By now we are all vibing in quarantine. But there is this inescapable feeling the chaos is brewing outside our doors. We feel helpless and uneasy. And that's fine. In the world wind that is social media and the Internet, we are swept up in headlines. In large numbers that make us feel like there is just nothing we can do.
And in some ways that is true. This is a pandemic. A virus is sweeping through the world. It doesn't discriminate. But there are ways to bring humanity back to those numbers. To break through all the noise and actually try in some way to help others. That can be giving your neighbors a call or making sure your friends and relatives are okay. You can tip your delivery people generously or leave things for your postal workers. You can donate to local charities or sew masks. (But make sure you are doing research before you donate to any organizations).Behind the numbers. Behind the quarantine selfies and news drama, there ARE things you can do to help other. So please, review the resources below so we can support each other during this time. The Mindful Digital Native Resources: How to Find Good Charities to Donate To Sewing Masks More Charities
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It’s hard to stay off your phone. It really is. It haunts you like an electronic ghost. Beckoning you into its domain. Never to return. Dun dun dunnnnnn *scary organ music*. Ever since I began my digital wellness journey, I’ve had little reminders to help me not use my phone. One of them was having a fun phone wallpaper that says something like “put the phone down”. There are tons of ways to make one! You can draw something on paper and take a picture, use PowerPoint or Canva or MS Paint to make your creation. Have fun!
The Mindful Digital Native As I stated in a previous post, social media makes us focus a lot on ourselves, and keeps us in a little bubble a lot of the time. That is why I wanted you to find a biography yesterday.
I got the idea for this day from my dad. He says biographies allow us to go beyond ourselves and understand the views, struggles, and perspectives of others. This in turn allows us to reshape and adapt our own world view. We are taking a moment to step outside ourselves. Reading a biography or autobiography also gives you a chance to learn from the mistakes and trials of others. We don't always have to do everything alone, and it's good to read about someone who has had similar or related life experiences. Especially in the digital age, when we are more connected, but more alone than ever. I always enjoyed reading biographies because they allow me to really get into other people's heads and understand how they think. It's easy to get caught in an echo chamber through the internet, so reading something that challenges your perspective is critical. So even if you couldn’t go to the library, hop on the internet and research someone who inspires or challenges you. Happy reading, The Mindful Digital Native I am in the library every day for upwards of six hours. I’m studying engineering in college, so it kind of makes sense that I live there. But now things are very different and I cannot go to the library. For obvious reasons.
Libraries are great resources and great places to find analog activities. They usually have events and clubs, which are especially great for younger digital natives. So if you have a library near by, turn your phone off and go on an adventure! Look through some books or check out what events are going on. And the main goal today which will help you with tomorrow: to check out a biography. I know there are some people who don’t have access to libraries, for one reason or another. And the best place to go for that is Google Books, which has tons of free scans of all kinds of books. Another thing I like to do is go on YouTube and find free audio books (there is a guy who did every SINGLE Lord of the Rings book.) Though these are digital resources, they are a great way to use technology in a balanced way. Happy book time, The Mindful Digital Native Resources: Lord of the Rings Audio Book: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_DmnnD6evE Library Locator: https://www.worldcat.org/libraries Why Libraries are Important: https://www.bustle.com/p/7-reasons-libraries-are-essential-now-more-than-ever-43901 I told you that journal was going to come back for you, didn't I? Happy 20 Days of Mindful Tech by the way! You are doing great! Keep it up! We are almost there!
Today is really about self reflection. I am not going to guide your answers today or provide outside resources to influence you. It is perfectly possible that you went through this program so far, and your perception of social media hasn't changed. And that's okay. Just ask yourself: How does social media make you feel? Really and truly. Is is helping or harming you during this stressful time? Do you think that something needs to change? That is all I have for you on this lovely day. Go evaluate you relationship with technology. Happy reflecting, Mindful Digital Native We already unfollowed a bunch of content that made us feel gross inside. Now it's time to find content that makes us happy and educates us about the world. Below I'm going to list a bunch of accounts that I follow that bring me joy. Check them out! And revisit the questions we posed in day 5 to help you decide if the account is right for you to follow, and revisit the resources section of that page as well.
