Hey lovelies! Over the last few months I have been sharing some of my thoughts in my newsletter (aka love letter) and while that is fun I think some of these things belong right here on the blog so welcome to my 5th Love letter!
Ya know…It stinks to be to hear the truth about yourself, especially when it is life that is having to tell you those truths. Let me explain…in the last couple of weeks, I decided to by a house. This decision totally came from out of the blue and while I am definitely not a spontaneous person (I was leaning toward buying a house…this fall). After my advisors told me I was ready now. I started the ball started rolling down that hill. When you buy a house things start getting…well busy, and complicated. I have the tendency to let life roll right over me and THIS TIME I wanted to do things a bit differently. I decided to be present and make changes wherever I could. I’m totally ok with calling myself out, it may start some conversations that can help someone else. So I guess this is the call Danie out love letter! I guess I am spilling the tea on myself…Lord here we go…
I have a phone issue…Have you ever looked at your day and said you were busy all day, but then you look at social media and you were scrolling a good 50-70% of your day? Did you get what you needed done? Well, say hello to the bad guy (Jay-Z quote) I stinking do that and I don’t know why it took me so long to notice! Maybe it was all my scrolling! Being the kinda girl I am I did some research…There are lots of reasons that we look at our phones (seeking dopamine, seeking disturbance or distraction, general procrastination, etc) but biggest shocker for me was research that says on average we spend more than 5 hours a day scrolling and texting each day. Does Googling how to spell words which I think is essential to work count?..ok see now I am getting off the point. Point is I am spending waaay to much time on my phone which keeps me from really getting to my goals. Sending paperwork, filing taxes, all the adulting we have to do. This is a personal issue. I cannot blame anyone. I control this phone and I need to control me. This has led me to alter my social media approach for now…limiting the IG for my blog to 2 times a day (Posting at night and replying to comments the next day) and I downloaded an app (Moment available on IOS) to find out exactly how much time am I spending on social media and to ground my digital self as I have sooo much to do other than scroll! 1st days results: 2 hours and 54 min! And I picked up the phone 31 times!!! This is a lot of time and I was conscientious of not using the phone in the morning! Am I on this phone 5 hours a day scrolling thru posts!?
For transparency’s sake I am going to share how these things are going as time passes. I am considering this a part of my 2018 goals, that I talked about so much in other posts and hopefully, you guys can help keep me accountable.
The 2nd habit that I have that I am actually making progress on is going to bed. I am a serial night owl. I will lollygag all up and down this house, scroll thru IG get very little done, go to bed super tired and frustrated and start the next day repeating the same pattern. So I am having to discipline myself. Get ready for bed at 11:30 and limit the sosh meeds as it is jacking my life up! 2 hours and 54 minutes of it! So by 12:30 your girl is ready for a good nights sleep which helps me be ready for life the next day and now that I am in scrolling jail I am about to have so much more room for activities!
Hopefully, one of those activities will be being present and improving my planning for the future. Sometimes I can only see now. I will push things to the limit without thinking of the potential of the unknown. So that’s something I gotta work on. Houses need repair and maintenance and no landlord will be coming to do it. I am the landlord baby! So I have been confronted with consequences with some of the impromptu choices I am making. Some are good, some are troubling. Its ok to see yourself as you are flaws and all and then make changes to improve. That is awesome and the epitome of adulting baby. So while I called myself out. I am proud of me. This is growth as my mom would say. So yay!
Have you ever had to come to grips with a quality that you needed to change? Have any pointers for me? Share them in the comments.
xo Danie
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xo Danie
It sounds like you have all the right intentions ahead. I’m loving the idea of getting to bed at a good time. I LOVE sleeping… I’m currently in bed and it’s 21:45 (although I am reading your blog so I’m not exactly sleeping). I think there is an app we can get to cut down on the usage of our phones, although I am slightly hesitant to go looking for the app as then I might have to use it, haha! Good luck 💚
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Hey there, thanks so much for your comment. The app I mentioned in the post called Moment is pretty good. If you pay it will limit your access to things on your phone. If you don’t it will give you a report on your usage, which can truly scare you straight! LOL
This is precisely why I am trying to avoid these kinds of things… But now you’re making me think about Moment again… Dark times ahead, haha! 💚
I’ve got the same issue with scrolling. Then I do it on the evenings which affect to my sleep & then I feel awful because I’m tired – need to step out from online for a little while haha.
