I'd tell you not to worry, Will, but I can't because I have he same affliction. I'm sad to report that today, while having my morning coffee, I watched videos of five different people getting haircuts.
You nailed it. My personal way to deal with it all...Leave a couple FB messages calling out the Republican assholes (sorry for the redundancy) so I can vent, love a couple of truly beautiful posts and photos, (I suggest Judy Crown's page...the flowers pics she posts are soul enriching), and follow a guy named Rodney Smith, Jr. (www.facebook.com/rjr.smith) who is changing the world one lawn at a time.
I am the same. But a therapist a while back suggested I put my phone into airplane mode an hour before going to sleep and only turn it back on an hour after I get up. Putting my phone into airplane mode gives me anxiety though (what if I miss a call and they don't leave a message??) So I put my phone on a DND schedule. And let me tell you... it's life changing. I don't always stick to the rules, sometimes you just have to browse flower pots until 2am, but it does set me up for a better sleep & calmer day when I do stick to the hour off in the AM and PM. But alas... it is not easy.
Love all the wonderful suggestions. I find that what helps the early surfing addiction is to to recognize that, just as with any addiction, a twelve step program helps. I am fortunate to have a sponsor who sleeps right next to me. She makes sure I limit my scrolling or TV doom-watching to twenty minutes, which is always followed by looking at a delightful assortment of funny/touching instagram posts she has carefully curated for me. It's saved my sanity.
I'm right there with you brother. Right after turning off my phone alarm, I immediately scan social media and other apps while still lying down. What did I miss? What video should I watch? What article should I read? Any texts that need a response? Who got picked up in my fantasy baseball league? So much has already happened since we live in Pacific Standard Time! We're hashtag online huh?
Exactly! It's the blessing/curse of west coast living. The world has already been doing stuff for 3 hours when we get up, I have to put it directly into my eyeballs or I'll be behind all day!
I used to do that kind of thing, too. The trick is to understand not only does social media not actually tell you what is going on but actively lies to you. That dog isn't a perfect angel. That dog is a fascist, sympathizing cat-adjacent tux supremacist. The second trick is to like and subscribe.
I have been trying to come up with a solution for this! Not just in the morning, but alllll day. I feel like social media is constantly trying to sell me something and I am also WEAK so I am trying to find other ways to “relax”. You know reading is hard for me but I’m trying! Also I accidentally paid for a year of headspace, so let’s meditate together
Ugh it's sooo tough! When I have work in the morning, I usually wake up far too late to check it all that much, but my days off are the real challenge. I've found having my phone halfway across the room curbs it since my tiny lizard brain only wants to stay in bed where it's warm. I'll usually have my tablet or a book or something like that next to my nightstand so I can look at that instead when I start getting antsy but am not quite ready to get out of the bed.
Even then though that doesn't always work for me; I guess I'm just weak-willed too!
Between all the info from "them" about what it does to eyes, brains, attention spans, and leg length, I am filled with shame about my deepening-all-the-time addiction. Put my phone in the other room while I sleep? Surely you jest.
My very helpful tip for nighttime viewing is to get a pair of blue light glasses with amber lenses. This greatly soothes my eyes and I choose to believe it helps the phone leave my melatonin tf alone.
First thing in the morning, I steam into my email to get rid of the notifications. Maybe a slight foray into Reddit. Take a peek at the weather and my calendar. I live a life of leisure in terms of getting up but there are probably better things I could be doing with those fresh day first minutes.
I was jokingly thinking that we all need "Media Addicts Anonymous," then I looked it up, and lo and behold, here it is! https://www.mediaaddictsanonymous.org/
I'd tell you not to worry, Will, but I can't because I have he same affliction. I'm sad to report that today, while having my morning coffee, I watched videos of five different people getting haircuts.
I gotta know more! Are they good haircuts? Bad ones? Complicated ones? Soothing ones?
