Walks are such a game changer. And, for me, getting up early for those walks. I’m the furthest thing from a morning person, but every time I force myself up and immediately step out the door, I’m more focused and calm for the rest of the day. Also something I want to write about more! Thank you for this one.
I hear ya, Syd, it's the same for me. walking outside with my dog first thing always makes me feel more focused, awake and aware of myself and my surroundings. even though sometimes I wish I could stay in bed for at least another couple of hours 😅
This is top of mind for me too, and what I’ve found most effective when my mind feels overcrowded is to do something with my hands. Whether that’s to cook a labour intensive meal (chop a thousand things!!!) or pull my closet apart for physical decluttering, having my hands busy on a task that leaves little room for mental distraction is such a good way to reoccupy my need for dopamine.
Something I’ve found sets me off on a great start to a decluttered day is not looking at my phone for about an hour after I get up. This can be a challenge sometimes because I use my phone as alarm, but I always find it easier to avoid the little screen throughout the day if I’ve ignored it from the start!
I absolutely love this idea, Madison, and swear by it! I have an older phone without any apps that I use as an alarm and my 'real' phone stays in the living room. I normally just grab it after 2-3 hours and it really makes all the difference.
Happy to report shortly after this I found an alarm clock that plays the radio for only $3 at my local second hand shop, so I now typically wake up to the baseball scores from the previous day. 🥳
I could see why some folks might still want their phone nearby in case of emergency, since most people no longer have land lines. It’s a hard object to break away from, especially since it’s designed that way.
Well done. I would say the whole ‘in case of emergency’ thing is really overdone and designed to make us think we *need* our phones everywhere we go. Certainly the landline was taken from us (at least here in Australia) on purpose because it worked perfectly - wasn’t affected by electricity outages or internet connectivity and didn’t fry your brain when talking to your mum/boyfriend for 3 hours. I need to receive messages for work when I am on call but otherwise I have really detached from my phone. I have it in a central place in ten home so I have to go to it - it doesn’t follow me around - and I don’t take it most places when I leave the house and now see it as a hassle to carry if I do. And I notice so much more how absorbed everyone is on their phone and how nothing can happen without phones or photos. It’s really sad. The worst is babies in prams 🥲
Great way to set a boundary and also set you up for success by remembering to eat! I so often have coffee and then realize I’m a little grumpy a few hours later because I haven’t eaten anything 🙃.
Cooking - and everything in between that allows to put food on the table on a day to day basis- instead of scrolling. For me making things sacred; the kitchen, the farmers, the cooking material, the spices, the nourishment that it provides the body, the story’s and history that connects us to our culture and others cultures, etc. It makes cooking a task that involves other tasks that can only be done if committed to being present in the physical world. To put intention and respect in everything that is done and touched.
Yes to cooking with love. I’ve also noticed that eating without screens, podcasts, audio books, etc is a very mindful and calming experience in our modern busy world.
A couple weeks ago I was watching a movie at home with some friends and about 20 minutes in one person got up and said, without much remorse, “sorry guys, I really don’t have the attention span for movies, I’m gonna go upstairs and watch tiktoks instead. Let me know when you’re done!” I was shocked. I couldn’t believe they had just accepted this about themselves, but this is getting more and more common. We have to take our focus back!! This is not normal
I hate how much I’m dependent on my phone, I have to take the train everyday for about an hour and every single day I am glued to my phone in that time. Even listening to music or a podcast isn’t enough for my brain anymore, I just scroll and scroll and scroll through tiktok. Occasionally my phone dies on the way back and my mind, Jesus, I am so utterly bored, it’s crazy.
I'm so sorry you feel that way. but, listen, don't beat yourself up. phones (and apps) were creating by gigantic companies that literally inject millions of dollars to make them addictive. and I know it feels like putting a band-aid over a bullet wound, but can try some things, like bringing a book with you, delete the apps from your phone while cummuting (I do this all the tim) or picking up some sort of hobby in which you use your hands (like crochet!) so you don't feel the pull, you know? either way, please understand your feelings are valid and totally understandable.
This was probably said before but I've found a good book to really help with that buzzing in the brain. Especially when you find that really good book with a plot you can sink your teeth into. And thank you for putting the words to this media exhaustion.
you put into writing what i've been meaning to convey for the past few months. i've been stepping away from it all too and have been wanting to get back to writing. this inspired me to write again and maybe share my thoughts on this topic as well!
i made my own slow morning routine which doesn’t involve my phone. i’ve made it a rule to never use my phone first thing in the morning and will only reach out to it later in the day if needed. being in quietness helps me get ready for work cause i feel a lot calmer and my brain clearer ☁️ it really is the the damn phone !!!
