My TikTok is Reddit. I can have IG, TikTok, Twitter, etc. on my phone and no problem. But Reddit can keep me up until 4am. So no Reddit app on my phone, ever.
Omg! This reminds me of a book I read that’s all about ditching the automated entertainment in little moments and soaking in everything else that’s going on around us. It’s called Outsmart your Smartphone. It comes with statistics and personal reflection activities that help you with outsmarting your smartphone. Life changing! I recommend!
This is SO aptly timed for me (great article btw). My wifi has been out for 3 weeks (I know wtf) and at first it was pure devastation. How would I fill my time?? I was constantly reaching for my phone / laptop to watch tiktok/netflix only to realise I couldn’t use it to numb out watching something. After a few days of reaching for the devices and realising I couldn’t get what I needed I got used to them being gone. And I’ve noticed a change in my brain. I embrace being bored a lot more and from it I’m being so much more creative and dare I say, a little less stressed. I feel like emotions come and go in a way they don’t when you’re always able to distract yourself and then they can fester for days or weeks. It’s been really fascinating. Ofc I can’t wait for it to come back so I can watch some shows that have come out that I have missed. But overall I think it’s been accidentally pivotal! Because nothing is more horrifying than realising just how much you go to pick up your phone to fill those moments only to remember you can’t. Completely unnerving.
As usual, I love your writings, how you explained our delicate issues in an intellectual way :)
There were these 2 books that have helped me seeing my environment, neighborhood and my city life differently, in a more romantic or beautiful way.
Now I could do mindfulness, away from my phone, even the “in-between” times after I had contemplated the messages of the books.
Perhaps you'd be interested to check these out in the future.
1. In Paris: 20 Women on Life in the City of Light.
By Jeanne Damas and Lauren Bastide.
I love the red cover printed version!
2. French Women Don't Sleep Alone: Pleasurable Secrets to Finding Love.
By Jamie Cat Callan.
The book title of this one makes us think that perhaps this book is shallow, but I learned a lot of subtle differences between European and North American women way of cultural life, that actually affect the extent of women contentment. I'm a progressive, just filtrated the subject matter of the book that suits me.
I think about this A LOT! As someone who is recently post-Tiktok (or trying to be) and also as someone who chronically HAS to exist in public with either music on or chatting on the phone, I am aware of trying to let my mind just be... We’ll see if I get there
'With increasingly addictive stimuli at our fingertips, we’d benefit from packing our patience.....'
I'd say that one thing that can help during such moments is for us to try and cultivate more mindfulness and gratitude for the present moment. This can help enable our minds to be more calm and content, rather than feeling impatient, unproductive, as well as the urge to seek external stimuli and/or distractions.
I got my first smartphone with the internet in 2017 (17) after witnessing my high school friends mindlessly scrolling through Facebook in the little time they found between classes and decided that I would never use my phone in public unless to contact someone or take a necessary picture. This felt obvious at that time because IG reels weren't as popular around here but I am glad to have developed that habit.
Although I do end up getting sucked into the algorithm at home so my current goal is to break any unconscious scrolling or reading. Will use your piece as an encouragement haha
Their war is not just against idleness but also a bid for the attention of young people's imaginations.
I still have a flip phone in 2024, AMA ;)
YES this is so good. Like I don't even know what my neighborhood sounds like because I always have my headphones in.
My TikTok is Reddit. I can have IG, TikTok, Twitter, etc. on my phone and no problem. But Reddit can keep me up until 4am. So no Reddit app on my phone, ever.
Omg! This reminds me of a book I read that’s all about ditching the automated entertainment in little moments and soaking in everything else that’s going on around us. It’s called Outsmart your Smartphone. It comes with statistics and personal reflection activities that help you with outsmarting your smartphone. Life changing! I recommend!
This is SO aptly timed for me (great article btw). My wifi has been out for 3 weeks (I know wtf) and at first it was pure devastation. How would I fill my time?? I was constantly reaching for my phone / laptop to watch tiktok/netflix only to realise I couldn’t use it to numb out watching something. After a few days of reaching for the devices and realising I couldn’t get what I needed I got used to them being gone. And I’ve noticed a change in my brain. I embrace being bored a lot more and from it I’m being so much more creative and dare I say, a little less stressed. I feel like emotions come and go in a way they don’t when you’re always able to distract yourself and then they can fester for days or weeks. It’s been really fascinating. Ofc I can’t wait for it to come back so I can watch some shows that have come out that I have missed. But overall I think it’s been accidentally pivotal! Because nothing is more horrifying than realising just how much you go to pick up your phone to fill those moments only to remember you can’t. Completely unnerving.
As usual, I love your writings, how you explained our delicate issues in an intellectual way :)
There were these 2 books that have helped me seeing my environment, neighborhood and my city life differently, in a more romantic or beautiful way.
Now I could do mindfulness, away from my phone, even the “in-between” times after I had contemplated the messages of the books.
Perhaps you'd be interested to check these out in the future.
1. In Paris: 20 Women on Life in the City of Light.
By Jeanne Damas and Lauren Bastide.
I love the red cover printed version!
2. French Women Don't Sleep Alone: Pleasurable Secrets to Finding Love.
By Jamie Cat Callan.
The book title of this one makes us think that perhaps this book is shallow, but I learned a lot of subtle differences between European and North American women way of cultural life, that actually affect the extent of women contentment. I'm a progressive, just filtrated the subject matter of the book that suits me.
Love this ! Need to feel
Comfortable looking at the window ! Mental fitness will require it !
I think about this A LOT! As someone who is recently post-Tiktok (or trying to be) and also as someone who chronically HAS to exist in public with either music on or chatting on the phone, I am aware of trying to let my mind just be... We’ll see if I get there
This almost made me delete tiktok on the spot
I love that 1980s is viewed as the remote, primitive past!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 I’m loling!!!! ‘The only way out is simply through’ 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
I agree with yr points.
'With increasingly addictive stimuli at our fingertips, we’d benefit from packing our patience.....'
I'd say that one thing that can help during such moments is for us to try and cultivate more mindfulness and gratitude for the present moment. This can help enable our minds to be more calm and content, rather than feeling impatient, unproductive, as well as the urge to seek external stimuli and/or distractions.
Yes!! Relaxing into boredom creates space for dreaming up new ideas or reflecting 🩷
I got my first smartphone with the internet in 2017 (17) after witnessing my high school friends mindlessly scrolling through Facebook in the little time they found between classes and decided that I would never use my phone in public unless to contact someone or take a necessary picture. This felt obvious at that time because IG reels weren't as popular around here but I am glad to have developed that habit.
Although I do end up getting sucked into the algorithm at home so my current goal is to break any unconscious scrolling or reading. Will use your piece as an encouragement haha