Digital detoxes don't work, small habit changes do
According to the iPhone’s screen time feature, my screen time has been embarrassingly high lately: I’m averaging 3-4 hours a day. I’m not someone who could really take an extended digital detox or delete my social media accounts, due to the nature of the type of job I have. But the research on digital detoxes suggests they’re not that helpful, anyways: you might break up with your phone for however many days the detox lasts, but then you just return to all your old habits, nothing changed. Experts say the real work comes in unlearning those learned daily behaviors — the compulsion to pick up your phone 52 times a day.
So, inspired by Jenny Odell’s How to Do Nothing (which I finally finished reading) and this Vox article, I’m taking a few small steps to change daily habits. I’m plugging my phone in to charge at night in the living room instead of the bedroom, and using an alarm clock in my bedroom (we have one of those light ones that’s supposed to mimic sunrise. Everyone says they’re lifechanging. So far I haven’t found it to be lifechanging, but I’ll keep you posted). I put my phone back on permanent do not disturb (a setting I had always used, but every once in a while when I’m expecting a call I turn it off and then get sucked back into the world of push alerts). I turned off notifications for almost all apps except truly essential ones (Calls, text messages, wallet/travel passes) and switched my phone to dark mode. I don’t know how long this all will last, if this is the beginning of a great new habit or if I’ll relapse again in three days. But I’m going to give it a try and see how far I get.
What I’m reading
The end of babies, New York Times.
How to stop looking at your phone, Vox.
Even nobodies have fans now, New York Times Magazine. On the rise of fandoms for podcasts - and everything else.
The meanie, the lightweight, the crazies, and the angry, dissembling elitists, The Cut. A record six women ran for president this year — more than ever before. And they all still were reduced to stereotypes.
The Baltimore Museum of Art will only acquire works from women next year, Baltimore Sun.
Why millennials never want to leave their apartments anymore, Quartz. I mean, I can give you a laundry list of reasons. How much time do you have?
I found work on an Amazon website. I made 97 cents an hour, New York Times.
The feminist, n+1 magazine. This is a different one: it’s fiction! A short story! But so, so incredibly good. I won’t be forgetting it any time soon.
What do teens learn online today?, New York Times. I learned so much about Youtubers from this piece.
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