I think most of us (as a GenZ community) (I am unfortunately Gen Alpha) have noticed the digital → analog shift. Although I am fairly young, like many others, I feel a sense of nostalgia for a more tangible past that I have never experienced — a world without screens seems so much more colorful and vivid. I think we’ve all finally realized how much time we’ve been spending on our phones (a 5-hour-a-day screentime adds up to 76 days in a year) and how much it’s been slowly eating at us. Due to this movement’s overwhelming popularity, this shift has been massively aestheticized and turned into blatant overconsumption, and I hope this post serves as a friendly reminder: you don’t need to purchase a new flip phone (purchases of which have skyrocketed) or buy an expensive record player to slow life down. (note: I am not trying to criticize those who genuinely find enjoyment in these purchases and use them on a daily basis).
I also note that I am not exempt from the massive horde of like-minded people, and have found myself scrolling eBay looking for a flip phone to carry around. But I do have to stop and remind myself that I can live more tangibly without spending, so here’s a list of things (you and) I can do:
1. Think for yourself.
Social media can be an incredibly useful tool — I’ve found the best restaurants, math topics to learn and books to learn on YouTube. We’re very clearly not made to have such easy access to people’s streams of consciousness. When scrolling through an endless feed, there isn’t any time to process or think deeply about ideas being shared. As a result, our interaction with the algorithm is based on our initial reaction, and posts optimize for being the most “clickbait-y” and engaging (which is often worse quality content than those optimizing for deep thought or reflection). Although controversial, I think this also extends to the news nowadays — the top articles are curated purely for shock-value. (I’ve been trying to consume less political articles and more tech-based ones, which I tend to find more interesting, but I encourage people to do deeper dives into one topic or another). As a result, I deleted social media (me having deleted social media does not make me a better person than any of you; I do think it’s possible to have a healthy relationship with it).
Aside from social media, I find myself turning to Chat GPT or Reddit posts more often before forming an idea on books or movies myself, and my essays/writings become pure regurgitation of fragments others have said. I think I’m scared of having a unique opinion (perhaps due to the massive backlash I’ve seen people receive for just… having controversial takes) or a useless, non-insightful one. But regardless, I despise the thought that I may not have had an original idea these past few years, so I’ve tried to think things through before reading anything else and stopped using AI for idea generation.
I do really encourage all of you to switch from scrolling on your phones to on your computers — it’s nice to have separate locations for mindless scrolling and utilitarian tasks (messages, maps, etc.).
2. Keep a journal.
I want to journal more, partly to take a break from my computer and partly to let me sit with my ideas. I want to come up with ideas organically, so I’ve been writing things down (just me, myself, pen and paper), even things like essays and stories and blog posts (in fact, this post was drafted in my notebook before it became digital). Your journal does not have to be very neatly organized — the notebook I bring with me everywhere is quite messy (half the pages are scribbles of incoherent jargon and the other half is somewhat legible). Regardless of how you note-take, writing things down feels more intentional and I’m more likely to look back on it later. Keeping a notebook is also a nice record-keeping device: I love looking back at my old diaries from when I was seven.
3. Go to the library/obtain physical books (bonus points for something second-hand!).
When I was little, my mom took me to the New York Public Library every Saturday with my little sister. I would wander around, marvel at the shelves and gape at the fancy computers by the entrance. It was my time to get lost in the stories of others, and I was entertained by my mere existence in such a magical place (without the presence of a cellular device!). I would then pick out a few books and read them throughout the week. And honestly, I feel so much longing for the little ritual and novelty of each trip.
4. Write more letters.
I love writing handwritten letters. I think it is one of my favorite things in the world and something people should appreciate more. I used to feel the commitment to make all my letters perfect, pinterest-y and aesthetic (I binge-watched the penpal content on social media apps), but now I write on anything: looseleaf, a ripped out page of my journal, or whatever scraps of paper I have on hand, and give them to friends to show them how much I love them. I think it should be mandatory for everyone to have a penpal, but I also love writing letters to myself that I can open in a few years. I’ve invested in some nice letter paper, envelopes, and wax seals, so I’ve more recently used those.
5. Walk around.
I’ve spent so many of my days rotting at my desk, wondering why I wasn’t feeling okay… and then all I needed was a breath of fresh air. I want to be able to walk around without listening to music (or, alternatively, listen to an entire album carefully) and without a sense of urgency. I go outside occasionally for piano lessons or other classes, but it’s always lovely to stroll around aimlessly and people-watch. I love watching the sunset near the park close to my house.
It’s always so hard to make time for recreational activities like these because I’m so busy with school and work, but I’ve been trying my best.
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I wrote this post mostly for my sake, but I hope this also motivates you to enjoy your life just a little bit more… I’m trying to get over my overwhelming perfectionism by posting content before editing it thoroughly so I hope this reads coherently.
Love, Kira