LESS Scrolling: An Update

I haven't spent less time on my phone this month, but maybe that's not the point. I use my phone for almost everything: Daily to-do lists, reading, recipes, run-tracking, texting, weather, etc. While I could go back to paper or my desktop, I am thankful for the convenience that is the smartphone, and for now, I am sticking with it.

What I did want to do was be more aware of my scrolling, to use my phone to get information, rather than frittering away my time with it. Birchwood Pie Project commented on my February post that she took social media apps off her phone. I tried that and, voila, I did scroll less. I went on Instagram via my computer, and it was okay, but not as fun. I discovered that I like having Pinterest on my phone to save articles, though (and to view ones I have saved), so I did put that back on. I am just trying to use it to access information I already have, rather than to look at the suggested pins.

As Lent has started, I have not been going on Instagram at all, except on Saturdays, and only then to check the YSYD pose of the day. That is a fun habit for me. I go straight to the page, check the post, look at notifications, make sure no weird things have happened with my account, and log off. It is working so far. I have to admit that I fear missing some fun running events, though. I keep telling myself that this is a season.

I have caught myself scrolling on Facebook a little bit via my computer, as I have logged into to wish people a happy birthday. My high school class is also planning our next reunion and I don't want to miss out. But then I realize that the reunion will happen later, and I can catch up later. I am discovering that my fear of missing out fuels a lot of my scrolling.

For some reason, I still find myself scrolling podcasts and/or library books. I don't want to collect more, but somehow I do. I try to ask myself, "Is this how I want to spend my time?" That normally helps me stop earlier than I would if I stopped when I got to "the end."

What have I found myself doing more of? Reading. That has really gone up-both because I am walking a lot in my marathon recovery (as I like to walk and read), and because I am trying to use more of my down time to read now that social media is gone. 

I considered for a moment if I should take a break from reading again this Lent, but decided to embrace it as a good gift from God and enjoy it. There is fasting, and then there is asceticism. One is a spiritual discipline. One is works-based righteousness and a failure to let God be God. I am going for the former, not the latter. So LESS screen time and MORE reading it is.

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For anyone else who has taken a break from social media, what have you found yourself doing more? Please share in the comments!