Together alone-spending time away from the phone.
Published
I would like to spend more time away from social media, or even my phone entirely.
Going forward, I plan to spend less time online, specifically on social media. I feel as though the content that I am exposed to on social platforms, as well as the sheer time that it removes from my day, have a dulling effect on my quality of life. The hours pass faster, I get less done, I feel less motivation and more despair. Overall, I feel that the amount of time I spend on social media detracts from the enjoyment possible of living more presently. To do this, I plan to take several steps not only to decrease screen time, but to encourage activities of the present.
One step I will take is to track the amount of time that I spend on individual apps using my phones screen time tracker and place timers on the apps that I feel are the most problematic. With these in place, I can gradually shorten the amount of time I spend on social media in order to form a lasting habit rather than a resolution that will fail. I recognize that strict adhesion will be required for these timers to prove effective, so I will be careful to make my goals manageable and put repercussions in place if I go over my time limit more that once per week.
Furthermore, I resolve to leave the house at a minimum of once per day for a duration of at least 15 minutes, regardless of my general mood or state of mental wellbeing. Similarly, there will be repercussions if this goal is not met more than once per week. Similarly I will strive to spend 45 concurrent minutes per day doing a task that is void of technology(with the exception of technology/physical media for the sole purpose of delivering music) and rejuvenating for myself, one hour if the activity doubles as my 'outside time'. This activity may been done alone or in tandem with a partner, though all present parties must be participating in the activity void of technology. While there will be no positive repercussions for failure to meet this criteria, there may be negative (such as reduced allowance for screen time during the following day).
With steady work towards these goals, I hope that there can be a substantial and lasting effect to my mood, presence in life, and general mental wellbeing.
One step I will take is to track the amount of time that I spend on individual apps using my phones screen time tracker and place timers on the apps that I feel are the most problematic. With these in place, I can gradually shorten the amount of time I spend on social media in order to form a lasting habit rather than a resolution that will fail. I recognize that strict adhesion will be required for these timers to prove effective, so I will be careful to make my goals manageable and put repercussions in place if I go over my time limit more that once per week.
Furthermore, I resolve to leave the house at a minimum of once per day for a duration of at least 15 minutes, regardless of my general mood or state of mental wellbeing. Similarly, there will be repercussions if this goal is not met more than once per week. Similarly I will strive to spend 45 concurrent minutes per day doing a task that is void of technology(with the exception of technology/physical media for the sole purpose of delivering music) and rejuvenating for myself, one hour if the activity doubles as my 'outside time'. This activity may been done alone or in tandem with a partner, though all present parties must be participating in the activity void of technology. While there will be no positive repercussions for failure to meet this criteria, there may be negative (such as reduced allowance for screen time during the following day).
With steady work towards these goals, I hope that there can be a substantial and lasting effect to my mood, presence in life, and general mental wellbeing.
Blog Commitment to Mental Health
10/03/2026 7:13pm CDT
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@carloscastillo Wonderful and excellently thought out commitment! You can do it!