First answer this – when was the last time you played a board game? I mean, the physical kind with the board open before you, feeling the dice in your hand, moving the pieces, and strategizing your next move?
Been sometime, right?
Some of you may argue that board games are so childish, that there are online versions available, and many more options.
True. But my question is what’s the harm in trying to do something offline? The screens dominate your lives that the simple offline joys are fading fast.
The overdependence on tech is bringing with it a new set of problems. From social ineptitude to emotional disconnect, the problems are multiplying rapidly.
Remember that time when you met up with friends and each of you was glued to your screens? The more you scroll, the less you engage; the more connected you’re, the more distant and lonelier you get.
Anything in excess is not good. The secret lies in maintaining a healthy and conscious balance between the tech and your life.
Believe it or not but the snare of the social media is like looking into Medusa’s eyes. It just traps you before you know it.
From casually checking out, it soon transforms into “just 5 more minutes”, before you realise it. And then there’s no escaping.
Before you realise hours of your time have disappeared into nothing. It’s like stepping into a digital quicksand, easy to enter but hard to escape.
Do you want that?
If you go through your day, haven’t you noticed the large chunks of time you’ve spent scrolling and looking at prepped-up pics of other people?
None of that benefits you in anyway. If you had instead spend that time learning Mandarin or coding, that would be different.
The idea is not to dump tech but to use it wisely. Wouldn’t it be better to invest that time in learning something new instead of endlessly scrolling?
Make your life more productive by using the biggest resource available, technology, to your advantage and not squandering away opportunities.
No! You don’t have to throw your phone into the already polluted ocean or river near you.
Just as you find time for a quick scroll between two tasks, I’m sure you’ll find some sneaky ways of controlling that urge too.
Try turning on the time-limits on the platforms. They all have it but don’t talk about it lest you gain control of your life, reducing their hold on your time.
Or have ‘non tech’ zones of the house. Like the dining table for starters (no pun intended). Let conversation be part of the menu.
You don’t have to plonk yourself every night with Netflix or Instagram or TikTok. Pick up a book, or learn something.
Use tech to create instead of mindlessly consuming. It’s more satisfying. Excessive consumption is mind numbing, stops you from thinking, being creative and productive. It creates a passive, reactive mindset which loses its ability to focus.
Don’t let tech become a time-sucking black hole of your life.
Research suggests that excessive screen time triggers the same dopamine pathways as gambling, making it harder to stop. But like all addictions, this too can be dealt with.
Reclaim your life by taking control of your time. Spend it on personal growth. Build, learn, create something instead of wasting your time scrolling and enviously looking at others’ lives.
It doesn’t make sense to be off-grid, not in these highly connected times. But you can surely be in control. Don’t let that device control you.
Restricted use of the gadgets is good for your mental health too.
Start with small changes. They’re eventually going to lead to a big welcome difference in your life.
Are you up for a challenge? Go tech-free during this weekend. Try keeping the book (or comic or sketch book or anything else that you like) along with your phone. So when you’ve the irresistible urge to pick up the phone, pick up that book. Show some will power and resist reaching out for that phone. Just imagine a weekend where your time isn’t dictated by notifications.
If that’s too much, then challenge yourself to spend equal amount of time in a personal pursuit. For every half hour spent scrolling, spend another half hour on doing something for yourself. Like learning Japanese or creating a program or doodling.
You decide but stick with it. You’ve to be brave to take control.
The goal is to use tech to enrich our lives, not enslaving us.
Looks impossible but you can survive without checking your phone every five minutes. Its true. Also, you’ll find you’ve more time at hand to do other things.
No harm in trying it out, what say?