Mindful Digital Native's List of Cool Things:
Discover something new, Mindful Digital Native We all have a lot more time on our hands now. So this is a great opportunity to learn something new! It doesn't have to be "class" style. It can be anything. This is another exercise in learning how to create tech life balance. I encourage you to use your device to look up some fun stuff to do! But conscientiously keep track of how often you are using your phone. When do you get distracted? What triggers you. Keep track. See what's up! Today's post is short because I trust you. Below will be more resources:
EdX - Free Classes An Origami Tutorial Crochet Love, The Mindful Digital Native Whenever I go anywhere without my phone, I feel naked. Like I'm missing a part of myself. And I really dislike that I feel that way. I want to never experience that. But because I am so used to having this thing in my back pocket. Every where I go. Kind of like a leech. Well not exactly, but you know what I mean.
We already went outside resisting out phones, now we are going to ditch the phones all together. We are going to experience discomfort and embrace that naked feeling. We are going to think about it. Why do we feel that way? Why do we need to feel tethered all the time. I get anxious because I'm terrified something is going to happen with my school work and I'm going to miss it and my life will be ruined. That is not going to happen. At least, it's incredibly unlikely. And this anxiety has a name. It's called the fear of missing out. Now I am aware that I gave a really weird example of FOMO, but that is literally what I experience. Fear that something life changing, ground breaking, and earth shaking is going to happen and I am just going to be disconnected when that happens. But we are going to fight FOMO today. We are going out into the world PHONELESS! No phones allowed here. No, no. Get out there! Do what you're doing. Live well! Observe where you live. Meet some new people! Can I get that pizza PHONELESS, Mindful Digital Native Resource: The reference in the sign off (its got swear words in it but its so funny) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud1JXqGWPvU Hey, hi, how are you?
Social media. It's supposed to be about sharing. And connecting. Have you see those new Facebook ads about Groups that makes Facebook seem like it really get's people together in real life? That's what we want social media to be. But it really ends up being about ourselves. We end up focusing more on how we look, how many likes we get, how many compliments and comments we get. And when we are thinking about others on social media, we are usually comparing ourselves to them. So we are going to take a moment today to make social media nothing about use. We are going to make a post about something that we truly appreciate. An appreciation post if you will. It can be about a role model or a family member or someone else all together. What do you love about them? Why to you appreciate them? Let them know. But also make sure you parallel that appreciation in the real world. Don't worry about likes or comments. Just make sure that person knows you care about them. Online and off. The Mindful Digital Native So one of my favorite books of all time, like in the WHOLE WORLD, is Pride and Prejudice. I love the story line. I love the high comedy. I love the feminism. And I love the letters. This book involves so many letters back and forth. They are beautiful, eloquent, and passionate. They clarify and develop the relationships between the characters (especially Elizabeth and Darcy).I high key wish someone would write me a letter like that. I remember learning how to write and send a letter in third grade. Today I still have to look up how to write an address on an envelope. I am also the most awkward person at the post office.
I remember there is this episode of the Canadian kid's show "Caillou", where the main character, a 4-year-old kid named Caillou (duh) notices that his parents always get really stressed out looking through the mail, so he writes them a letter and mails it to them so they have something fun in the mail instead of just "bills, bills, bills". It's ingrained in my memory forever. Those are the two inspirations for today's activity. Jane Austen and Caillou. Who would have though? So let's bring back the art of letter writing. Pick a friend or family member and write to them. And if you're like, "Well what do I write to them about? Mindful Digital Native this is weirddddd." My advice is, write about what you would text them. If you would text them memes, literally print out the meme and mail it to them. (I have no idea why I have been talking about memes so much lately). Get creative! Press some flowers and write a short note. If you still fell uncomfortable, tell them I made you do it. Blame me. I don't care. Just complete the activity! And if you are like me and don't have access to stamps and envelopes because you are a BROKE college student, write a letter to yourself about why you appreciate you, or you goals. Get that pen on paper and move it! Make someone's day by putting something in the mail that is not an ad for a new store or those coupon newspapers. More resources down below if you get stuck! Some fun ones and serious ones. Yours &c. The Mindful Digital Native Resources: That Caillou Episode: https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/want-to-improve-your-life-write-yourself-a-letter.html Letters in Pride and Prejudice: https://readallaboutbooks.wordpress.com/2013/04/21/letters-in-pride-and-prejudice/ How to Write Letters (19th century edition) https://www.brainpickings.org/2012/12/21/how-to-write-letters-1876/ How to Write Letters (more practical) https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/how-to-write-a-letter/ How to Write a Letter To Yourself: https://www.inc.com/jessica-stillman/want-to-improve-your-life-write-yourself-a-letter.html |
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