Intentional Scrolling

I have been learning all kinds of information, but due to the rapid pace of which we receive this information it is often forgotten, lost in the caves of my mind. I thought I might take some to seek out those pieces from the last week that I have obtained, specifically from the internet and school, so as to shine some light on those caves. However, even despite trying to recollect these pieces of information that I know I learned and after scrolling through my tiktok-like videos, I could not seem to remember more than mere fragments of the information. I knew what each video’s gist was, but I could not remember the quintessential component that had caused me to give it the ever-revered “like-button.” This week in order to reclaim my time and energy, and give my brain a break from the quick and constant scrolling that gives me such “joy,” I thought I would suggest some goals and ideas for myself and any other readers that find themselves in the same predicament.

1. In a day set aside specific times to scroll through social media, for example:
   1. Between classes to allow yourself a means of decompression
   2. After classes to relieve stress
   3. As study breaks
2. When it is time for your scroll have a specific intention for yourself and know why you want to scroll, for example:
   1. If you feel upset due to an interaction or due to an assignment/assessment, and you want to distract yourself then it is okay to give yourself permission to take a social media scroll, but try to sense your own feelings while doing so. Investigate, and make the scroll a little more meaningful:
      1. Do you feel better after 15 minutes, 30?
         1. If you are not feeling better, say even after an hour, would you feel more comfortable scrolling or would it be a more healthy way if you sought another source of relief before returning to the scroll?
         2. For example, take a break from your scroll to do something purposeful such as journaling your emotions, drawing them, singing, dancing, listening to music.
   2. Do you feel better seeing a specific kind of video (pet, comedy, makeup?)
3. Tidbits of interesting information that you find intriguing or you save for the future. Our libraries of “saved” and “favorites,” across all our social media platforms are rarely dusted or read again.
   1. I could write an entire article on this section itself. I think there are two ways to sort my favorite information.
      1. Intentionally writing down the information that I want to utilize in my future in a virtual or physical space so I can actually utilize them instead of hoarding them in a virtual bookshelf. Then I could see what my interests are and if the information was even as vital as I initially thought it to be
      2. Only favoriting stuff that can be used for very specific reasons. For example, a video/image you want to show/recreate (with) your friends in person. Or a video/image that you yourself want to make/recreate on your own social media platform

These are just a few ideas of mine on how I can make my social media usage a better use of time for me and to allow for a better mental and physical health.

• Detox
• mindfulness
• refresh
• scrolling
• social media