Wow, Christina! I resonated with this article in soooo many ways!! I felt like you could have been in my brain, reading my thoughts, with a lot of the points that you made! Some of my favorite points: sometimes it takes a number of tries before we end up being successful at changing a habit... yes! I've learned in life that just because I didn't succeed on the first go-round of making a change, doesn't mean that it wasn't the right move and that I should give up. So happy for you that you kept persevering with finding a balance in your life with technology!
Allowing your mind to wander in the "in-between" moments. This has been my journey in recent years as well, and no matter how badly I need to send an email when I'm waiting in line somewhere or in the doctor's office, I wait... because I'm trying to model good behavior with phones (which I'm sure most don't notice because they're on their phones, lol =) but also because I'm exercising my mental muscles of not trying to be constantly entertained, and to be comfortable with my own thoughts. I've had so many good ideas in recent years because of this, and was thrilled to learn that this is where your idea for your "Grinch" alternative ending came from! That was pure genius, in my opinion!
The introvert/extrovert question... unlike you, I always used to think of myself as an extrovert, but over the years, have realized that I'm both (and I'm thinking that we all are, to a certain extent?). And just like you said, I think that all of us, or at least most of us, need a balance of social connection and solitude, for optimal mental health.
The quote from Katherine Johnson Martinko about the real world just being a resource for our online identities really hit home for me as well. I was a big scrapbooker back in the day, before social media and the like, but I remember many times when I was taking pics of my kids and thinking, "This is going to make a great scrapbook layout!" Now, I try harder to just be present and enjoy the moments in life, but I still take way too many pics on my phone, so always lots of room for improvement!
I absolutely love your idea of "technology unbundling" in 2025, and I agree that changing this cultural norm could/would/will be very impactful... l
Looking forward to the thoughts that your mind wandering and solitude bring forward in 2025, Christina!
Some other good reads: Vanity Fair by Thackeray, Great Expectations and David Copperfield by Dickens. War and Peace. You've probably already read them, though, LOL.
I recently put a screentime widget on the home page of my phone and I have been disgusted by how much time I spent in the latter half of December looking at my phone. I really had no idea how quickly it was adding up. I multiplied it by 365 and realised I was spending weeks of my year doing this. The reality check has been very sobering. I'm trying to use my phone more intentionally - as the incredibly useful tool it is intended to be and not as a distraction. Here's to more books and crafting in 2025!
Yes, it really is crazy how fast the screentime adds up. I would open my phone up to quickly buy something on Amazon or check the weather forecast, and 30 min later, still scrolling. I envy people who have the self control to use their smartphone as a tool!
I've noticed a lot of the same things since deleting social media a little over a year ago. I never posted much, but the passive scrolling/consumption had started to feel compulsive. I still have a smartphone but it feels much more like a tool. Once I've accomplished a task (send a message, write down an appointment, check the weather, make a shopping list, etc.) it's much easier to put it down. I feel in charge of my time now, and I'm plowing through books like I did in high school and college!
Wow, Christina! I resonated with this article in soooo many ways!! I felt like you could have been in my brain, reading my thoughts, with a lot of the points that you made! Some of my favorite points: sometimes it takes a number of tries before we end up being successful at changing a habit... yes! I've learned in life that just because I didn't succeed on the first go-round of making a change, doesn't mean that it wasn't the right move and that I should give up. So happy for you that you kept persevering with finding a balance in your life with technology!
Allowing your mind to wander in the "in-between" moments. This has been my journey in recent years as well, and no matter how badly I need to send an email when I'm waiting in line somewhere or in the doctor's office, I wait... because I'm trying to model good behavior with phones (which I'm sure most don't notice because they're on their phones, lol =) but also because I'm exercising my mental muscles of not trying to be constantly entertained, and to be comfortable with my own thoughts. I've had so many good ideas in recent years because of this, and was thrilled to learn that this is where your idea for your "Grinch" alternative ending came from! That was pure genius, in my opinion!
The introvert/extrovert question... unlike you, I always used to think of myself as an extrovert, but over the years, have realized that I'm both (and I'm thinking that we all are, to a certain extent?). And just like you said, I think that all of us, or at least most of us, need a balance of social connection and solitude, for optimal mental health.
The quote from Katherine Johnson Martinko about the real world just being a resource for our online identities really hit home for me as well. I was a big scrapbooker back in the day, before social media and the like, but I remember many times when I was taking pics of my kids and thinking, "This is going to make a great scrapbook layout!" Now, I try harder to just be present and enjoy the moments in life, but I still take way too many pics on my phone, so always lots of room for improvement!
I absolutely love your idea of "technology unbundling" in 2025, and I agree that changing this cultural norm could/would/will be very impactful... l
Looking forward to the thoughts that your mind wandering and solitude bring forward in 2025, Christina!
Some other good reads: Vanity Fair by Thackeray, Great Expectations and David Copperfield by Dickens. War and Peace. You've probably already read them, though, LOL.
Love this!
I recently put a screentime widget on the home page of my phone and I have been disgusted by how much time I spent in the latter half of December looking at my phone. I really had no idea how quickly it was adding up. I multiplied it by 365 and realised I was spending weeks of my year doing this. The reality check has been very sobering. I'm trying to use my phone more intentionally - as the incredibly useful tool it is intended to be and not as a distraction. Here's to more books and crafting in 2025!
Yes, it really is crazy how fast the screentime adds up. I would open my phone up to quickly buy something on Amazon or check the weather forecast, and 30 min later, still scrolling. I envy people who have the self control to use their smartphone as a tool!
I've noticed a lot of the same things since deleting social media a little over a year ago. I never posted much, but the passive scrolling/consumption had started to feel compulsive. I still have a smartphone but it feels much more like a tool. Once I've accomplished a task (send a message, write down an appointment, check the weather, make a shopping list, etc.) it's much easier to put it down. I feel in charge of my time now, and I'm plowing through books like I did in high school and college!
It felt like a compulsion to me too! Glad you've been able to use your smartphone as a tool - that's awesome!