Yes! Everything from Death Comes for the Archbishop to A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Very memorable was Johnny Tremain (with my oldest kiddo, though I would still have enjoyed it on my own). I had much more leisure time to read. I had more "success" when I used actual paper books than Libby (which I love, but somehow always ends up with me hopping over to safari to look up something connected with the book)
I can't wait to reread Death Comes for the Archbishop this year. I like Cather, but I want to really love Cather!
I read Johnny Tremain in Middle School but I would love to reread it because I think I tried to read the whole thing in one night and it didn't go well!
And I agree about paper books. I try to mostly read from them. I have had success with an actual kindle as well at different points in my life! If I read with my phone anywhere near me then I am not reading anymore.
I need to get back to my “intermittent screening” as you call it. It works well. And taking the Internet off my phone. And yet I keep finding excuses to not do either, even though I know I’d feel better and I’ll have to before school starts. I think I’m just not ready to deal with all my own thoughts yet…
"The danger is not in amusement or information or a grocery pickup order—the danger is in looking for more than that. It’s in the habit of logging on to find the story the screen can’t possibly give me."
Wow, I loved this whole thing. I think this gets at something more robust underneath the pure *addiction* or *compulsion* explanations. Something is driving even that.
I found this fascinating esp as my husband enjoys a good strategy / world-building computer game as a fun distraction and I... do not. I had never thought of it as narrative before. But when you listed the things you avoided as narrative entertainment, I wondered how much of my online reading (not watching) is a form of narrative entertainment. I spent years reading "mommy blogs" back in the day - and learned so much! - and still enjoy the 'snippets of life' kinds of posts, but I've never thought of them as entertainment before: maybe they are. It deserves some pondering. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Also I am 100% "computer game stupid"-- I lack whatever brain/hand/eye coordination it takes to enjoy it. I do think screens give anyone a real easy inroad to "narrative," even the "shots" of it that I find in a TikTok of someone making a smoothie. But what "catches" people is so individual, and really interesting to look at (what does the fact that I find this content interesting say about me, etc. etc.)
I'm rambling, but I am so interested if your pondering bears any more thoughts you want to share.
This is so interesting because, that whole time I was "screen sober," I was definitely still on Substack. I think it can be hard to splice out what is "entertainment' and what isn't... and the "snippets of life" posts are so worth reading, for the community, for the perspective, and (yes) for the entertainment.
and I've honestly had the best "success" (not feeling like screens are getting in the way of my WHOLE LIFE) by doing an "intermittent screening" thing (i.e., "I will only get online between 1 pm 3 pm)
Yes- and also what is unhealthy entertainment and what is fun/ useful/ uplifting. I usually only realize I’ve crossed into unhealthy territory after the fact. I need to think more about it all, esp as today I teasingly accused my husband of being “addicted” to twitter, and he said I’m on Substack a lot more than he is on X… I think part of my challenge is that what is work and what is fun/ hobby is blurred, as both involve writing and connecting!
Same, re: only realizing it after the fact... and it does get blurred with the writing things, for sure. Substack especially, as I've made many real, fruitful connections (I'd go so far as to call them friendships) from interacting with people on here.
This is so beautiful and true! We often look for something screens can’t give us- it’s the deeper reason for the compulsive scrolling/phone use.
So well said: “I’m asking this thing for something it can’t give me.”
I recently took a 40 day break from social media and YouTube myself and it has quieted all the noise so much and helped me to center and “be still.” I also haven’t put out any writing either as I typically do so on substack and social media outlets. I didn’t realize how much all the noise was effecting me until opting out.
It is really noisy, isn't it? And I so often grab my phone when I don't want to deal with some uncomfortable feeling. I really value the connections I've made on Substack, but I find that I'm not happy unless it's confined to a pretty specific time, like a couple hours a day.
Yes, I have also noticed it’s a way to distract from uncomfortable feelings. We need to feel the feelings and work through them rather than distracting on autopilot. I do think it’s wise to confine screen time to certain check in points so that it doesn’t become pervasively intertwined with the richness of real life in the moment.
I love this slightly different take on screen time. I am forever trying to lessen my screen time, but asking this question could be the key!
"Am I asking for something my screen can't give me?"
Also, did you find yourselves reading more during this six month period?
Yes! Everything from Death Comes for the Archbishop to A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Very memorable was Johnny Tremain (with my oldest kiddo, though I would still have enjoyed it on my own). I had much more leisure time to read. I had more "success" when I used actual paper books than Libby (which I love, but somehow always ends up with me hopping over to safari to look up something connected with the book)
I can't wait to reread Death Comes for the Archbishop this year. I like Cather, but I want to really love Cather!
