As much as I appreciate the convenience of our cell phones, I feel like we have reached a point in our society where we need to seriously re-evaluate how we spend our time. Too many of us spend hours on our phones, infinitely scrolling and observing what other people are “doing”. I put doing in quotes because what we see online is curated content that is really just someone’s highlight reel and what they want you to see.
Neuroscientist, Dr. Andrew Huberman talks about how we are now living in a society where we have to work to create our own internal buffers so we can control our relationship to pleasures. He talks about how so many things we have available at our fingertips today cause huge dopamine increases in our brain. He argues that a good life is a progressive expansion of things that bring you pleasure through motivation and hard work. He makes a great point about how our phones create instant context switches where our brain cannot keep up with the dopamine overload that happens. It is fascinating.
For many of us, looking at our phones is something we just do on auto pilot. We mindlessly check our email or social media. Try to set aside some time every day where you do something that makes you forget to check your phone.
Here are some ideas:
- Learn photography (not using the camera on your cell phone).
- Write a short story or book you’ve been thinking about writing.
- Have a picnic and watch the sunset with your partner.
- Go stargazing.
- Have lunch with a friend and have a no phones at the table policy.
- Set up a tent in your living room with fairy lights. Make some s’mores, too!
- Watch movies from the 80s or 90s.
- Read a book.
- Do some painting.
- Get started on a DIY project or do some crafts.
- Go hiking outside.
- Make a homemade meal you’ve been wanting to make.
- Light some candles and take a bubble bath.
- Be intimate with your partner.
- Play a board game or card game with someone.
- Go for a bike ride.
- Learn how to play a new sport.
- Learn how to play an instrument.
The possibilities are endless! What are some things you can start doing that will make your forget to check your phone?
