I agree at least for me if I were to attempt the fast. I love reading but visual media( Netflix, YouTube) has consumed some of that love cause I give it too much attention, so I would try to READ MORE during the fast…circumstances and motives might have been different from the author’s though so…
Really enjoyed this, thanks for writing. It's crazy how many times I need to learn the lesson that I already know what I need to do, I just need the space to apply it.
Read this and just thought...what a privledge it would be to abstain from media. Some of us are obligated to look at screens most of the work day. Its the only way to utilize my primary value added skill! Some of us have kids who will not take so well to the lifestyle.
Still, the alarm clock stuff feels actionable and im in the (excess media induced) mood to shop!
That's a great point, I do wonder how the fast would've been different if I didn't have to go in to my IT job every day and stare at screens for hours, LOL. But the kids thing is real!
Curious to hear how the alarm clock goes for you :) Now a month+ after the fast I'm still using it and it still gets me out of bed, across the room, and out the door. No more snoozing and scrolling in bed. Only took me near 30 damn years!
Really inspiring man, I’ve been off all socials except YouTube for 50 days now but guess what’s going to happen next. I already feel this clarity but I think we can crank it up a little more ;)
This was cool to read. I did a 21 day fast from most social media except YouTube and Pinterest. Like you, my mind found a caveat by moving to scrolling on Substack and I tried to put a stop to that. It was boring, mostly, but the boredom forced me to be present and I wrote a lot more as a result. I'm hoping to do another fast this year for far much longer because I think the effects weren't as long lasting because of the short duration taken. Thank you for sharing this ✨
That's wonderful! Thank you for commenting~ <3 if you'd like some accountability help, I'll be doing this fast again come October. We had about 40 people in 2024 attempting the fast in various capacities / at various levels :)
Spot on man, was a good read. This type of thing has been at the top of my mind recently, I am so easily distracted by the “wonders” of the internet, it’s ridiculous. Like even just seeing some dipshit post a dumb comment and being able to click on their profile and take a peek into their life and try and see what makes them tick. I deleted IG and Reddit to give myself a break…and now I find myself going to Facebook and Substack way more. At least SS brings some value and makes me think, and isn’t mindless scrolling through thots and memes. There’s the fomo aspect, of missing out on discovering some amazing music (I’ve found some all time favs from people posting on their IG stories) or missing seeing inspirational quote or learning something interesting. I respect your fast although I think removing listening to music and reading books was a little far out. Regardless, kudos to you.
Thanks so much for this comment, I found it very relatable and have definitely been there. All I can say is that there's a way out. Watching your scrolling go from IG/Reddit to fb/SS is a great observation and it sounds like you're on the right track.
Shot in the dark but do you have an iPhone? If you have an iPhone and you're ready to severely reduce your doomscrolling forever, let me know. I've been helping people with this recently to great success. Seen people go from an average of 2hrs on IG per day to 35 minutes per day, and staying there long term.
even having a transcendental experience or 2 while meditating back in 2017, and that having positive effects on me, it did not stay with me 7 years later due to the space being filled with other things like getting married and buying a house and whatnot. the circle comes back to its beginning or what have you
I don't know anything about "should" in the general sense--but I gave up books to reduce inputs into my senses as much as possible. If I had kept books, knowing my mind, I would've just used them as an escape. Would've warped and perverted them to escape from my own thoughts and emotions. That would be antithetical to the intent of this project, which was to expose myself to my thoughts and emotions as much as possible~!
I did the same thing (without the running in socks !!) and I allowed myself books. But it was a similar experience and guess what … I broke the fast once for Dr. K but watched his video on passive suicidality which talked about how media consumption drains our dopamine levels and is mainly responsible for the mental health crisis many people are facing. Full circle my fellow media fasting friend!!
I applaud your efforts, but I would allow books.
They seem qualitatively different, although this is just my intuition talking.
I agree at least for me if I were to attempt the fast. I love reading but visual media( Netflix, YouTube) has consumed some of that love cause I give it too much attention, so I would try to READ MORE during the fast…circumstances and motives might have been different from the author’s though so…
Really enjoyed this, thanks for writing. It's crazy how many times I need to learn the lesson that I already know what I need to do, I just need the space to apply it.
keep learning it until you learn it!! ty for commenting <3
Chat Gupta 😂
Total bollocks
Read this and just thought...what a privledge it would be to abstain from media. Some of us are obligated to look at screens most of the work day. Its the only way to utilize my primary value added skill! Some of us have kids who will not take so well to the lifestyle.
