Before you judge me and ask me, 'Why are you doing cocaine, Yukta?' Let me tell you that almost all of us are engaging in behaviors that numb ourselves. We often resort to these coping mechanisms even for the smallest inconveniences in our lives. Allow me to share my side of the story.
When I graduated from college and moved out of my parent's house for a new job, I was brimming with hope and plans on how I would make the most of my twenties. I envisioned a routine of waking up early to study, working out, staying on top of my tasks, meal prepping, writing regularly, and sleeping soundly at night. Quite an ambitious list, isn't it? I even moved into my own place, believing I would transform it into a productivity haven. I had all the tools to pursue my goals, and I did... for a week.
A click from my balcony
And then what happened? I found myself oversleeping, feeling drained throughout the day, and resorting to mindlessly scrolling on Instagram. This mindless scrolling served as a distraction, preventing me from confronting the tough questions about life and self-reflection. It hindered my ability to think clearly. Despite knowing that endlessly watching reels was unproductive, I found myself unable to stop. Before I knew it, I had wasted the entire evening on this activity. I mistook it for relaxation, only to feel more fatigued afterward. On days when I felt low, a simple post on social media would get me quick validation through likes, comments, and replies, further deterring me from addressing the underlying issues.
It's akin to a form of 'cocaine' handed to us to be forever stuck in this loop. It perpetuates comparison with others, fosters a sense of inadequacy, and leaves us feeling hollow the more we engage. It's almost as if it's a system designed to keep us average. Moreover, it was disheartening to witness the constant bombardment of sales pitches from everyone around me. Distinguishing my own opinions from the opinions of the 1000s of influencers became a daunting task, leaving me drained.
Thus, I decided to deactivate my social media accounts (Facebook & Instagram) and remove them from my phone. This newfound freedom has granted me more time. Whenever boredom strikes, I turn to my Kindle and immerse myself in a good read. However, there's one challenge I'm still grappling with - YouTube shorts. If you have any suggestions on how to manage this, I would greatly appreciate your insights.
If you liked what you read, consider buying me a coffee here:
https://www.buymeacoffee.com/yuktasharma
Once I hit 1 Lakh INR (1333 USD) I'll give it away as a scholarship to support undergraduate women from India to attend their first space conference 🚀👩🚀
Use Youtube Revanced. You will have many additional features including an option to turn off Youtube shorts.
Ps. Following you on linkedin for long time. You are doing great. Lots of support and kudos to you!
Shorts work on recommendation system, just turn off your watch history and Youtube won't show any shorts content (recommendation page will get blocked as well, better I guess). Keep going, more power to you...(and yeah we all are addicted sadly..)