The title can be a bit confusing, and it my not be a direct question here, but the question is based on myself being in a place in my life where everything moves very fast, I have lots of things to do, and little time enjoying things that earlier would define my life. I have recently started on a journey trying to make my spare time more “slow”, to be more in the moment at actually enjoy doing the small things.
Examples of this can be that I have made my smartphone very dumb, by removing all the apps that makes you doom scroll. This was not hard as I lost interest in Instagram, facebook and other apps about 3 years ago. I just felt like I was “too old” for these kinds of apps and the time they steal from you (I am “only” 33 now).
I have also sold my SteamDeck, and instead bought a old-ish computer running windows 7 and a CRT monitor that I keep in my apartment. I use this to play older games that I know I enjoy, as well as trying out the games I never played as a kid (I only played sports games, but found out I really love everything from Elder Scrolls to Ghost recon and so on). In this way I find it more enjoying to sit down on a Friday night, after me and my girlfriend have eaten the usual Friday dinner and watched some crap movie (because that’s default in our lives these days. Watching stuff on streaming and scrolling at the same time) and have a beer by my side playing something or exploring some content online. ON A CRT MONITOR. I know I sound like a tool trying very hard for nostalgia, but I cant’ feel anything other than that its working.
I am also considering other things to “dumb” down my life for the sake of getting some kind of “peace” with the things I do. For example buying physical news papers to have a “quiet” moment reading, instead of sitting on my phone doing four things at the same time.
Has anyone else felt this way about not being in the moment when doing things?
Did the same things (my iPhone is the dumbest one can imagine, no social, no apps, no games, there is not even email configured on it). Including reading print newspapers and printed books… not just for the peace of mind but also for privacy and ownership reasons.
Also got rid of all subscription streaming and services and never looked back. If I can’t buy/rent a DVD I won’t watch whatever it is I’m interested in, simple as that. The same with music.
Because it’s much more pleasant, so much quieter and simpler (no update, no Notifications, no menus, no nothing) and relaxing I also went back to writing longhand (I don’t need to be constantly fast, but I need to enjoy writing) , using fountain pens/pencils and paper.
My agenda is a paper one too which can sometimes be an excuse way to trigger unexpected conversations with people that are surprised to see you using such a strange tool ;)
I’m a 50+ years old dude.
I feel like you are a couple of steps ahead of me and I love hearing that you have never looked back! All the things you have mentioned are things I either have done or is considering. Especially the ownership vs streaming thing!
I’m a bit older too. I started older than you are ;)
There is a lot of things I decided to move away from digital/online, including actually meeting people. The only social I still use is here.
I get that, but I will say that I think it’s sad that you are missing out on art you are interested in just because of capitalism. Using a VPN and sailing the high seas isn’t very complicated and they are not losing out on any money since you wouldn’t have bought it in the first place, so morally I think it’s fine. Actually you consuming the art, liking it, and suggesting it to other people who might buy it could be considered leaving the artist with more money than had you never consumed the piece of art.
We do miss a few things but not that much as my spouse and I are much more into works that will challenge us, not make us feel right/validated or whatever along those lines that seem to be so trendy.
Plus, there are so many great things to watch on DVD and books to read, more than enough to occupy every second of whatever time we have left on this planet would we ever want to do just that ;)
A bit like there are many paintings I will never have the opportunity to see IRL, that’s fine. I can appreciate so many already.
That’s a fair enough take as well :)