Taking a Break from the Screen: Finding What Really Matters
The Digital Trap
Hey there! Ever felt like you’re living your life through a screen? Like your ‘real’ self getting lost in a sea of likes, shares, and endless scrolling? Because I’m about to take you my journey of self-discovery – and it all started with putting down my phone.
There I was, thinking I had it all figured out. Work, social life, the whole shebang – all neatly packaged in my smartphone. Then 2020 hits, and suddenly, the world goes topsy-turvy.
Stuck at home, I found myself glued to my phone more than ever. Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X – you name it, I was scrolling through it. Also, Instagram launched this new thing of reels.
But here’s the kicker: the more I scrolled, the more lost I felt. Crazy, right?
A Wake-Up Call
Then, out of the blue, my dearest friend drops this bomb on me:
“What fuels your soul? What are you passionate about?”
I quickly answered, “I’m passionate about my work,” but my friend wasn’t buying it. He said, “That can’t be your real passion. Take a few days to think about it and then let me know.
I was at a loss for words.
Talk about a curveball! I mean, I thought I knew, but did I?
That’s when the fun began. I started this whole soul-searching adventure. And guess what? It led me to the most unexpected places.
Rediscovering Passions
I rediscovered my love for painting, thanks to my adorable nephew.
We’re talking full-on art sessions with a 3.5-year-old critic. And trust me he does have an eye for detail, and he is a strict critic of all my art collection. I even dived into resin art – making plates, coasters, and clocks. Who knew I had it in me?
Below are some pictures of paintings by me and my nephew & resin art.
But wait, there’s more! I found myself exploring beaches in Goa, getting creative in the kitchen (shoutout to Mom for the culinary inspiration!), and rediscovering bits of myself I’d forgotten existed.
Few of the food experiments:
The Expat Adventure
Fast forward a bit to 2022, and I’m in Munich, living the expat life. My new job got me to Munich. Cool, right? But something still felt off.
That’s when it hit me –
I needed to hit the refresh button on my life after going through the normal grind of work in 2024.
The Digital Detox Challenge
Trust me, I’ve done this song and dance before. You know the drill – delete Instagram, pat yourself on the back, and then spend the next three hours on TikTok. Classic, right?
But this time, oh boy, this time was different.
I was like a person possessed, I tell you. There I was, staring at my phone, and suddenly I just couldn’t take it anymore. It was like a switch flipped in my brain. No more half-measures, no more “I’ll just keep this one app” nonsense. Nope. This time, I was going nuclear.
So, I did something crazy. I went full-on digital detox mode.
Deleted all those addictive apps from my phone. No more waking up to a social media rabbit hole. Just me, myself, and I (oh, and Substack for some good reads).
And you know what? It’s been a game-changer, although its been just 5 days today being 6th day!
Top 5 Lessons Learned, in just 5 days
Here are my top 5 takeaways from this digital detox journey:
Rediscovering Lost Passions: I’ve got time to explore things I love, like painting and cooking. It’s like meeting an old friend you forgot you had!
Improved Self-Awareness: Without the constant digital noise, I’m getting to know myself better. Hello, boundaries and self-care!
Quality Over Quantity in Relationships: I’m having deeper, more meaningful conversations instead of just liking posts.
Mindful Mornings: Starting my day with nature walks, journaling, and yoga instead of scrolling. Total mood booster!
Rekindled Love for Reading: I’m back to reading actual books. Remember those? It’s like a workout for your imagination!
The Human Touch in a Digital World
But here’s something that got me thinking. I was chatting with my dad the other day, and he brought up an interesting point about banking. He was reminiscing about the good old days when banking was all about knowing your customers and building relationships.
Now, with everything going digital, that personal touch is vanishing faster than free snacks at an office party.
It got me wondering – are we losing something crucial in our rush to digitize everything?
I mean, don’t get me wrong, online banking is super convenient, but there’s something special about a friendly chat with your local bank teller, right?
We talk a lot about building user-centric apps, but isn’t it starting to feel like the human touch is losing its magic in this digital age?
Growing Up in the Age of AI
And speaking of the digital takeover, let me tell you about my nephew. This kid is so used to Alexa and Echo that he thinks voice commands are the only way to get things done.
It’s like he’s living in a sci-fi movie!
Remember when we had to get up to change the music? Now it’s all, “Alexa, play this,” “Alexa, do that.” Sometimes I miss the days of having a massive collection of CDs and DVDs.
There was something personal about curating your own music library, you know?
Finding Authenticity in an Unplugged World
It’s wild to think about how these apps and devices have shaped not just how we spend our time, but who we think we are.
Are we becoming so engrossed in our digital lives that we’re losing touch with our authentic selves?
I think if we take a step back and zoom out from our current lives, we all would have the same set of questions,
Are we losing touch with our authentic selves? Who are we?
The Challenge to Readers
So, I’ll leave you with this: When was the last time you felt truly present, truly you, without the filter of social media or the convenience of a digital assistant?
Are we becoming so dependent on tech that we’re forgetting how to live in the real world?
I don’t have all the answers, but I do know this: Taking a step back from the digital world has helped me take a giant leap forward in discovering who I really am. And let me tell you, it’s been one heck of a journey – unplugged, unfiltered, and totally worth it.
So, what do you say? Ready to find out what’s on the other side of that screen?
Trust me, it might just be the best version of you – the one that knows how to change a CD, have a face-to-face conversation, and maybe even remember their bank teller’s name!
Shwenaik 
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