Tick. Tock.
Tick. Tock.
The clock continues its relentless march forward, yet our lives seem to be slipping through the grasp of our fingers.
In this fast-paced digital age, time has become our most precious commodity, and yet we willingly surrender it to the clutches of media corporations that profit from our undivided attention.
With each tap, swipe, and click, we surrender our hours, minutes, and seconds to the voracious appetite of social media platforms and online entertainment. We mindlessly scroll through endless feeds, mesmerized by the algorithmic abyss that keeps us hooked, craving more, never satiated. Little do we realize that our time is being monetized, transformed into profit for these corporate giants who thrive on our angry addictions.
How many evenings have we lost, scrolling through an infinite stream of memes, cat videos, and mindless debates? How many opportunities have we missed, mesmerized by this abyss?
Now, this totally sounds like your parents lecturing you and attributing every inconvenience in your life to “that damn phone,” but, to be honest… they weren’t that wrong.
But, let’s clear up one thing first - being on devices is NOT always equal to wasting time! Maybe you’re watching a video essay on fast fashion or maybe you’re watching a football game, or listening to your favorite song. These are all conscious decisions. What I’m referring to is when you’re bored, when you’re idle, so you decide to mindlessly scroll until your eyes hurt - that’s a problem.
But it doesn't have to be this way, does it? We have the power to reclaim our time, to break free from the chains that bind us to our screens. It starts with awareness and a conscious decision to take back control of our lives, of our time and of our efforts.
By consciously choosing how we spend our time, we can regain a sense of agency and purpose.
I’m also not asking you to do a whole “digital dopamine detox,” I get it. Life is a lot. Sometimes, we need something mindless to get our minds off something. Or everything.
But, try your hardest to make it a conscious decision that you’ll spend ‘x’ amount of minutes doing nothing, scrolling through social media. Set a timer, and once it goes off, disconnect.
Also, let us not forget the insidious nature of the ‘attention economy’. Our time is not just a casualty; it is a valuable resource that is being exploited for financial gain. By continuously scrolling, clicking, and engaging with online content, we are inadvertently supporting a system that profits from our distraction. It is time to take a stand and be more intentional about the platforms and content we choose to engage with.
Not to go all civics textbook on you, but reclaiming our time is not just an act of self-preservation; it is a declaration of sovereignty over our own lives.
It is a recognition that our time is valuable and should be spent on endeavors that bring us joy, growth, and fulfillment.
Let’s break free from the clutches of the abyss, seize the reins of our lives, and embrace a future where our time is no longer a commodity to be exploited, but a gift to be treasured, by us and only us.
Tick. Tock.
Tick. Tock.
The clock continues its relentless march forward, but this time, we march alongside it, reclaiming our time one conscious choice at a time. The power is within us, waiting to be awakened. Let us seize it and create a future where our time is truly ours to cherish and savour.