I have seen a lot of posts about being stuck in time since 2019 or during the pandemic season. Honestly, I feel that a lot.
But I believe that we received so much social media exposure and advanced technology. Just be real, in a day, how many hours do you spend on your screen? I think that is a problem.
My first smartphone, which I bought for myself from my savings, was in 2016. Not the best one, kind of cheap but decent. I can only install a texting application for schools and Instagram. Around that time, my high school friends were crazy about Snapchat. Thank God I didn't join that cult too early. My camera is only 5 MP and takes notes that my internal storage and RAM are not the best. But I think that was the last time everything felt real and more appreciative.
I still remember it was in the middle of 2016 when they added Instagram Story features to my Instagram. There was the time — the last time I felt so mysterious and invisible. I was in a Film Writing competition in another city with my dad, which was my first time posting on Instagram Story. Unfortunately, that habit is still going on until now, 2025.
I cannot say Instagram is the source of problems, but again, something that is too much is not good. We have seen more than we should. We care too much about something that is not important. And it is going on for years.
I used to love writing before I turned my hobbies into vlogging. I write from time to time, but not that enjoyable. Until today, in the middle of the night, I just need to pour my thoughts on Medium. I love writing since was in my Junior High School, my Blog is still active to this day. I just do not have any energy to post more things on that Blog. Too much sad girls era of May, and I do not want to embrace that anymore. In here, Medium feels cleaner and professional. I do not want to bring something from the past.
Back on that social media dilemma, I also read about Fear of Missing Out, also the opposite of Joy of Missing Out. I like that idea so much, and I turned that into a scientific paper for my undergraduate thesis. I am still in between. Trying to reduce my screen time still. It is a dilemma when what you love is created. What I do now is just to create, upload, and scroll for 10–15 minutes maximum.
I still overshare, yes, but for something informational (sometimes personal, but I try to reduce it). Digital scrapbook of my journeys.
In 2025, it is the awaken phase where I feel more joy in unplugging my phone and not using social media unless it is beneficial, like collaboration with brands and sharing a little bit of big events (like my best friend's weddings). I also purchased an analog camera — after having too many thoughts on that, because I know film and washing film is not cheap. But I like to be more personal.
Keep in mind, now I have too many devices in my hand. My 5-year-old Laptop, an iPad (used) from my partner, an iPhone for my personal and business uses, and also Samsung Android — to read books, installed marketplace and shopping used in that phone, also reading an e-book (I got this phone from a Giveaway, so I like to keep it. I will never know when will I win a phone giveaway again). But see, the point is, too much distraction on my hands. I am trying to keep it simple.
There was a thought recently that I want to buy a flip phone. Again, in these tech-savvy modern days, it is going to be challenging. Why? I am in a long-distance relationship, but how can I text and call my fiancé if my phone cannot even support that. But I still keep that dumb phone on my wishlist. Maybe once we live together, you will not hear anything from me again.
Also, I love to go alone, that is why I put “touch some grass, please” as a title, because it is a game-changer. I love sitting around in a park with only a book in my hand. One month ago, I took an hour train to rent a bicycle, and then I just spent my time reading a book, getting lost. It sounds so simple, but we need to normalize being present. Our life is not on social media. In a blink of an eye, it is gonna be easy to delete the data on the app, and everything that you built will be gone.
So yes, please, break up with your phone. Once in a while. I really recommend it.
- Reupload from my Medium (Oct 3rd 2025).
