers at deafening levels while bodies pushed against one another and drinks were spilled at an alarming rate.
At some point, between dancing and feeling good, I noticed some people on their phones scrolling through pictures and watching videos.
A thought, then, occurred to me.
I would hate to be bombarded with information about what other people, most of whom I have probably never even met, were doing with their Saturday night while I’m in the middle of enjoying my evening.
I imagined watching my Snapchat feed, or Instagram story, of people who might have been dressed better, surrounded by more people, or doing anything else that indicated they were having a better time than I was.
I was instantly grateful to not have access to that. I enjoyed my night as it was, without comparison or feeling I missed out on something better, something more, somewhere else. Continue reading “The joy of missing out”
This post is inspired by a post on the Human Tech community forum titled, how I went offline (mostly).
In the post, the person offers four stages to going internet-free in most areas of our lives, and the first stage they propose is to “establish a place for the internet.”
Simply put, set boundaries between yourself and the online world.
Although I have come to the realization that digital tools aren’t the problem, it’s still important to establish routines and structures that help us avoid compulsively reaching for our devices, mindless browsing the internet, and engaging in online activities that bring minimal value to our life.
Addiction, for the most part, is escapism.
Most addictions are the result of individuals trying to escape the unappealing realities of life, be it pain, loss, emotional turmoil and suffering. Pretty much anything can become an addiction, including alcohol, drugs, sex, food, gambling, and video games, if used excessively as a coping mechanism.
The widely accepted definition describes addiction as excessive use of drugs or alcohol to escape, relax, or as a reward to enjoy life, with the belief that you can’t cope without them.
In addition, at least three of the following criteria must be met to be diagnosed for addiction: tolerance, withdrawal, limited control, negative consequences, neglecting or postponing activities, significant time or energy spent, and the desire to cut down. Continue reading “Demonizing the tool(s) is scapegoating”
My friend came to visit, and I took the chance to act like a total tourist and take a bunch of pictures around downtown Detroit, Michigan. My friend, who is from Toronto, was totally blown away by how lively and aesthetically pleasing downtown Detroit is, compared to the general stereotype that Detroit is a ghost-town.
Anything but that, by any means.
Until next time… 🙂
Just in case you had any doubts regarding how beneficial exercise is for mental wellbeing, a simple search on Google for the benefits of exercise for mental health pulls up about 250,000,000 results.
Exercise is a powerful method for mantaining our mental wellbeing. It promotes changes in the brain that support neural growth, reduce inflammation, and create new activity patterns that promote feelings of calm and well-being.
