Absolutely! I have been very guilty of overstuffing the school holidays with activities for my daughter. But the best days when we were kids were when we had nothing planned and we just played from our imaginations. No reason why we can’t do similar as adults 😍
I’m going to write with pen and paper again, either scribbling my thoughts in a journal or writing letters to friends and family. I’m already growing flowers and reading books as a regular “thing” and encourage others to do the same!
You seem like the perfect person to share what happened in my garden today:
A little yellow bird perched on my big toe
(My foot was stretched out on a low table)
It flew away before I could grab my phone for a photo
Hummingbirds fly up close to look into my face (they do stare-offs) and an assortment of phoebes wranglers and finches hop around above me in the citrus tree (orange fruit-always rock hard and dry, but it’s a great umbrella)
I often think about how at the end of Ready Player One (movie) Wade decides to shut down The Oasis for one day a week, so that people would spend more time in their IRL lives. I wish we could shut down the Internet for just one day a week so people could ride their bikes, go birdwatching, or take a nap in the sunshine.
I recently stopped spending time on social media (except for the occasional Substack, love the Sunday paper analogy, btdubs) and I feel like I am in recovery. I’ve spent a lot of time doing the activities you mentioned here (taking walks, reading books, and daydreaming), and there is no FOMO. I am loving the peace.
Love all of these! In addition to reading a book, a recent favorite has been sewing my own clothes. I had to wait weeks for the gorgeous linen to arrive, but yesterday I cut out and sewed a dress to fit me exactly the way I wanted it to and today I have been wearing it with such joy.
I think this scratches a similar itch to gardening — so much if our lives are intangible now with digital at the forefront. There is very little that grounds me better than the sound of a sewing machine, cutting fabric out, or knitting. Thank you for this!
Oh Caroline I LOVE this! Although I trust myself more with a pair of secateurs than a sewing machine 🤣🤣 We need a picture of said gorgeous dress that’s making you feel so fabulous 😍
🩷🩷🩷 I’d be happy to share a pic of the dress, but am not sure I can put a pic in a comment, but I think I can oblige with a restack. Hold please, caller…
Oh I am in LOVE with your content!! As a young nature enthusiast planning to become an ecologist, I can't help but indulge in your posts, cannot wait to read more of your work!!
Thanks from a fellow gardener (herbs & veggies). I’m going to share these ideas with my church youth group. They like retro things like vinyl and these ideas goes right along with it. Don’t let tech rule you!! Resist!!
I love this. I observe Sabbath so I don’t use technology for a full 25 hours (Friday night through Saturday night) and it’s literally the best thing ever!
Late to the party but this Xennial uses daydreaming to fall asleep and it works like a charm. Make up a story and fall asleep before you figure out the love interest. Best rest yet
You are right, though. I've started to get quite creeped out by the way I reflexively raise my phone. Even when I'm out on a walk, at the most scenic part of my circuit, that phone is still rising up in front of my face. And I haven't planted a green thing in ages. Lovely list.
These are all excellent practices to be reminded of, but I don’t understand where you got #7 from. Women in Western cultures have been obsessed with trying to shrink their physical selves for at least 100 years. (Also what was the practice of foot binding if not trying to make oneself smaller?) IMO it has more to do with the patriarchy than the internet.
This is so good!! I'm just getting back into some of these things recently and trying to scroll less because I've been so anxious and comparing myself so much and I know it's triggered by social media. I've been journaling a lot recently and it's been so therapeutic and I've been sleeping better. I wish I had a garden to grow my own plants too!
I think about the daydreaming a lot, this is such a collective lose for humanity. Especially kids, there is so much creativity in being bored.
Absolutely! I have been very guilty of overstuffing the school holidays with activities for my daughter. But the best days when we were kids were when we had nothing planned and we just played from our imaginations. No reason why we can’t do similar as adults 😍
When my kids complain of being bored, I just say good 😄. I miss the luxury of boredom.
Ha ha. I might try suggesting my daughter does some of my work/ chores next time she says she’s bored!
I’m going to write with pen and paper again, either scribbling my thoughts in a journal or writing letters to friends and family. I’m already growing flowers and reading books as a regular “thing” and encourage others to do the same!
