Approximately 14 hours prior to drafting this blog post, an unbelievable moment occurred in American history. This event could serve as an inflection point for generations to come. Or, it could be of no consequence whatsoever.
What matters to me is that I learned about this news from a friend who showed me on his phone. I checked the headline against major news outlets on TV, then pretty much went about my night-time routine and went to bed.
The next morning, I did not succumb to doomscrolling about this event before accidently checking social media from my pillow upwards of forty five minutes. The morning has been fully mine and I’m four hours into it. I plan to finish writing then go visit my tomatoes for our standing morning appointment. I am very relaxed and couldn’t be happier.
My morning would not have unfolded as such if I had not pushed myself to go forty eight hours“bricked” this weekend (ie. no social media). It was a challenging event that culminated a weeks-long experiment.
The Impetus For Abstinence
Johnathan Haidt’s The Anxious Generation moved me. I am hesitant to label anything as a boogie man, but this book reviews comprehensive data and successfully links social media and smartphones to many problems with young people (anxiety and depressed mood being some notable ones). These are problems I know I have and I suspect are made much worse by unchecked phone use.
The Experiment
As a self-improvement addict and someone who tests everything before offering recommendations, I began cutting back on social media throughout the month of June with these parameters:
- As often as possible, make sure my social media use was intentional and not unconscious
- No social media while I am in my house
- Record results in a journal
Enter The Brick
Curbing my use in the past routinely failed, but this time would be different with help from The Brick (found here). A small magnet that works in conjunction with an app to silence apps and websites of my choosing for as long as I want. There’s no room for unconsciously ending up on social media while my phone is “bricked.”
Take Aways From The Experiment:
- The Brick made a difference: I saw success in sticking to my parameters and dramatically reduced my screen time by 30% over the past couple of weeks. Some days didn’t have social media consumption at all.
- I’m generally happier without social media: Comparison is absolutely the theft of joy. I did not realize how upset social media left me feeling.
- I got things done: I have read more in the last three weeks than I have in the past two months. Social media is like an antibiotic to the beautifully diverse biome of literature and science writing.
- My thinking is clearer: Having my phone between me and the world dulls what I experience and my mind.
- I had hidden time on my schedule: With that, there is a lot of boredom I need to address.
- Unless the punishment fits the crime, I advise against punishing a teen by pulling their phone: There is a great deal of stress and withdrawal when cut off from something that infiltrates life so fully. This becomes kindling for resentment, irritability, and future fights.
- The Brick has wonderful potential for classrooms, schools, households, and therapy: It truly has been the only way to curb my use without completely cutting out technology. Imagine the implications in any of these settings!
- I lost interest in social media after about 36 hours: Social media is absolutely potato chips for my brain. Tempting at first, then mindless, leaving me bloated and salty. Yes, I’d like to open Reddit right now. Yes, I could go for a potato chip. At the same time, neither sounds appealing. I’m more in touch with what they’d ‘cost’ me.
- There is no “try”: Over the last couple of weeks I’d reward myself by relaxing my rule around social media at home. In doing so, my old habits immediately crept right back in. I plan to stick to “brick-outs” monthly and see if my overall screen-time remains low. Life is better yoking this beast.
Change takes time. It also takes support. Therapy is a fantastic vehicle to find support and accountability for lifestyle changes we all want to make.I would love to support you or a person you love in transforming life into something better. If you think I may be able to help yourself or someone you know, please consider setting up a free 15 minute consultation.
Please note, I do not get anything for endorsing this app or book. But, (selfishly) I encourage colleagues, family, and friends to check both out so we can discuss them, but also to help reclaim their attention and their lives as these items have done for me.