After reading the headline, you might be thinking, “Wait, what? People should care more about themselves?” Aren’t we selfish enough?
I think that that reaction is well-intentioned but shows a misunderstanding about our modern condition.
One of the most significant changes in our society over the past generation is the increased time we spend in front of screens—specifically, scrolling on our phones. What are we reading and watching on these devices? We’re reading the news, following our favorite sports teams and celebrities, and generally keeping a pulse on a thousand micro trends and fads across the culture.
In the past, people’s lives were filled with family, friends, neighbors, work, and all of the associated responsibilities, but we’ve greatly expanded our scope of interests to include a multitude of things that will never directly or even indirectly affect our lives.
People consume more political content, sports analysis, health tips, relationship advice, and inspirational talks today than at any other time in history—but is it helping us to be better people? When I look around, it doesn’t seem that we’re thriving as a people. I see a lot of broken relationships, addictions, excess weight, and lack of purpose.
Most of what we focus on amounts to entertainment designed to keep us coming back for more; any change it bestows upon us is usually in favor of a manufacturer, brand, or celebrity.
How to Reclaim Your Time and Energy
Reclaiming your time and energy for the real things that life has to offer isn’t hard. It just requires a plan—or perhaps a list of things we can focus on. Here are a few ideas to get you started:1. Get Into Your Best Physical Shape
Wouldn’t it be great to feel more vibrant and confident in your own skin? A few straightforward schedule decisions and a commitment to working out regularly can greatly improve your health at any age.2. Chat With Your Neighbors
Chatting, laughing, or even commiserating with your neighbors feeds the soul. It gives us a dose of old-timey wholesome goodness that many neighborhoods seem to be losing. Such connections only happen when we make the effort to reach out. Start with a hearty “Hello!”3. Read Print
Reading on a screen often leaves you feeling harried and distracted. Give yourself a real treat and pick up a favorite magazine or a breezy beach read and enjoy it just for fun. Reading print is even better for our brains.4. Stretch Your Body
Taking a few minutes to stretch feels good, and its benefits stay with you for hours. We don’t have to go around feeling old and stiff for our age—a little gentle motion in those tight spots works wonders.5. Master a Handful of Delicious Meals
Being able to confidently bang out a good meal is a gift for you and your loved ones. You don’t even need to be a good cook to memorize a few timeless recipes and impress your friends.6. Get to Bed Early
Another great use of the extra time you'll have when you wean yourself off of a regular routine of screen time is just resting your body. You’ll have more energy, will power, and focus when you regularly get enough sleep.7. Earn Extra Bucks
Instead of doom-scrolling, you could be making some extra money on the side while doing something you enjoy. Adding to your financial cushion might lower your stress or allow you to live a little more generously. Is there a hobby you have that could bring in some fun money?8. Pray or Meditate
Prayer and meditation are activities that require mental space and a willingness to still your heart. Taking time to pray offers us a break from constantly filling our minds with bite-sized snacks of information and trivia.9. Enjoy Time With Family and Friends
One way to care about your own life is simply to spend more of it with people you want to do life with. It may be that the things we choose to read and watch on our phones are interesting, but giving them our attention can hollow out our capacity for the relationships we need to truly thrive. You don’t need a grand plan; just get together and do something simple.10. Be Curious
Instead of learning about people you don’t know, try applying that same curiosity to those you interact with in the physical world. Being genuinely interested in others is a rare trait that, in cultivating it, will naturally endear you to others. As a result, you'll find your life richer than you ever imagined.The point of this list is to remind us that less time spent scrolling frees up time to live life for real—time we could be using to make our lives better, rather than caring about a bunch of topics that are not essential to our happiness and that don’t feed our souls.
By choosing from the above list, or one of your own, there will be positive spillover benefits to everyone around you, from your family and friends to your colleagues and neighbors. It really is a simple way to make the world a little better for everyone.