I feel like I really, REALLY need to download that app and find out how much time I’m spending (read: wasting) scrolling on my phone…but I’m really, REALLY scared of what it will tell me. I CAN’T HANDLE THE TRUTH! But you’ve definitely inspired me to maybe give it a go…so that’s a positive first step, right? How are you using the information? Are you trying to log a smaller amount of time each day? Putting your phone in a drawer for a certain amount of time each day? Spill your secrets! lol
I too struggle with staying up too late at night. Especially as I work by day and blog at night. Its so hard to disconnect and fall asleep early. I am NOT getting enough sleep. Let me know if you find any strategies that work for you!
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I definitely will be writing about it. I am wanting to share the good and bad because things aren’t always smooth right? We will eventually figure it out. Thanks so much for checking out the post <3
I downloaded that app too! Eye opener! I can totally relate and applaud your efforts! We can all use some motivation to reclaim our time!
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Thanks Karilife, it was kind of shocking to discover. Its great to find opportunities to improve right! Glad I am on this path.
Honestly I’m a serial procrastinator, I’ll do everything but what needs doing. Some times that’s okay and works out for the best like when I clean to avoid uni work but most of the time it doesn’t so I need to work on that not just for myself but my son too. I don’t want him learning my bad habits.
Well done lady! I need to get that app as I’m sure I also spend way too much time glued to my phone. I need that wake up call! I’m curious to know how you get on so lets keep in touch xx
I have the same problem with night sleep, I want to go to bed early but then everything will come on mind and I will try to complete any task I can. But, truth is, I have to create a better sleeping routine. Congratulations on buying a house!
Phone can really be a time thief! I’m using a lot of time with it too but hey, I blog so it’s partly useful, right? Haha. I could improve with spending too much time in social too, and I could also go to bed earlier.
Love, love, love your post. I suffer from the same problem and I love how you put it in perspective and came up with simple and effective solutions. Congratulations on your new house!!
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Thanks doll. I am still in process on the house but its an interesting process to say the least! I am taking my puppy with me to go house hunting tomorrow. Hope we find something! Have a great one Helena!
Just like you – thats why I have decided to take social media detox from time to time. And I love that. 🙂 2-3 days without IG scrolling and etc.. it’s amazing.
Oh lady I scroll all day! Love the idea of the app that limits your time. Congrats on making headway on a goal thats tough for all of us!
xoxo Christie
http://www.icanstyleu.com/blog/
I am the same! I stay up too late because during the day I have my son. Who then in turn wakes up at the crack of dawn
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Yeah its hard finding a way to do all the things we have to do right?! I hope a few of these small changes will help! I hope you find a way to get more rest too.
First of all I love that you used a gif of Michael Jackson. Second, for the last couple of months I have tried to take time off of my phone or from technology at night time. At first it was a little difficult but then it got easier.
So great that I’m reading your post – I’ve been working on the process of reclaiming – time, energy, focus … and I agree with you on what you’ve shared. Ours is a process of getting into alignment of what truly serves us and we are always a work in progress <3 Blessings! xo
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I definitely am in progress and even though it seems like a struggle the fact that I figured out that a change was needed is kinda awesome!
I have been seriously practicing being on social media only for 3 hours during the whole day – once in the morning and one or twice in between. I seriously time myself now because earlier it was like I was spending my life online!
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I was thinking of doing the exact same thing! I may do that as well. I have to be on for blogging purposes but even that can be limited. Thanks for checking out the post!
Sounds like you’re doing your thing to me! keep it up! That phone can be troubling but it’s a necessity too!
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You are so right Morgan. I appreciate the encouragement.
Congrats on the house! Reading this made me realize I should spend less time on my phone!
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It is stealing a bit of our time. I gotta figure out how to regain balance.
YAAAAS! First.. I LOVE YOUR BLOG… Lets make sure we are following each other to connect more! And i totally agree with limiting the social media engagement.. Crowdfire helps me stay organized while it does the posting I need 🙂
This is a really inspiring and candid post! Thank you. Working on change can be really challenging. I recently took a much needed detox/break from social media, and it was awesome. Keep on being awesome!
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Now that apps can post on IG I am really thinking about doing that for a month. It might be good for me.