#yestheory

Recently I have been unhappy with my phone usage, especially Instagram. It can be overwhelming when you have too many apps that you don’t use, or that distract you. I found that I wasn’t keeping track of my habits or updating my calendar as frequently as I would like. A few days ago I came across videos by Thomas Frank and Yes Theory that inspired me to take control of this. 

Here are the steps I took: 

1. I deleted Instagram and put a reminder in my Google Calendar to download it every Saturday. I am giving myself 20 minutes to do what I want and then I will delete it again. Instagram was taking up so much of my time, and it became something I would use to procrastinate or compare myself to others. I think this will be a healthy change. 

2. I deleted any apps that I did not use anymore, or that I used on my iPad or laptop more frequently. For example, I have Notion on my iPad and I use it on my computer, but I never opened it on my phone. Although I love Notion, it was taking up space. 

3. I deconstructed the “organized” folders I had and decided what I actually needed and wanted there. What made sense to be grouped together? Did I really need the Weather Channel app? 

4. I went through my subscriptions and cancelled any that were outdated, and breathed a sigh of relief. 

5. I backed up my photos using the google photos app, and deleted pictures and screenshots that were just taking up space. 

6. I decided which apps I wanted on my “front page”, aka the first screen when I unlocked my phone. I wanted these to be the apps I use to track habits, my calendars, and work on goals (like reading and learning languages.) 

Here is my front page: 

I have my weather app first, because that is the first thing I look at every day. My notes app is accessible in case I get an idea or have something I want to write down quickly. Forest is next, as I use it when I have deep work session. Motivation is what I use to get my backgrounds and inspirational quotes. The rest are organized by their purpose. I have found myself reaching for my phone much less since making this change. 

My second page looks like this: 

This is for things I need from time to time (like food delivery or transport) and apps I like to use when I take a break (Crash Course for European History, Netflix/Youtube/etc, Webtoon). This allows me to still have fun on my phone, but in a controlled way. 

Why I don’t just leave and travel the world or start my own company. 

Shut Up and Go Seek Discomfort 

I love YouTube and I watch a lot of YouTubers like Damon and Jo or YesTheory - a lot of people who took a huge risk to follow their passion. And it worked out great for them. Even though their videos are very inspirational for me - and many others, I sometimes get really annoyed while watching them.

Because life isn’t that easy. Following your passion doesn’t guarantee success. Risking everything doesn’t always play out. 

I am not at all trying to hate or criticize these people. I am also not saying that anything I am doing is unique or hasn’t been done before. I am just trying to get my point of view across. And writing it down is a great way to sort my thoughts and feelings on this topic. 

I am 21. I don’t know what my passion is. I am interested in a lot of stuff - literature, art, medicine, philosophy and psychology. But nothing does fulfill me. I don’t know what I want to do with my life.

So I try to create possibilities for me.

I already finished an apprenticeship as an Occupational Therapist (that’s possible because some parts of the German educational system are stuck in the Stone Age). I have a good job and I know how lucky I am for that. 

But even during the apprenticeship I knew, that this job won’t make me happy. After the apprenticeship I wanted to do a lot of things - travel, get some job experience and go to university. Even though I am still not 100% sure. 

So here is what I’ve doing to make these things possible for me without throwing caution out of the window:

I am currently doing my “Abitur” via distance learning (a degree which will allow me to go to university - the one I currently have “Realschulabschluss” isn’t enough - but was enough to be an OT)

I work part time as an OT

I try to travel at least 2 times are year - while putting some money to the side to support me when I will go to university and go on a larger backpacking trip

I rent a really small apartment - to safe money for the future

None of these things are endgame for me or my passion. But they guarantee that I will be able to do whatever I want to do. 

I will have my Abitur in 1.5 - 2.5 years. I will have lived this “working for the future - even though I don’t know what kind of future I want to have” lifestyle for about 4 years. That’s a long time. It’s hard to motivate yourself, when you don’t have a specific goal to work towards. But it’s also a fun time. I don’t have to commit to a passion or a job or a country. I have time to learn to look after my self, to improve my mental health and trying to figure out what will make me happy. Or just spend time doing things I like. 

And when I know what I want to do, I will be able to do it 

There can be fun in trying to figure it out, too. 

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This is probably the most random combination of themes, but whatever.

If you haven’t already, definitely check out YEStheory on YouTube, and their clothing line, but more importantly their lifestyle, seek discomfort.