I’m literally in the middle of a 40 day fast from Instagram because my brain was turning to mush. The initial stages are rough, and the fomo is real, but now I’m noticing so much peace and mental clarity. I’m not sure I want to go back on it!
I totally get that. I still need it because of work, but I'm trying to get less and less into it. my ultimate goal is to be successfull enough that I don't need to use those platforms anymore.
thank you for this very relatable essay <3 one thing I try to do to declutter my mind is to do a thing I’m thinking about a lot: for example the letter I wanted to send away for a few days and every time I walk past it in my flat I have that thought of “oh I still need to do that”. And by doing that I have one thought less in my view 😅 don’t know if that makes sense
oh, that makes perfect sense! I also like to leave something that's pending on my line of sight. like, If I need to buy eggs, I'll leave the empty cart on the kitchen counter so I don't forget!
walks are the best, but i am the kind of person who always needs to have music on. sometimes i feel bad because i’m using my phone even if it’s just for skipping the song, but lately i started using my watch for that. another thing that i tried is painting. painting by numbers because i’m no Picasso :))) and that really helps me with all my thoughts
I love the 'paint by the numbers' idea and definitely need to check it out. (also, don't feel guilty for needing music or using your phone to skip songs, you're doing your best!)
This is so real! I have given myself permission to brain rot once a week. But the truth is, I brain rot a little each day, and a lot one day a week. I have noticed this, and it is time to make a change.
One of my challenges though is that it's hard to accept awkward silence without a phone. So, step one for me is brining a book, or a journal with me, and reading or journaling when there is silence.
you know what I did for a while? I scheduled boredom. I kid you not, I would put a 5-minute timer and sit with myself in silence to train being quiet and just existing for a while. after it got confortable, I started increasing the time. but having a journal or book is also a great idea!
Walks are such a game changer. And, for me, getting up early for those walks. I’m the furthest thing from a morning person, but every time I force myself up and immediately step out the door, I’m more focused and calm for the rest of the day. Also something I want to write about more! Thank you for this one.
I hear ya, Syd, it's the same for me. walking outside with my dog first thing always makes me feel more focused, awake and aware of myself and my surroundings. even though sometimes I wish I could stay in bed for at least another couple of hours 😅
This is top of mind for me too, and what I’ve found most effective when my mind feels overcrowded is to do something with my hands. Whether that’s to cook a labour intensive meal (chop a thousand things!!!) or pull my closet apart for physical decluttering, having my hands busy on a task that leaves little room for mental distraction is such a good way to reoccupy my need for dopamine.
YES, the declutter is huge. The struggle for me is trying to stay present while I’m doing that, vs. using it as another chore to hurry my way through.
Something I’ve found sets me off on a great start to a decluttered day is not looking at my phone for about an hour after I get up. This can be a challenge sometimes because I use my phone as alarm, but I always find it easier to avoid the little screen throughout the day if I’ve ignored it from the start!
I absolutely love this idea, Madison, and swear by it! I have an older phone without any apps that I use as an alarm and my 'real' phone stays in the living room. I normally just grab it after 2-3 hours and it really makes all the difference.
Oh what a fantastic idea!!! I need to go hunting for a retired phone to do this.
Get an alarm clock. The phone should not be in the same room as the one you sleep in anyway. Boundaries, people!
Happy to report shortly after this I found an alarm clock that plays the radio for only $3 at my local second hand shop, so I now typically wake up to the baseball scores from the previous day. 🥳
I could see why some folks might still want their phone nearby in case of emergency, since most people no longer have land lines. It’s a hard object to break away from, especially since it’s designed that way.
Well done. I would say the whole ‘in case of emergency’ thing is really overdone and designed to make us think we *need* our phones everywhere we go. Certainly the landline was taken from us (at least here in Australia) on purpose because it worked perfectly - wasn’t affected by electricity outages or internet connectivity and didn’t fry your brain when talking to your mum/boyfriend for 3 hours. I need to receive messages for work when I am on call but otherwise I have really detached from my phone. I have it in a central place in ten home so I have to go to it - it doesn’t follow me around - and I don’t take it most places when I leave the house and now see it as a hassle to carry if I do. And I notice so much more how absorbed everyone is on their phone and how nothing can happen without phones or photos. It’s really sad. The worst is babies in prams 🥲
Same here! I usually don’t go on social media apps until I eat breakfast
Great way to set a boundary and also set you up for success by remembering to eat! I so often have coffee and then realize I’m a little grumpy a few hours later because I haven’t eaten anything 🙃.
Wow i love this. Going to start implementing it.
Cooking - and everything in between that allows to put food on the table on a day to day basis- instead of scrolling. For me making things sacred; the kitchen, the farmers, the cooking material, the spices, the nourishment that it provides the body, the story’s and history that connects us to our culture and others cultures, etc. It makes cooking a task that involves other tasks that can only be done if committed to being present in the physical world. To put intention and respect in everything that is done and touched.
you know, I'm not much of a cook (or a chef) but I completely understand what you're saying here, and it actually makes me want to cook more!
