Digital Consumption, Real Life, and Intentionality in the New Year

The struggle of trying to live less of our lives online isn’t a new subject. We are well past being aware of too much screen time and too little interaction with the real world. It’s now common knowledge that we need some self-intervention if we want to lead a better, more intentional life.

I feel like the word intentional is key in the conversation. We passively consume digital content at an alarming rate. Compared to how things were a decade ago, I have a sinking feeling that the sheer amount of content we interact with has climbed to an absurd height. Of course, this is easily explained by our preferences on deciding to be more alone, at home, and automated as ever.

Years ago we had to put forth real effort to seek out information. Whether it was the library, bookstore, mentor, teacher, parent, or any other type of professional, the answer wasn’t literally at our fingertips. With that effort came the need for intention. We sought out these resources only when something we were doing had a need or if our interests were strong enough. In other words, we wouldn’t just go around asking questions on a whim. It wasn’t a pastime.

Today we passively consume. We endlessly scroll, constantly check, and respond like a Pavlov dog to every single senseless notification in our pocket. Our pastime is now in our pocket. If you ask me, that’s a lot of stress.

IRL > HTML

So what, you say? Why should you care? Isn’t it great that all these things are readily available at the tap of a screen?

Yes, some things are great. Communication, delivery, and the endless list of conveniences can be considered an advantage. But at what cost? We are now lonelier than ever, we are forgetting how to talk to each other in public. Fewer people ask for help, the niceties are dwindling, and more and more heads are pointing down as we slowly march around in a zombie-like state. We are genuinely uncomfortable when we have to interact with another human. We are like different species of aliens on the same planet.

I consider myself very aware of my surroundings in public. Whether I’m at the gym, the grocery store, or anywhere else, I never don ear pods or talk too much on my phone in public. This isn’t because I’m paranoid or one of those doomsdayers who thinks the world will end any minute. I just like to be aware of where I am and who’s around me. This is partially because I like to help people. I do tall favors, lifting favors, and anything else I can think of. I don’t push it on people, but I make sure I’m aware and available when needed. Plus, I like to people-watch.

That’s real life and it’s better than being consumed by binary code or another set of pixels dancing on a screen.

Screen awareness

I think we need to be more cognizant of our screen time. Not just decreasing the number of minutes (or hours!), but taking a few steps back and taking an honest assessment of our intentions. If practicing our same habits today two decades ago would we take a trip to the library several hundred times per day just to check on things? Would we constantly call all of our friends several times per day? “Hey Frank, where are those baby pictures you promised me?” That would be insane.

What are we really doing with that time? I mean, take some quiet time and seriously ask yourself why are you spending so much time on your phone? Look at every single app you use, the platforms you check, and anything else that is on that screen, and one by one decide how much of a real priority it is in your life. With each item, pit it against the most important things and people in your life such as family, friends, ambitions, life goals, future plans, the love of a real-life hobby, time in nature, opportunities for genuine conversations, and the list goes on.

Yes, some digital tools are necessary for life: messaging, maps, research, reading long-form content, and job-specific necessities, but I’ll bet there’s a lot of fluff too.

It’s time to clean house.

Analog advantages

Why do I write about this subject often? Because I feel like it’s a substantial part of our overall well-being — our health. We are still human. We still crave, need, and flourish in a real, tactile world. Further sinking ourselves into digital quicksand only strengthens our desire to be alone, unbothered, and secluded. The more we seclude ourselves the less we want to deal with the “real world.” The less we want to deal with the world, the more we desire seclusion. And the downward cycle continues. In no time, we all turn into that crazy cat lady at the end of the street.

The advantages of leading a more analog life are not only healthier, it’s more in line with how our minds and bodies truly work. We were meant to be in a community since the dawn of man. We need interaction, tactile experiences, and face-to-face communication. With it comes the healthy development of empathy, sympathy, and real understanding. We garner other’s reactions to our words and our actions. There’s no hiding behind a keyboard.

Have you ever found yourself thinking that something negative someone said online would have never been said to someone’s face? The lack of personal interaction prevents empathy. We aren’t able to see someone else’s reaction if we say something off-color or negative. If were able to we would think twice before saying it.

Actually living in the world better aligns with our natural behaviors. Think about this: Why do we have five senses? All five are directly designed to work, communicate, and interact with the people and world around us.

What to do next

If you’re the type who is slowly becoming more of a recluse, comfortably curled up behind your laptop or phone, and strengthening your scrolling thumb, you may want to start to wake up and realize the world is moving around you. New experiences are passing you by and opportunities are coming and going all the while you sit, stare, and obsess over the virtual world.

Any type of change is accompanied by some level of pain or discomfort. Studying for a test is uncomfortable, weight training is painful, and dieting is not for the weak-minded. Changing your comfortable, in-grained habits is not an easy thing so be prepared.

Take stock of your habits. Define or redefine your physical, financial, educational, career, and personal goals. Align those goals with a new set of habits. Yes, it’s comfortable to fall back into old, unhealthy habits. It’s like going home again. But committing to changing things is a healthy challenge. A push we can all benefit from.

With real-world commitment will come a unique sense of satisfaction that you will never find scrolling. Long-term sacrifice and stepping out of your comfort zone is truly living.

What are your new habits for the new year? What real-world behavior are you going to commit to?

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