I read Johnny Tremain in Middle School but I would love to reread it because I think I tried to read the whole thing in one night and it didn't go well!
And I agree about paper books. I try to mostly read from them. I have had success with an actual kindle as well at different points in my life! If I read with my phone anywhere near me then I am not reading anymore.
I need to get back to my “intermittent screening” as you call it. It works well. And taking the Internet off my phone. And yet I keep finding excuses to not do either, even though I know I’d feel better and I’ll have to before school starts. I think I’m just not ready to deal with all my own thoughts yet…
I utilize those specific deadlines up. to. the. bitter. end. Ha. Sometimes you need the space... the structure will come back.
"The danger is not in amusement or information or a grocery pickup order—the danger is in looking for more than that. It’s in the habit of logging on to find the story the screen can’t possibly give me."
Wow, I loved this whole thing. I think this gets at something more robust underneath the pure *addiction* or *compulsion* explanations. Something is driving even that.
I resonate with the addiction explanations--Like the Haidt comparison, screens to "big tobacco" for sure.
And thanks for saying so, that means a lot to me.
I found this fascinating esp as my husband enjoys a good strategy / world-building computer game as a fun distraction and I... do not. I had never thought of it as narrative before. But when you listed the things you avoided as narrative entertainment, I wondered how much of my online reading (not watching) is a form of narrative entertainment. I spent years reading "mommy blogs" back in the day - and learned so much! - and still enjoy the 'snippets of life' kinds of posts, but I've never thought of them as entertainment before: maybe they are. It deserves some pondering. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Also I am 100% "computer game stupid"-- I lack whatever brain/hand/eye coordination it takes to enjoy it. I do think screens give anyone a real easy inroad to "narrative," even the "shots" of it that I find in a TikTok of someone making a smoothie. But what "catches" people is so individual, and really interesting to look at (what does the fact that I find this content interesting say about me, etc. etc.)
I'm rambling, but I am so interested if your pondering bears any more thoughts you want to share.
This is so interesting because, that whole time I was "screen sober," I was definitely still on Substack. I think it can be hard to splice out what is "entertainment' and what isn't... and the "snippets of life" posts are so worth reading, for the community, for the perspective, and (yes) for the entertainment.
and I've honestly had the best "success" (not feeling like screens are getting in the way of my WHOLE LIFE) by doing an "intermittent screening" thing (i.e., "I will only get online between 1 pm 3 pm)
Yes- and also what is unhealthy entertainment and what is fun/ useful/ uplifting. I usually only realize I’ve crossed into unhealthy territory after the fact. I need to think more about it all, esp as today I teasingly accused my husband of being “addicted” to twitter, and he said I’m on Substack a lot more than he is on X… I think part of my challenge is that what is work and what is fun/ hobby is blurred, as both involve writing and connecting!
Same, re: only realizing it after the fact... and it does get blurred with the writing things, for sure. Substack especially, as I've made many real, fruitful connections (I'd go so far as to call them friendships) from interacting with people on here.
Same! I’m so glad for the people I’ve met on here.
This is so beautiful and true! We often look for something screens can’t give us- it’s the deeper reason for the compulsive scrolling/phone use.
So well said: “I’m asking this thing for something it can’t give me.”
I recently took a 40 day break from social media and YouTube myself and it has quieted all the noise so much and helped me to center and “be still.” I also haven’t put out any writing either as I typically do so on substack and social media outlets. I didn’t realize how much all the noise was effecting me until opting out.
It is really noisy, isn't it? And I so often grab my phone when I don't want to deal with some uncomfortable feeling. I really value the connections I've made on Substack, but I find that I'm not happy unless it's confined to a pretty specific time, like a couple hours a day.
Yes, I have also noticed it’s a way to distract from uncomfortable feelings. We need to feel the feelings and work through them rather than distracting on autopilot. I do think it’s wise to confine screen time to certain check in points so that it doesn’t become pervasively intertwined with the richness of real life in the moment.
Hi Meredith, I had saved your post and wanted to ask whether I could share it with readers as part of "Living Unconformed Lives in a Digital Age", see https://schooloftheunconformed.substack.com/p/living-unconformed-lives-in-the-digital. Let me know if that would be ok :)
I'd be honored! Thanks Ruth!
Wonderful :)