Dreamer

Good morning dreamers and happy weekend!

Ah, the first week of 2024 has almost passed and I’m so grateful for being here with you and also being able to relax before I go back to work.

Somehow, today’s topic made me think twice before writing it down. Why? Well, I created this calendar somewhere in November I guess, and then I mainly thought I would write about how to cut off screen time after the big days. Now, after these days, I think about putting another direction in front of the light too. But you’ll see when we get there.

Cutting screen time down after the holidays

Well, for some, the holiday season means a lot of free time, for others loneliness, and for some going into toxic environments. Many just have an addiction to staying on social media. I remember back in high school when I was spending New Year at home checking Ig to see how people party. I felt terrible but those were the times. As I said, many just have so much time after a hard period, and they don’t want to engage in hobbies and chores. The ones in toxic environments may try to avoid the eye contact that leads to when you have kids, get married, and get a job. Holidays are also a time when being lonely is worse than ever because all the marketing is based on the feeling of family and love and friendship so, yeah, I get it. Our little light box, which became over years our comfort zone, might end up being our refugee during these full days, and it’s OK! 

What is not okay is continuing this behavior long after January 3rd. And if we see we leap in that direction, what can we do? Well, I have some answers for you:

• See how much screen time you have. 
• Start dimming it using these activities:
  • Set a timer with half an hour less than you started and change it every other day. If you start at 6 hours, first go for 5:30, then 5 hours, and so on until you reach as little as possible.
  • Try to swap for audio instead. Maybe you spend part of your break on Netflix. Instead of watching one more episode, try to listen to some musing while cleaning up the house, or a podcast, or a vlog, something that doesn’t necessarily need you focused on the screen.
  • Try using it for work, even when you are home. Oh, the good old procrastination. When it comes to checking my emails, I always prefer to do whatever I can but this. Watering flowers, cooking, name it. You either stay away or get some work done, which is an improvement.
  • Set up meetings with the loved ones. When you love someone, you mustn’t spend time with your eyes on the screen but looking at each other. This way, you can trick yourself into spending time away from the screen.

But if you were surrounded by family and friends for the last 2 weeks, and now, all of a sudden, you are alone, and back to a monotone life?  

As I said, I wanted to write this article from 2 perspectives. And I relate more to the second one. I hadn’t time for social media these holidays, but slowly I got more time, and my phone, went from 45 min/ day to 4-5 hours/ day. For me, it’s not the case to feel alone, cause I don’t. But many, after these full days, might feel abandoned, alone, and sad. It’s not the case to dive deeper into social media. It’s time to take care of yourself. 

From my example, it helps to use it for my work, to be ahead. But it also works to call your friends and family, to meditate, again, to use all the tools I mentioned before.

But mostly, for both of the cases, it’s important to be present in your life!

This is all for today, I’ll see you on Monday, as leaving the weekends aside is something I want to try to avoid burnout this year.

I wish you all a happy weekend and #adreamerlife!

Cristiana Apreutese