Things You Are Missing By Not Reducing Your Screen Time
A closer look at life since quitting Instagram.
Three years ago this month, I decided to deactivate my personal instagram. The decision was not an outcome of anxiety or stress. I just felt like I was not giving anything to the platform, and the platform was not giving me anything in return either.
I never spent hours on the Explore page, but often found myself muddling somewhere on the app, looking at someone else’s life and subconsciously judging if mine looked better or worse, or spending hours re-reading my 'perfectly hilarious and apt captions.' (Not a brag, but I was often appreciated for my witty captions in my social media phase 😌)
I started an Instagram page for Unwind in March of 2022, where I shared my insights occasionally. But as of last year, I have stepped away from it indefinitely. Social media can be a tricky space to navigate if you don’t set boundaries with it (remember, Substack is social media too). For most of us, a big chunk of our screen time reflects the number of hours we could have spent doing things that could really make a difference in our life. It is not just about screen time though. We often ignore social media’s contribution to our deteriorating mental state. I did not deactivate my instagram with the intention of never coming back, but I might end up doing exactly that, at least for the next few years.
If you are contemplating doing a digital detox, let this be your sign to go ahead with it.
Here’s what you are missing by not reducing your screen time:
The precious gift of time
I wrote my first journal entry a couple months after quitting instagram, because I had time. I have a lot more time to do things that this season of life wants me to pursue. I am able to go to bed without scrolling my phone at night. I have the mental capacity to provide undivided attention to my loved ones.
To summarise, I have time.
The freedom to pick new hobbies, sometimes even letting them go to make space for new ones
My time off social media introduced me to a world where I could try out things I always wanted to do. Painting, for instance, is one of them. People who know me well would agree that I am far from creative when it comes to art. But there were days when I spent hours painting on a canvas in my living room, even on cold winter nights. That's how much I enjoyed it. I have not been consistent with it since, but hobbies like reading and puzzles have kept me company.
Eye-opening realisations as you live more in the real world and less in the virtual world
Your mind is not designed to keep up with what 200 acquaintances are doing in their lives at the moment. It thrives when you nurture a handful of genuine connections.
You will hardly ever remember every piece of information you consume on the internet in a day. But a loved one may appreciate hearing your voice every once in a while. So, use your time wisely.
When you are not engaging with someone else’s life via an app, you start observing that your values, circumstances and priorities are unique. So you discover yourself instead of wanting to be someone else.
You are NOT left behind in a race where everyone else is thriving. You now realise that it wasn’t a race you wanted to be a part of in the first place.
You can choose to deviate from your original plan to protect your inner peace at any time, and the world will still stay intact.
THIS WEEK’s RECOMMENDATIONS
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If you enjoy reading Unwind, I would love it if you consider recommending the publication to your readers. Simply go to your dashboard > Recommendations > Manage > Add recommendation > Unwind.
You know I felt this!!! I love that so many of us are spending less time online. Thank you so much for including me 🥹❤️🔥
Agreed, this is so true ; another benefit is having better focus. Without all the distractions, you can accomplish more, enjoy the moment, and focus on what truly matters. Thank you for including me on the recommendations list, Mansi.