I know this sounds like a funny title and I'm sure everyone loves to laugh about young people's fixation with technology and their dwindling attention spans. But I'm not going to act like my fascination with new technology hasn't messed with my ability to function like I used to. I'm sure that 2 hours of meditation or throwing my phone off of bridge will cure it instantly, I'm sure there are better ways to naturally rehabilitate my brain into a calmer state. While I still love playing around with computers and technology (I'm still a cybersecurity specialist), I'm not going to act like the state of technology is now built to target people's attention. It's clear that most tech these days has evolved from the purpose of "assistance" to "addiction."
If there's one thing I firmly believe in, it's that I don't believe in forcing ourselves to do things we don't like in order to become the people we want to be. I had a pretty awesome life before I got a smartphone, and I don't think that life has to be miserable without one. All we need to do is reframe the way we use it. But when you grow up young using a smartphone and have constant access to the internet, living without a smartphone doesn't seem as approachable. There are probably better ways to fight my internet addiction but here's what's working for me. And when you give these a shot, make sure to keep your phone OFF AND FAR AWAY.
Pretty straightforward. This seems to be the easiest way to get into the habit of just focusing on something. It also just happens to be lots of fun. Whenever you have free time, get comfortable with a chair, sit upright, no phone,no popcorn and focus your eyes on a movie that doesn't fight for your attention. Yes, this is fun.
There are plenty of films that throw enough shiny objects in your face in order to keep you thoroughly entertained. I don't want to name any names, but I blame "the mouse" and "the superheroes." There are some modern films that buck this trend, but they seem to be exception rather than the norm. And the worst part is, they tend to get overlooked in this modern era of film. A good rule of thumb for this to work is to find a film that isn't an action film. Here are some good examples of films that require you to pay attention:
I think I just made your month for good movies. I'm also sure you can rent these movies. While I would say all of these films are absolutely worth the price for a physical copy, I don't know where you can find one of these on DVD these days.
This again sounds very counterintuitive, but hear me out. Most of the time when people go to restaurants it's to interact with someone. Restaurants go out of their way to create the equivalent of an amusement park ride for the sense of taste.
One day, I brought my laptop to a restaurant to what I thought was a charming little cafe to apply for jobs. I guess I thought that the judgemental look of others would scare me into being more productive. I slowly realized this wasn't a tiny cafe that only carried coffee and small plates, but a full on menu.
It also just happened to be lunchtime, so I figured I could knock two things at once. And it's not like I was unfamiliar with the concept of eating while working. I mean, that slowly became more acceptable for human beings the moment the cost of living became less affordable.
I quickly learned that some food required both hands. And napkins. And some self esteem while onlookers watch you get food on your face (shout out to Prime Cuts for the delicious burger).
After the first few bites and a sip of kombucha, I realized that I wasn't going to lay my greasy hands on my electronic devices. Nor was I going to talk to anyone or anything since I was by myself. I looked up and stared at the partly cloudy sky while I politely avoided gazing at the sun.
After I let my mind go blank for 2 minutes I resumed eating. I wasn't thinking about anything else other than my lunch for 10 minutes as I slowly ate. I was fine with my brain working in 2nd gear. I cleaned myself up like a polite leopard and made my way back home. It was rather refreshing to only think about the present moment. My lunch tasted better than anything I had this week. I mean, it was a tasty burger, but I like to think I had something to do with it.
I'm sure that everyone who's used a computer is no stranger to the game solitaire. Hell, it's been on my old blackberry, mp3 player, flip phone, smartphone and most transatlantic flights I've taken. But what if I told you that a game of analog solitaire took longer, required more meaningful moves and you couldn't just rage-restart your way into an easier game? It sounds very enticing, I know. But one thing I learned when I was playing the game was how much I had to show myself down. The feeling went from frustrating, to patient, to peaceful. By my third game I was kind of in the rhythm of planning down cards and checking out my available moves. I was relaxed by the end of it even though I never won those 3 games.
Also, freecell is simpler, always winnable and can be played with the same deck of cards.
This solitaire experiment sent me down a rabbit hole to find out how to scratch my videogame itch without relying on a screen. Turns out, you don't ned friends to play board games. While I don't mind socializing with others over a deck of cards, sometimes I just want to be alone on a rainy afternoon with a cup of tea and a Massive Attack album.
This task became much easier than I thought. It turns out, there are plenty of physical, singleplayer games available on itch.io and some of them are free. Some can fit on a business card. A lot of them may require journaling or building your own story, but to be fair, it kept me off my phone, put my imagination muscles to work and filled up an afternoon. Here's a list of some of my favorites:
I'm sure there's some better way out there to fix my screen addiction. I mean, I'm trying to be a better version of myself every day (emphasis on trying). I mean, writing this down as opposed to making a video about it has helped me slow my brain down a bit. Maybe this is a nice change of pace from all the other suggestions that everyone and everything has been shouting at me. Yes, I exercise, meditate and touch grass. Thank you for your service. Now excuse me while I watch this long movie without you.