You nailed it. My personal way to deal with it all...Leave a couple FB messages calling out the Republican assholes (sorry for the redundancy) so I can vent, love a couple of truly beautiful posts and photos, (I suggest Judy Crown's page...the flowers pics she posts are soul enriching), and follow a guy named Rodney Smith, Jr. (www.facebook.com/rjr.smith) who is changing the world one lawn at a time.
Oooo now these are some good actionable tips!
I am the same. But a therapist a while back suggested I put my phone into airplane mode an hour before going to sleep and only turn it back on an hour after I get up. Putting my phone into airplane mode gives me anxiety though (what if I miss a call and they don't leave a message??) So I put my phone on a DND schedule. And let me tell you... it's life changing. I don't always stick to the rules, sometimes you just have to browse flower pots until 2am, but it does set me up for a better sleep & calmer day when I do stick to the hour off in the AM and PM. But alas... it is not easy.
That's such a good idea, I do it before bed but I don't have it set for after I wake up...might have to try your strategy!
Love all the wonderful suggestions. I find that what helps the early surfing addiction is to to recognize that, just as with any addiction, a twelve step program helps. I am fortunate to have a sponsor who sleeps right next to me. She makes sure I limit my scrolling or TV doom-watching to twenty minutes, which is always followed by looking at a delightful assortment of funny/touching instagram posts she has carefully curated for me. It's saved my sanity.
Yup, having your screen time controlled by a real grownup seems to be the best way to handle this situation.
I'm right there with you brother. Right after turning off my phone alarm, I immediately scan social media and other apps while still lying down. What did I miss? What video should I watch? What article should I read? Any texts that need a response? Who got picked up in my fantasy baseball league? So much has already happened since we live in Pacific Standard Time! We're hashtag online huh?
Exactly! It's the blessing/curse of west coast living. The world has already been doing stuff for 3 hours when we get up, I have to put it directly into my eyeballs or I'll be behind all day!
I used to do that kind of thing, too. The trick is to understand not only does social media not actually tell you what is going on but actively lies to you. That dog isn't a perfect angel. That dog is a fascist, sympathizing cat-adjacent tux supremacist. The second trick is to like and subscribe.
Lmao it’s milkshake duck all over again!
I have been trying to come up with a solution for this! Not just in the morning, but alllll day. I feel like social media is constantly trying to sell me something and I am also WEAK so I am trying to find other ways to “relax”. You know reading is hard for me but I’m trying! Also I accidentally paid for a year of headspace, so let’s meditate together
Oooo great idea, I’m IN for meditations!
It's an addiction for which I fear there is no cure.
Ugh it's sooo tough! When I have work in the morning, I usually wake up far too late to check it all that much, but my days off are the real challenge. I've found having my phone halfway across the room curbs it since my tiny lizard brain only wants to stay in bed where it's warm. I'll usually have my tablet or a book or something like that next to my nightstand so I can look at that instead when I start getting antsy but am not quite ready to get out of the bed.
Even then though that doesn't always work for me; I guess I'm just weak-willed too!
Hahahah I love the use of a warm cozy bed to fight against the dopamine hit of scrolling. Brilliant!
Between all the info from "them" about what it does to eyes, brains, attention spans, and leg length, I am filled with shame about my deepening-all-the-time addiction. Put my phone in the other room while I sleep? Surely you jest.
My very helpful tip for nighttime viewing is to get a pair of blue light glasses with amber lenses. This greatly soothes my eyes and I choose to believe it helps the phone leave my melatonin tf alone.
First thing in the morning, I steam into my email to get rid of the notifications. Maybe a slight foray into Reddit. Take a peek at the weather and my calendar. I live a life of leisure in terms of getting up but there are probably better things I could be doing with those fresh day first minutes.
It seems like you have a pretty good system in order to slowly work yourself into the World Wide Web each day
Try smoking cigarettes. It’s done wonders for me.
I was jokingly thinking that we all need "Media Addicts Anonymous," then I looked it up, and lo and behold, here it is! https://www.mediaaddictsanonymous.org/
this is simply too unbelievably great and horrible at once. thanks for the belly laughs! ok — this is my last comment of the day.