Attention & Intention: Off Screen and Into My Senses
a social media confession... & support for consciously connecting rather than constant consuming
A confession… but first, a poem:
When I doubt my ability to make a difference (to be a space-changing capacity)
I am forgetting the impact that my attention has...
and this is where intention reminds me that showing up is enough.
How could a prayer, a poem or an intention be enough?
It's no longer a question but an instinct or intuition…
Attention attuned intentionally is the only way anything gets created.
This doesn't mean forcing, but allowing... unfolding... opening.
My presence is a power that has been gaslit and belittled
but I am remembering & reinforcing practicing feeling and knowing its importance.
I have a confession…
For the sake of my mental health,
I found a way to be able to go on IG without seeing the feed, but stay connected through messages and stories - the things that keep me connected but not overly distracted.
I can turn it back on if I want, but honestly I don’t want to and it’s been a few months now.
Some days i feel guilt about this, especially at the beginning… until i remember what I’ve been able to replace feed time with, and how i’m not ignorant because of this… I am actually more able to participate in the slower, the longform and the deeper care needed in this world.
And it’s been so liberating that I actually haven’t even been checking stories much or the app at all… I haven’t been posting much since I’m honestly thinking of going inactive.
I’ve already been experimenting with only putting my energy where I feel it actually counts and is grounded:
this Fluid & Rooted Musings Newsletter / Blog here on Substack that you’re reading,
& my Weekly Rooted Reminders & Monthly Astro-Tarot Calendars on Patreon.
So yeah, I guess I’ve been divesting from social media - or really mostly IG where I have an addictive habit. It’s interesting how it’s fading, the more I focus on finding other ways…
I want to share with you what’s been helping me detach and divest but first I want to butter it up by celebrating myself:
Things that I’ve now naturally grown capacity for when i didn’t feel like I had the patience or time for before;
Reading longform
Actually reading the newsletters of others I care about and subscribe to near when they come in
My read-it-later & RSS feed app (I can LISTEN to articles on my fav app Reader by Readwise - not even an affiliate!)
Witness the news without being overwhelmed, and make clearer decisions on my role and ability to help
Going to local events & spending more time with local friends
Engaging in online socializing in slower and less addictive online spaces of connection and sharing (Substack, Fable, & our Cyclical Community that I’m soon moving to a forum, etc)
Being offline
Being outside
Journaling like it’s not a chore but a treat
Re-learning Spanish for real and NOT on Duolingo which was driving me crazy!!! (check out Dreaming Spanish, Spring Spanish, and language exchange apps like Tandem or Hello Talk)
PAINTING AGAIN
Actually spending more time creating than consuming (I mean it’s my job)
What’s been helping me detach and divest:
There are so many ways but here's what has helped me over the past years of conscious and unconscious experimentation with lessening digital & social media addiction…
At night I turn my phone off and put it out of sight in the living room.
I don't turn my phone on until I've completed my morning routine, eaten breakfast, and had offline creation time. (at least an hour, some days 2+)
I use tools to restrict access and length of time to distracting apps.
AppBlock, Minimalist UI & Routines on my phone,
Focus Mode & Shortcuts on my iPad,
and Freedom on my desktop
I also have it rigged so my phone goes greyscale by 9pm so my phone is less exciting to look at.
This "distracton-free" version of IG someone created so you can control which features you'd like to turn on or off (genius and sorry apple users but it's only available on android right now)
Instead of open tabs or saved IG posts, I just send things to my bookmarks app Raindrop which is synced cross-device
I have everything from my wishlist here, to lists of artists I admire, organizations to follow, etc.
I have all my news sources and newsletters sent to an RSS feed so I check them as I wish.
I've been using NPR's Up First for a quick daily update, and 1440 for a human-curated unbiased news digest.
I've just been communicating with friends via text and getting the #s of folks who I only had on IG... wow who knew!
I've also just been trying to get on everyone's email lists who I admire and miss... since the algorithm barely shows me any of them anyways!! (and that's where the filter folders & rss feed come in so my inbox isn't overloaded)
My own grounding tools tbh… and yes Cycles Journal is one of them. I use it and my Cyclical Notebook almost everyday because that’s why I made them!!! To help me get off the screen and into my senses.
I'll add more as I think of them :)
& Some folks who have has inspired & helped me along the way:
The book How to Break up with your Phone
Amelia Hruby of Off the Grid Podcast
Charlie of Rewild on the Attention Economy
Cody Cook-Parrott's newsletter
& more I'm sure I’ll think of later!
Comment below who/what helps you and your digital mindfulness?!
What’s your journey been like?
What are your goals or wishes for your attention & time?
Thanks for reading this & wishing you well on your journey too. <3
In Grounded Gratitude,
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