#heavily

The tech industry in the past few years; AI, data centers, job losses (including my own for 6 months), price of hardware going up, gaming being less accessible and more digital, and the idea that everything is a subscription and no sense of ownership in what we buy. Since October of last year, I have started embracing the analogue and the old ways of life, basically slowing my life down.

I sold my iPad and its pen and I am back to notebooks, letters, and writing with my old fountain pens from school. I have sold my apple watch and went back to none digital/smart watches. I took a long break from gaming and watching shows, I took up leatherworking and woodworking for the first time and I find them to be extremely theraputic. I heavily reduced my general social media usage while completely cutting off platforms like facebook, tiktok and X, and instead I took up reading. If I need to learn about a topic, I go to the university/community center library and learn about things instead of googling or using AI.

I feel like in the past year, I have changed into a different person entirely, and I am not one to change easily or accept it. My life since has gotten much slower, much less stressfu. I do not worry about world news as I no longer see them online. I feel like most of the topics that gave me sleepless nights are now gone, and yes, I sleep MUCH faster and MUCH better now too. I have lost weight, and became more confident. I stopped buying "fast fashion" and invested heavily in a lot of more classical clothes or business casual attire. I now stop more while walking and appreciate the beauty of some of the older architecture and the public gardens, something that I would have never paid attention to as I was always glued to my phone.

Am I overreacting? My friends for sure think I have. I am almost 33 years old so it feels odd when I am told I am going through a phase or a mid life crisis of my own. While I might be, I do not want to revert back at all. I am happier now, and I want it to stay that way.

Reddit consensus: NOT OVERREACTING (NOR) (100% confidence)

Top comment: “NOR. I’ve been on a similar path, sometimes as strict as you, sometimes not quite. Experience a lot of the same results you’re feeling.

I think people that knock us for it, who are close to us, generally mean well. I noticed this especially when I quit drinking and I’ve heard this from others: by you eliminating something you’re doing because you feel it’s harmful, it highlights how the things they are still doing are harming them. If you’re right in your decisions, they assume they must be wrong in theirs.

My advice: don’t be preachy about it, but also don’t appease them by making your life worse.”

Notable comment: “NOR i've been doing the same and been called crazy for it because i'm only 22F. another thing i'd recommend is going back to music ownership! CDs, record players, tapes, whichever your preference is. we need to start owning the music we love again and BUYING art rather than subscribing or renting it. so glad your lifestyle changes have improved your life!! definitely giving me hope for my changes. i also use a regular watch instead of digital and people keep asking me why i wouldn't rather have a fitness watch or smart watch but its so overstimulating. notifications should not be on my wrist and i shouldn't have to look at a screen to know the time!”

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