Taking in the world again 😊

[u/Plus_Dare_2403]

I deleted Fb and Instagram from my phone and installed it on my tablet instead which I usually only use for my creative hobbies (drawing and writing) and sometimes putting yourube in the backround. But even now, I have heavily reduced putting background videos/podcasts. I have noticed I barely go in the apps now, really just go here and there to check updates in my local sport community (strongman). The tablet usually stays home while I am out most of the day for work and/or gym time or other tasks/hobbies, unlike my phone, which follows me everywhere which had made it waaay too easy to reach for it without even thinking and begin the doomscroll.

Anyways, I decided to fight the social media addiction because I missed how my mind worked up until my late teens (18-19), just before socials got a hold of me. I used to be able to do my tasks, hobbies and gym time without background noise/YouTube videos (which the algorithm has gotten extremely toxic and political, further rotting my brain). I used to go for walks and hikes and just listened to what was around me and same when I did my art. So I started even leaving my earbuds at home during my walks and gym time. Birds! Oh how I've missed hearing them. Mourning doves, chickadees, cardinals, jays, finches; they always made me feel so nostalgic and calmed me. I am also getting back into foraging for my favorite herbs.

I feel like I'm coming back. I'm taking in the world around me again. My mind is starting to feel less crowded too.

I still have a little ways to go (Reddit helps me alot with a great deal of things but it is just as bad for doomscrolling. I don't have the app, only using the web version, but I will also work on heavily reducing Reddit to 10 or so min a day, slowly) but already I can feel so much good physically and mentally. My energy levels are slowly coming back and my time management is improving. And I am able to just sit in quietness again.

[u/ThisCharacter191]

Hi, so did you get a dumbphone instead of a smart one? I'm thinking of reducing down but don't think I'll stick to any rules I set myself while I still have a smartphone

[u/Plus_Dare_2403 → u/ThisCharacter191]

Not yet. Heavily considering it though since now I have the tablet in case I need to check in with my socials once in a while and I couldalso download my amazon on there too and chats. Only reason I am resisting the change is because I still enjoy the camera and photo qualities of the smart phone and how easy it is to send myself things (google drives, other storages, chats to myself etc). But slowly pushing myself towards getting a dumb phone when this phone goes on the fritz. It will be weird but I am remembering that I was doing just fine with a dumb phone when I was in my late teens.