Samarth Pathak
8.2K posts
@PathakSamarth
South Asia Advocacy @UNODC. Reflecting on life, education & risks.Championing RiseUp4Peace as “there must be lights burning brighter somewhere.” Views personal.
In a world that’s turned upside down and inside out over the last few months, the constant consumption of anxiety/rage-inducing content and information overload is surely but silently affecting our stress levels, emotional temperature and physical and mental health. Whether it’s hours of doomscrolling reels and posts or podcast bingeing, whether it’s the innate urge to keep track of any and every news or react to new developments, or mindlessly watching and reading WhatsApp messages and social media, it all takes a toll. Some “switch off” during active conversations as their attention drifts, some “find more solace” in their online activity than in presence of real people, some complain of a “constant heaviness in the eyes and head, and a feeling of irritability and uncertainty,” and some are finding it “increasingly difficult” to concentrate on one thing, one person, one conversation, one task. For sanity’s sake, it’s critical to be mindful of this. As an experiment, took a voluntary break from social media for a few days to test whether it helps. Whenever there was an urge to use social media for personal purposes, I consciously reached out for a book, or immersed myself in creative activities, or listened to instrumental music, or walked in the sun or spoke to others. Real conversations with real people. It did help. I felt much better, lighter, content, happy and at peace. There were more ideas and thoughts buzzing in the mind, personal interactions felt more engaging and gratifying, and there’s a sense of peace. Strongly suggest such voluntary breaks from social media, in these turbulent times.
