On Digital Overload and Finding Space for Self-Reflection

In my opinion, our phones are pretty amazing things. They help us navigate places, stay connected with family and friends, and provide us with fast access to information about almost anything we wish to learn. However, there comes a point where having all of that right at our fingertips can become overwhelming and even harmful too.

What I mean is that in today’s modern world, where digital landscapes and social media platforms are so vast, we often spend a lot of time online such that our brains are constantly absorbing images, short videos, opinions, comments, news, and information. From studying and working on our laptops to scrolling through the news and messages on our phones, it almost seems as though everything we do today revolves around our devices.

In fact, this was a realization I had several times before. One day after a study session, I noticed a pattern. I realised that after spending several hours studying on my laptop, I would almost automatically reach for my phone during breaks to check social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. During those breaks, I often found myself viewing content that I had never really intended or wanted to see. I suppose it was simply content that was mildly interesting enough to catch my attention. Unfortunately, these social media breaks were unhelpful because they often left me feeling more tired and unproductive.

Additionally, I found that I had less space for self-reflection. I rarely took the time to think about my day or process my emotions. Instead of sitting with my thoughts, I filled quieter moments by scrolling on my phone. Because of that, I felt like I was constantly consuming things from the outside world but rarely checking in with myself by asking questions like, “How do I feel right now?” or “Is there anything I need at this moment?”

I soon realised that I disliked this mode of living because, day by day, it felt as though I was losing touch with my life. As a result, I decided to “Marie Kondo” the way I was approaching my daily habits. In particular, Marie Kondo writes in her book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying up, “Keep only those things that speak to your heart. Then take the plunge and discard all the rest. By doing this, you can reset your life and embark on a new lifestyle.” (Malik, 2015).

Applying this idea to the content I consumed on social media, I first began asking myself about the apps on my phone: “Do they make me happy?”. If an app did not provide any emotional or practical value to me, I deleted it. I then started applying the same mindset to the things I consumed online. For example, I would ask myself whether the videos I was scrolling through actually made me feel good or happy. Did I genuinely enjoy them? Would I feel better after watching them, or would I simply end up feeling more tired?

As I became much more intentional about what I allowed into my mind and personal space, I found myself feeling freer, almost as though a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I also began to feel more connected to myself and more present in the moment.

So, if you have been wanting to take a break from the digital world, perhaps try this small tip yourself. By becoming a little more selective about what you consume, you may be able to create more space for your body and mind to slow down and reflect.

On that note, be gentle with yourself. You don’t have to get it perfect and small steps count too. You can do it! I believe in you :).

References:

Malik, O. (2015). Marie Kondo is right. Clean up is good for the soul. OM.co. https://om.co/2015/02/27/cleanup-the-next-episode/