Yes to cooking with love. I’ve also noticed that eating without screens, podcasts, audio books, etc is a very mindful and calming experience in our modern busy world.
omg, totally! and one I'm trying to reclaim because I got used to read while I eat or even scrolling.
A couple weeks ago I was watching a movie at home with some friends and about 20 minutes in one person got up and said, without much remorse, “sorry guys, I really don’t have the attention span for movies, I’m gonna go upstairs and watch tiktoks instead. Let me know when you’re done!” I was shocked. I couldn’t believe they had just accepted this about themselves, but this is getting more and more common. We have to take our focus back!! This is not normal
i am in absolute SHOCK over this. really, how can they think that's ok? not only for your friendship but for themselves?
I hate how much I’m dependent on my phone, I have to take the train everyday for about an hour and every single day I am glued to my phone in that time. Even listening to music or a podcast isn’t enough for my brain anymore, I just scroll and scroll and scroll through tiktok. Occasionally my phone dies on the way back and my mind, Jesus, I am so utterly bored, it’s crazy.
I'm so sorry you feel that way. but, listen, don't beat yourself up. phones (and apps) were creating by gigantic companies that literally inject millions of dollars to make them addictive. and I know it feels like putting a band-aid over a bullet wound, but can try some things, like bringing a book with you, delete the apps from your phone while cummuting (I do this all the tim) or picking up some sort of hobby in which you use your hands (like crochet!) so you don't feel the pull, you know? either way, please understand your feelings are valid and totally understandable.
This was probably said before but I've found a good book to really help with that buzzing in the brain. Especially when you find that really good book with a plot you can sink your teeth into. And thank you for putting the words to this media exhaustion.
I agree! a good book can easily do the trick!
you put into writing what i've been meaning to convey for the past few months. i've been stepping away from it all too and have been wanting to get back to writing. this inspired me to write again and maybe share my thoughts on this topic as well!
omg, please do! we need more people questioning and adding to the conversation.
i made my own slow morning routine which doesn’t involve my phone. i’ve made it a rule to never use my phone first thing in the morning and will only reach out to it later in the day if needed. being in quietness helps me get ready for work cause i feel a lot calmer and my brain clearer ☁️ it really is the the damn phone !!!
right? I do the same. no phones until 9am (I wake up at 5). those few hours without my phone are priceless to me. they really make all the difference.
I’m literally in the middle of a 40 day fast from Instagram because my brain was turning to mush. The initial stages are rough, and the fomo is real, but now I’m noticing so much peace and mental clarity. I’m not sure I want to go back on it!
I totally get that. I still need it because of work, but I'm trying to get less and less into it. my ultimate goal is to be successfull enough that I don't need to use those platforms anymore.
for me drawing is another good way to declutter my mind:)
uhhh I love that! I've been meaning to pick up doodling again (not much of a drawer!), but I love it
Loved this post and it’s so relatable 🤍 recently deleted tiktok and life has already become so quiet and peaceful!!
thank you!
and I know right? tiktok is LOUD on so many levels.
thank you for this very relatable essay <3 one thing I try to do to declutter my mind is to do a thing I’m thinking about a lot: for example the letter I wanted to send away for a few days and every time I walk past it in my flat I have that thought of “oh I still need to do that”. And by doing that I have one thought less in my view 😅 don’t know if that makes sense
oh, that makes perfect sense! I also like to leave something that's pending on my line of sight. like, If I need to buy eggs, I'll leave the empty cart on the kitchen counter so I don't forget!
walks are the best, but i am the kind of person who always needs to have music on. sometimes i feel bad because i’m using my phone even if it’s just for skipping the song, but lately i started using my watch for that. another thing that i tried is painting. painting by numbers because i’m no Picasso :))) and that really helps me with all my thoughts
I love the 'paint by the numbers' idea and definitely need to check it out. (also, don't feel guilty for needing music or using your phone to skip songs, you're doing your best!)
What a lovely read, thank you for sharing this with us. : )
thank you for reading!
This is so real! I have given myself permission to brain rot once a week. But the truth is, I brain rot a little each day, and a lot one day a week. I have noticed this, and it is time to make a change.
One of my challenges though is that it's hard to accept awkward silence without a phone. So, step one for me is brining a book, or a journal with me, and reading or journaling when there is silence.
you know what I did for a while? I scheduled boredom. I kid you not, I would put a 5-minute timer and sit with myself in silence to train being quiet and just existing for a while. after it got confortable, I started increasing the time. but having a journal or book is also a great idea!
Reading outside in my backyard!
that souds lovely!