Like we watch our carbs, may be it is time to watch our digital feeds too.
We are what we eat. And in the digital world we live in we also are what we see.
Playing some youtube video in the background while working, or watching random feeds on Instagram or whatsapp every time I got even 2 min mind off or just binge watching Netflix seemed so incredibly innocuous to me that when the lockdown hit, and the screen time took a major spike which I dint even realise.
Although I could sense a change in the mental peace and calm slightly worsening everyday it took me sometime to attribute it to something.And of course the moment I realised it was my screen time, like any pro-active human I resorted to “DIGITAL DETOX” . Being off from whatsapp or social media is something alot of us must have tried. So did I . And it did work – for 2 days. Obviously for work, or for even getting in touch with people I can’t be off from these channels. And even if I decide to how sustainable can that be.
But was it being all in or cut off altogether?
I have a very simple analogy. Like junk food spoils our body and makes us constipated. The junk media we consume it constipates our mind. Everything, from those videos of fashion bloggers jumping and changing clothes to media channels turning into the judiciary to those endless tiktok videos. This junk media does constipate our mind without us knowing about it. Because ofcourse we just watch them for fun, in our free time, like when we eat food, or when we are waiting on a traffic light or some of us when we poop.
Here are 3 Things that I tried for my digital detox
- Keeping a track: I checked how much time I spent on which app( I used this app) . It was embarrassing and eye opening. So like we check the miles we walk I tried to check my time on the top 2 apps. So that helped me consciously cut down scrolling randomly.
- Applied Marie Kondo :My top spent time app was Instagram and I realised how much of the feeds just have fashion bloggers jumping and changing clothes. And I was just mindlessly following them and watching them. So I followed Marie kondo style and literally removed everyone who was not bringing “Joy” to me. By that I mean didn’t add value, or inspired me, or motivated me or was a part of the group of people I want to know about. Same thing I did with Youtube and Facebook.
- I fixed time: I realised that the first thing I saw in morning and the last thing before sleeping was my phone. Whether for work or for killing time I had no time limit. Fixing my usage times(like I set 9 am to 9 pm for myself) helped me big time from protecting myself from the aimless browsing and It also helped me to actively read and paint which I like, but always never had time before.
The thing is, regular doses of this useless information over long period of time turns our brain into this dumpyard and we all know seeds don’t germinate in dumpyard. We all struggle with some inspiration some motivation some direction and some mentor ship and the beauty is that these digital channels can be all of that.
I am not saying that one cuts off all source of entertainment and becomes a digital hermit. But like we consciously choose protein over carbs in our food for a leaner body, we may be can choose the feeds as well. Selecting carefully the instagramers you follow, or filtering your youtube for the feeds which you find entertaining enriching and worth enough can be one step. consciously removing all those feeds which don’t bring- entertainment, inspiration or motivation to you- Or in simple words Joy to you ( Marie kondo style) will “purify” your mind without your realising it.
Like the book magic says- Visualisation is one step towards your dream. Fill your feed by the type of person you want to become, with the type of thoughts you want to have or the life you want for yourself and visualise that into reality.
This is what I experienced. It is impossible to just shut myself off from the social media or whatsapp or screen, but if I simply watch what I consume digitally, be mindful about it and realise what is really adding value and where i am just a target customer for a digital campaign- It simplifies my life in a more sustainable way than I initially imagined, and genuinely helps me survive the difficult time Covid has been.
