PAUSE YOUR SCROLLING, RECONNECT WITH THE REAL YOU

Ever looked up from your phone and wondered who you morphed into? 2 hours passed like nothing, and you're slouched over, unrecognizable? I did one night. A realization hit. I hadn't touched anything I actually loved in ages.

Previously, I wrote a poem each week. Back then, I used to ride my bike often, too. In that moment, I realized I had forgotten about those activities I loved so much. Instead of creating or enjoying the fresh air on my face, I was hunched over watching funny videos of random people on the internet. Were they cute and made me laugh? Sure. But was it fulfilling my purpose of existence? not so much.

We scroll, hoping to escape, find a hit of dopamine, and laugh. But, being constantly exposed to the brain rot and the easy hits of dopamine, we somehow lose extremely vital aspects of our personality: our unique quirks, our inner creativity, our ability to sit in silence … and the uniqueness of our personality begins to fade.

It's time to connect with who you are outside of how you're perceived

Social media is cleverly built, engineered to keep us fully hooked. Each swipe, every like, every video automatically playing is part of an elaborate system designed by our brains' reward circuitry.

Dr. Gloria Mark, psychologist and author of Attention Span, notes: “When there’s this feeling of overwhelming much information so quickly, the ability to reflect, also our focus really starts to shrink.”

Psychology Today reports that incessant scrolling breeds comparisons, diminishes self-worth, and absolutely messes with our brain's reward circuits. It's more than habits. It’s a brain-based cycle.

Consider the insane figures: A whopping 16,000 TikTok videos are uploaded per minute, plus over 138 million Instagram reels are streamed. It's truly a deluge that bashes our minds every day.

SIGNS OF YOUR PERSONALITY FADING AWAY

1. Do you laugh at TikTok jokes while forgetting what you found funny?

2. You're either anxious without constant stimulation, or you're anxious because of the constant stimulation.

3. You have difficulty finishing books and projects you start.

4. You've ditched those beloved passions: drawing, journaling, dancing.

5. You may feel a deep sense of disconnection from yourself, reality, and the people around you.

If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, you're not alone. This is an urgent message that it's time to rediscover who you are without the constant noise.

A Personal Reset

One day, I sat in silence for a solid 20 minutes. No phone. No sound. It was just me. It was initially awkward, then beautiful. I remembered a character I left so long ago, and I finally started writing again.

I used to write about strangers’ lives — how they’d feel while riding the bus on the way home. I dreamt up their stories, heartache, and dreams. More recently, my imagination has almost felt outsourced. Instead of creating my worlds, I was enjoying others'.

Experiencing others’ worlds is not a bad thing, but when you’re not creating, it’s easy to start to feel like a ghost of yourself. Humans are constantly creating — consciously and unconsciously. It’s almost a way for us to extend our life, expand our existence, and access our intrinsic immortality.

Now, that creative spark has been reignited, and I'm starting to feel alive again. It didn't happen overnight, and sometimes I still fall victim to the scrolling, but it's a journey that constantly reminds me that I'm in charge of my life. I hold the power. My phone is simply a tool that I can decide when, how, and what I use it for.

This is your reminder that as long as you're creating, you're alive. And as long as you're alive, you're creating, whether you realize it or not.

What did you love before the scrolling craze took over? May that cherished memory guide you.

Connect Consciously with your true self: 5 ways to get yourself back

Create before consuming. Write in a journal, draw, and create voice notes of your thoughts before opening apps. It doesn't need to be perfect. It's imperfectly perfect because it's human. It's you. Let your own mind speak up, not the algorithm.

Soul scroll instead of doom scroll. Arrange your feed. Follow creators that inspire ideas, not feelings of insecurity. Ask yourself, does this bring out the real me?

Plan for boredom. Neuroscientist Dr. Mary Helen Immordino-Yang said, “Boredom is where creativity is born.” Spend fifteen minutes daily without stimulation. This helps your personality grow.

Reintroduce your rituals. Bring back the little things that made you, you. Make your morning tea, draw, dance, and read aloud poetry.

Set scrolling limits. Use app timers or visual clues. A sticky note on your phone that reads “There’s something beautiful offline too” can act as a powerful reminder.

MAKE THAT CHANGE, YOU WILL NOTICE THE DIFFERENCES LATER

Breathe deeply. Get a pen or your notes app ready.

Write down three things you used to love doing.

Pick one and do it today, even if it's just for ten minutes.

Tell me below, or share with a friend: what is a habit you’re taking back?

Your true self remains intact, no matter how much you may forget it. It awaits your rediscovery, calling you home.

Reclaim your oddities, that unique voice, the happiness within. Create more, consume less. Experience is not merely responding. Practice being. Don’t just exist online.

That being said, it's time to do it. Now. Put down that phone. Embrace the boredom. Embrace the urge to create. Embrace the very essence of you.