I have been done with school for quit some time now. I don't know what its is with September, but I still fall into the back-to-school rabbit hole. And with that in the new start mindset. It feels almost more important to set good intentions than with new year. So, like every September, I want to get my life together and have a fresh start. So here is my plan.
Blogging
I really miss writing. I have a lot of ideas for stories in my head, but I'm at the moment trying to finish a children's book about cancer before Christmas. So I paused all the other projects. I want to fill that void by getting back into blogging.
Now I think of it, I think my last blogging period was also around September. So let's be honest, I don't know if I'm going to keep up with it, but I'm going to try. And I have some ideas what to write about.
Screen time
Another rabbit hole I fall into every September is the less screen time movement. So I started off strong by decentralising my phone. This is accomplished by taking functions your phone can do, but instead using an item that can do only that function. Like replacing my notes app with a notebook, my calendar app with an agenda, and my phone camera with a normal camera. As for reading on my phone, I was never a fan of this and already take a book or ereader everywhere I go.
Doomscrolling I trie to replace with reading and gaming. I know gaming is also watching a screen, but it's way more engaging than doomless scrolling. And your brain needs to work actively when you game. This is also just a way I can regulate my autism when everything is too much and I'm too exhausted to be able to read.
I also use social media as like a picture book of my memories. A few years back, I was really into yournalling in a physical way, and I'm going to try to get back into that. I really love making nice pages, but a pitfall for me can be my perfectionism that builds up stress, resulting in me quitting. So I will need to keep that in mind.
Healthy habits
Healthy habits can't be left out at the start of the year. So here they are. First of all, no screens an hour before bed and an hour after waking up. This makes me feel way clearer in my mind. As follows, I leave my phone out of the bedroom.
Planning time in my agenda to sport and read informatively, play the violin, draw, and write. If I don't plan it, I don't do it. A possible pitfall is overestimating the energy I have in a day. This can vary greatly due to my autism. And with the start of the circuslesson, I know I will have less energy than i do now.
If you are interested in lessening your screentime, here are some good reads:
- Digital minimalism by Cal Newport
- Irresistible by Adam Alter
- Make Time by Jake Knapp and John Zeratsky