Smartphones have been one of the greatest inventions, connecting millions of people together and making information accessible for millions of people. But we all know they are thieves of our most precious non-renewable resource: time.

It's not just time that these devices cost us; studies by computer scientists and psychologists are saying that our new digital lifestyles have reduced the average attention span from 2 and a half minutes to 45 seconds over the last 2 decades. (1)

Our sense of time is evaporating and it's no wonder we struggle with depression and feeling unfulfilled. But this post isn't about judgement. It's about awareness.

Becoming conscious of where our attention flows is the first step towards reclaiming our focus and, ultimately, our sovereignty. So, let's get specific. When you find yourself lost in your phone, which digital rabbit hole tends to be the deepest?

  • Endless Social Media Scrolling (Feeds, Forums and Shorts)
    • Pull the crank just one more time
  • Compulsive News Checking or Doomscrolling
    • Keeping up with everything, all the time
  • Mobile Gaming Sessions
    • Levels and gatchas are calling your name
  • Messaging and Email Checking
    • Fear of missing out on conversations
  • Aimless Web Browsing, Shopping, and Research Spirals
    • From one link to the next
  • Something Else (Share in the comments!)

It's likely that many of us see ourselves in several of these options. Recognizing these patterns is powerful. Each minute lost in a digital rabbit hole is a minute not spent being present, creating, resting, or connecting authentically. It chips away at our mental bandwidth and can leave us feeling fragmented and reactive.

But what if there was a way to fundamentally shift this dynamic? What if you could consciously choose how you engage with technology, turning it back into a tool that serves your life rather than consumes it?

This is the core idea behind digital minimalism. It's not necessarily about ditching technology altogether, but about radically reassessing tech's role and reclaiming control.

I've wrestled with this exact issue, which led me down a path of experimentation including drastically simplifying my own phone setup – going 'Light,' you might say. The results have been profound, impacting my focus, creativity, and overall sense of well-being in ways I didn't anticipate. Look forward to that post soon.

Tippers, however, can take a look at Craft Your Own Sanctuary In A Noisy World, where I delve into powerful practices—ancient and modern—for cultivating that vital mental sanctuary even amidst the chaos.

Thanks for sharing!

~ Junior

(1) "Squirrel! Why attention spans seem to be shrinking and what we can do about it" by - January 23, 2024 https://news.northeastern.edu/2024/01/23/decreasing-attention-span/#:~:text=Computer%20scientists%20and%20psychologists%20have,minutes%20to%20around%2045%20seconds.