Yay! Its so liberating to declutter the mind 😍 Enjoy x
You seem like the perfect person to share what happened in my garden today:
A little yellow bird perched on my big toe
(My foot was stretched out on a low table)
It flew away before I could grab my phone for a photo
Hummingbirds fly up close to look into my face (they do stare-offs) and an assortment of phoebes wranglers and finches hop around above me in the citrus tree (orange fruit-always rock hard and dry, but it’s a great umbrella)
first time I get to be a perch!
Ah Kathleen yes I am the perfect person. What a magical moment- thank you for sharing with me ✨😍
Coincidence you didn’t have time to grab your phone? I think not. Sometimes these moments are reserved just for us, to store in our memory.
The birds in my garden are not as brave probably 2 small wild children scaring them off!
I often think about how at the end of Ready Player One (movie) Wade decides to shut down The Oasis for one day a week, so that people would spend more time in their IRL lives. I wish we could shut down the Internet for just one day a week so people could ride their bikes, go birdwatching, or take a nap in the sunshine.
I recently stopped spending time on social media (except for the occasional Substack, love the Sunday paper analogy, btdubs) and I feel like I am in recovery. I’ve spent a lot of time doing the activities you mentioned here (taking walks, reading books, and daydreaming), and there is no FOMO. I am loving the peace.
I haven’t seen that movie but will add to my to watch list- sounds wonderful! I am obsessed with watching the birds- so mesmerising.
Do share your tips for getting offline as much as possible here.
I have the BEST intentions and I’m so much better than I was but still find myself drawn in after I’ve gone onto social apps for work!
Thank you for sharing how more time offline is making you feel 😍
Love all of these! In addition to reading a book, a recent favorite has been sewing my own clothes. I had to wait weeks for the gorgeous linen to arrive, but yesterday I cut out and sewed a dress to fit me exactly the way I wanted it to and today I have been wearing it with such joy.
I think this scratches a similar itch to gardening — so much if our lives are intangible now with digital at the forefront. There is very little that grounds me better than the sound of a sewing machine, cutting fabric out, or knitting. Thank you for this!
Oh Caroline I LOVE this! Although I trust myself more with a pair of secateurs than a sewing machine 🤣🤣 We need a picture of said gorgeous dress that’s making you feel so fabulous 😍
🩷🩷🩷 I’d be happy to share a pic of the dress, but am not sure I can put a pic in a comment, but I think I can oblige with a restack. Hold please, caller…
Oh I am in LOVE with your content!! As a young nature enthusiast planning to become an ecologist, I can't help but indulge in your posts, cannot wait to read more of your work!!
Ah Kacie! Welcome!! You’ll like it here 🌱🌱
Thanks from a fellow gardener (herbs & veggies). I’m going to share these ideas with my church youth group. They like retro things like vinyl and these ideas goes right along with it. Don’t let tech rule you!! Resist!!
I love this. I observe Sabbath so I don’t use technology for a full 25 hours (Friday night through Saturday night) and it’s literally the best thing ever!
Late to the party but this Xennial uses daydreaming to fall asleep and it works like a charm. Make up a story and fall asleep before you figure out the love interest. Best rest yet
Notice life around us... what, like a psychopath?
You are right, though. I've started to get quite creeped out by the way I reflexively raise my phone. Even when I'm out on a walk, at the most scenic part of my circuit, that phone is still rising up in front of my face. And I haven't planted a green thing in ages. Lovely list.
You could call it psychopathy, I prefer to see it as actively engaging with my life and the world around me 😍
All of this 🙌! There is a beautiful video from Patti Smith about daydreaming that I think about often. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/YVr8QU-IUZ4
These are all excellent practices to be reminded of, but I don’t understand where you got #7 from. Women in Western cultures have been obsessed with trying to shrink their physical selves for at least 100 years. (Also what was the practice of foot binding if not trying to make oneself smaller?) IMO it has more to do with the patriarchy than the internet.
Love all of these! Could always be better at putting the phone away and noticing, and using a mobile as a phone! 📱
This is so good!! I'm just getting back into some of these things recently and trying to scroll less because I've been so anxious and comparing myself so much and I know it's triggered by social media. I've been journaling a lot recently and it's been so therapeutic and I've been sleeping better. I wish I had a garden to grow my own plants too!
No reason you couldn’t grow some plants on a windowsill or in pots outside your front door 🌱🌷😍
This is wonderful and exactly what I needed today. I’m saving this article and then putting my phone away!
Yes! Plenty of time to read it when you have your Sunday morning reading ritual time 😍