Still, the alarm clock stuff feels actionable and im in the (excess media induced) mood to shop!
That's a great point, I do wonder how the fast would've been different if I didn't have to go in to my IT job every day and stare at screens for hours, LOL. But the kids thing is real!
Curious to hear how the alarm clock goes for you :) Now a month+ after the fast I'm still using it and it still gets me out of bed, across the room, and out the door. No more snoozing and scrolling in bed. Only took me near 30 damn years!
Chat Gupta is hilarious 🤣
Also, totally unsolicited but you should meditate more. It will address everything else.
I have a feeling you’re right about that! Been on the meditation grind, writing much more about that soon :)
The only quiet time most people have these days is in the shower.
I wonder if "shower thoughts" were a thing a hundred years ago.
they might've jsut called em "thoughts" back then
Really inspiring man, I’ve been off all socials except YouTube for 50 days now but guess what’s going to happen next. I already feel this clarity but I think we can crank it up a little more ;)
that’s awesome sage!! I am inspired by you, keep going!
Curious as to why the cut out of music and reading?
In my experience, removing outside stimulus gives you space to make sense of what's going on inside your head.
and especially, outside of it!
Whats up with nutting?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huanjing_bunao
This was cool to read. I did a 21 day fast from most social media except YouTube and Pinterest. Like you, my mind found a caveat by moving to scrolling on Substack and I tried to put a stop to that. It was boring, mostly, but the boredom forced me to be present and I wrote a lot more as a result. I'm hoping to do another fast this year for far much longer because I think the effects weren't as long lasting because of the short duration taken. Thank you for sharing this ✨
That's wonderful! Thank you for commenting~ <3 if you'd like some accountability help, I'll be doing this fast again come October. We had about 40 people in 2024 attempting the fast in various capacities / at various levels :)
Spot on man, was a good read. This type of thing has been at the top of my mind recently, I am so easily distracted by the “wonders” of the internet, it’s ridiculous. Like even just seeing some dipshit post a dumb comment and being able to click on their profile and take a peek into their life and try and see what makes them tick. I deleted IG and Reddit to give myself a break…and now I find myself going to Facebook and Substack way more. At least SS brings some value and makes me think, and isn’t mindless scrolling through thots and memes. There’s the fomo aspect, of missing out on discovering some amazing music (I’ve found some all time favs from people posting on their IG stories) or missing seeing inspirational quote or learning something interesting. I respect your fast although I think removing listening to music and reading books was a little far out. Regardless, kudos to you.
Thanks so much for this comment, I found it very relatable and have definitely been there. All I can say is that there's a way out. Watching your scrolling go from IG/Reddit to fb/SS is a great observation and it sounds like you're on the right track.
Shot in the dark but do you have an iPhone? If you have an iPhone and you're ready to severely reduce your doomscrolling forever, let me know. I've been helping people with this recently to great success. Seen people go from an average of 2hrs on IG per day to 35 minutes per day, and staying there long term.
even having a transcendental experience or 2 while meditating back in 2017, and that having positive effects on me, it did not stay with me 7 years later due to the space being filled with other things like getting married and buying a house and whatnot. the circle comes back to its beginning or what have you
yet it was with you while writing this comment :) but yeah I get you, the circle do be keep circling, like some kind of.. cycle..... or something
I fully understand the reasons why one should give up all the things you listed except for not reading any books.
Why should one give up reading books during such a fast?
I don't know anything about "should" in the general sense--but I gave up books to reduce inputs into my senses as much as possible. If I had kept books, knowing my mind, I would've just used them as an escape. Would've warped and perverted them to escape from my own thoughts and emotions. That would be antithetical to the intent of this project, which was to expose myself to my thoughts and emotions as much as possible~!
I did the same thing (without the running in socks !!) and I allowed myself books. But it was a similar experience and guess what … I broke the fast once for Dr. K but watched his video on passive suicidality which talked about how media consumption drains our dopamine levels and is mainly responsible for the mental health crisis many people are facing. Full circle my fellow media fasting friend!!
anything for our goat Dr K LMAO, that’s wonderful thank you for sharing!! Godspeed in your media fasting journey :)
Hahaha, Chat Gupta. Thank you so much, this has been so inspiring.