Social media isn't free, it costs your time.
Do you remember the last thing you consumed on TikTok, Instagram Reels or YouTube shorts?
‎I certainly don’t.
‎What I do remember is how much I used to scroll on TikTok, my screen time was in the double digits, but literally not even 5 minutes after closing the app, I could not remember a single thing I just watched. I could not for the life of me recall any of it.
‎This got me thinking. Just how much of my time am I wasting? So I started to do some calculations.
‎If I spend 2 hours a day watching Shorts, Reels or TikToks:
At the end of the week that is 14 hours
At the end of the month that is 60 hours
In a year that is 730 hours (over 30 days!)
‎An entire month of my life completely wasted on something that didn’t bring me any kind of value.
‎The worst part about this is that this is a low estimate, sometimes I was spending upwards of 8 hours on social media, and I wasn’t just doing this for 1 year.
‎I’ve been doing it for years…
To combat this I've done the following 3 things:
1) Turning my smartphone into a dumbphone
I transformed my smartphone into a minimalistic, distraction-free tool that mimics the simplicity of a dumbphone while retaining essential features like scanning QR codes, using maps, and making payments. I've done this by carefully curating the apps I use and hiding/removing the rest. Here is a great tutorial on how to set this up.
2) Using app blockers
There are multiple app blockers out there that help you manage and limit access to certain applications on your devices. These apps allow you to block or restrict specific apps, either temporarily or permanently, to reduce distractions and improve productivity.
App blockers typically offer features like scheduling blocks during certain times of the day, setting time limits for app usage, and providing insights into usage patterns. They are commonly used to enhance focus by limiting access to social media, games, or other potentially time-consuming apps. The app that I use is called Freedom.
3) Using alternatives to social media
Traditional social media platforms are designed to keep you hooked with endless reels/shorts and are filled with ads. To break free from this, I've been using an alternative called Skool.
Skool is a social platform that stands apart from the usual social media experience. It’s designed to create a space where learning and community are at the forefront. Unlike other platforms, Skool doesn’t bombard you with ads or content meant to keep you mindlessly scrolling. Instead, it’s built around communities focused on specific topics of interest, allowing you to connect with like-minded individuals who are passionate about the same things you are, whether it's personal development, entrepreneurship, or literally any other topic. The emphasis is on learning and growth, making it a far more productive use of time than traditional social media.
By implementing these 3 things I've been able to keep my screen time low and meaningful. I hope this will help you achieve the same :).
