they say the first step toward recovery is admitting that you have a problem. so here I am shamelessly announcing my addiction to technology.
should I be embarrassed? maybe. but my gut tells me I'm not the only one. I don't blame myself, and I don't blame you either. look at the state of the world! it's chaos and we should be allowed to take comfort on our phones in peace.
besides, technology isn't all that bad. I learned a long time ago not to assign a moral direction to inanimate objects. that's not fair to them - they're just existing. we're the ones that use and abuse. (side note: they say that the only two industries that call their customers "users" are drug dealers and tech companies... oof).
I'll stop dragging you into this and leave the word "we" alone.
I have allowed my self-control to wear thin. I have signed over nearly all my time and attention to the many social media platforms.
The thing is, I don't think it's realistic or necessary to fully quit using technology. but I do think it's possible and necessary to establish a healthy balance, and here's how I've been going about it.
first things first, I have to validate my excuses.
hear me out - I have valid reasons for why I spend time on my phone. TikTok has a lot of educational and entertaining videos, Pinterest and Instagram are great for inspiration, and texting keeps me connected to the people in my life. Those are all valid desires so I'm going to honor them.
What I won't honor is that technology is the only way to achieve those desires. What are some solid alternatives?
#1) Subscribing to a magazine. Listen, are we really surprised that the answer to avoiding technology is to revert back to the tools that people had before it existed? If magazines were good enough for ladies in a salon, they're good enough for me. And I'm not talking about trash tabloids. Vogue, Architectural Digest, The New Yorker: all are great magazines with educational and entertaining content. Plus, if you have an online shopping addiction (we can talk about that one another time) it'll feel great to receive something in the mail every month.
#2) texting is out, hand-written letters are in. Of course, I still utilize texting when it's most convenient but I've tried to make it a practice to spend more time sending hand-written letters to the people in my life. I even went so far as to create personalized stationery. It makes the experience all the more magical. With it, I'm no longer a modern-day young adult, I'm a woman from the 1800s writing a poetic letter to my betrothed who is away at war!! talk about romanticizing your life.
#3) Scrapbooking and printing out photos: What more can I say? There is something so satisfying about holding a book filled completely with your own creativity, thoughts, interests, and little mementos from your life. Plus, it'll be something I can pass down to future generations which will feel so much more special and treasurable than texting them a link to an iCloud album, let's be real.
Okay, okay... I have so much more to add to that list but I'll stop before this gets any longer.
Takeaway: technology isn't awful and neither am I. I've just gotten a little carried away and have failed to uphold my boundaries. but rediscovering that balance is possible and likely even enjoyable.
- jenica nieto
blog #3
Hi there! I love how you are openly admitting your problem and trust me sadly, you are not alone. I also think the idea of writting letters is such a good one, even if you don't send it to people its a good way to just get things out there. One other thing that could be added to this list which I personally try to practice is playing card or board games with my friends every now and then to avoid screentime.
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