Hi Hannah, I love your post and couldn't agree more!
I'm also old enough to remember life without computers and smartphones. And even if I don't want to do without the Internet entirely, I could well do without "constantly getting small, disconnected pieces of information" and scrolling. Scrolling is the worst!
I'm a highly sensitive person and for me it's a constant struggle with overwhelm, especially because of the scrolling, the disconnected pieces of information that you described - plus the shere amount of pictures, snippets of videos and banner ads. Reading a book (an analogue one made from actual paper) is no problem, on the contrary, nothing makes me calmer than reading books where you follow a train of thoughts and can think quietly and uninterrupted about what you've read. It's bliss for me!
I can also relate to being drawn to the internet and mindless scrolling especially when I am already tired and would need rest. Crazy, isn't it?
I made some new habits around that some time ago. First, I disabled notification sounds on my smartphone. I had no idea what a relief that would become! Second, I don't have my smartphone at my desk (I work at home) or next to my bed. If I feel the urge, I have to get up, leave the room and find it. Well, that's often enough to pause and think if I REALLY want to. And the answer is 'No' most of the time now.
But isn't it crazy that one has to outwit oneself nowadays?
Thank you for more book recommendations! I I think we're on the same wavelength here. 😀
Have a lovely day and good luck with your new habits!
Yes, I think disabling notifications and switching off / removing any scrolling opportunities is key! Great trick to keep the phone in a different room. As you say, the struggle is that a part of us humans WANTS to do all these things that we know are bad for us... I guess it's not surprising in the sense that information used to be scarce for much of human history, so we probably learned/evolved to crave it - and now there is much more of it than our brains can handle!
I definitely feel the same about books - I think they are completely different for the brain. I just need to make sure I have books I really *want* to read. For a long time, I thought I had to read really intellectual books, then was too tired / overwhelmed to read them and just scrolled through the internet again! I think it's much better to read some "simple" book than to spend hours on social media, so now I always get some light reading as well.
Interesting what you said about access to information in human history and why the human brain probably reacts to it the way it does. I've never thought of it that way. That makes sense.
I also know the feeling that I should only read intellectual books and high literature. It's a relic from my studies (German language and literature / sociology) and my great interest in science. But it was a relief when, after many years, I simply allowed myself to read whatever I felt like. It's much more fun that way! 😀
Hi Hannah, I love your post and couldn't agree more!
I'm also old enough to remember life without computers and smartphones. And even if I don't want to do without the Internet entirely, I could well do without "constantly getting small, disconnected pieces of information" and scrolling. Scrolling is the worst!
I'm a highly sensitive person and for me it's a constant struggle with overwhelm, especially because of the scrolling, the disconnected pieces of information that you described - plus the shere amount of pictures, snippets of videos and banner ads. Reading a book (an analogue one made from actual paper) is no problem, on the contrary, nothing makes me calmer than reading books where you follow a train of thoughts and can think quietly and uninterrupted about what you've read. It's bliss for me!
I can also relate to being drawn to the internet and mindless scrolling especially when I am already tired and would need rest. Crazy, isn't it?
I made some new habits around that some time ago. First, I disabled notification sounds on my smartphone. I had no idea what a relief that would become! Second, I don't have my smartphone at my desk (I work at home) or next to my bed. If I feel the urge, I have to get up, leave the room and find it. Well, that's often enough to pause and think if I REALLY want to. And the answer is 'No' most of the time now.
But isn't it crazy that one has to outwit oneself nowadays?
Thank you for more book recommendations! I I think we're on the same wavelength here. 😀
Have a lovely day and good luck with your new habits!
Yes, I think disabling notifications and switching off / removing any scrolling opportunities is key! Great trick to keep the phone in a different room. As you say, the struggle is that a part of us humans WANTS to do all these things that we know are bad for us... I guess it's not surprising in the sense that information used to be scarce for much of human history, so we probably learned/evolved to crave it - and now there is much more of it than our brains can handle!
I definitely feel the same about books - I think they are completely different for the brain. I just need to make sure I have books I really *want* to read. For a long time, I thought I had to read really intellectual books, then was too tired / overwhelmed to read them and just scrolled through the internet again! I think it's much better to read some "simple" book than to spend hours on social media, so now I always get some light reading as well.
Thank you for your nice comment!!
Interesting what you said about access to information in human history and why the human brain probably reacts to it the way it does. I've never thought of it that way. That makes sense.
I also know the feeling that I should only read intellectual books and high literature. It's a relic from my studies (German language and literature / sociology) and my great interest in science. But it was a relief when, after many years, I simply allowed myself to read whatever I felt like. It's much more fun that way! 😀