this post was submitted on 03 Aug 2023
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I think the world has been trending toward short-form content for a very long time now.
We’ve gone from reading books, to skimming articles, to skimming article comments. We’ve gone from TV, to YouTube videos, to TikTok style shorts. We’ve gone from playing video games to watching other people play them in the background.
I noticed that I personally feel happiest when I invest my attention into longer form content. So I have been trying my best to cut out the digital sugar.
I found that these changes have greatly improved my feelings of wellbeing. I’m sure that my SSRI had nothing to do with it.
That transition to the modern world has significantly contributed to us thinking that we were happier when we were kids. There were lesser things and it was fun to give everything plenty to time to soak it all in whether it's a video game, a book, nature or a vacation. Now it's just too much.
How do you stop yourself from sliding back into scrolling again?
I do slide back from time to time to be perfectly honest! What really helps me though is muscle memory. For example, the Books app on my iPhone sits where my (third party) Reddit app used to be. That way when I reach for my phone during those short moments of downtime throughout the day I’m more likely to read something a little more meaningful.
For video games specifically I try to consume less meta content such as gameplay videos and reviews. I fell into this trap where I would spend so much time researching a new game and watching other people play it that by the time I got my hands on it a lot of the novelty wore off and I had little interest left.
I don't know if I'd consider going from 22 minute sitcoms to 2 hour, 45 minute video about the history of Bloons part of the evolution.