Perhaps if we replace the word “mindful” which is overused and has many connotations, with “deliberate”, it would be useful?
Am I doing whatever it is deliberately?
I’m reading Substack on purpose this morning, and that’s because I got a (silent) notification about your post.
I have just read the news for ten minutes, on purpose, but I won’t look at a news site again until this evening, and that’s a deliberate choice.
And I read most of a novel on the kindle yesterday, using a screen on purpose. Surprisingly, I am much more likely to read a kindle for hours than I am to read a paperback, but it’s an actual kindle, not the kindle app which I could flick away from in less than a second.
As a writer who needs to do a lot of research, I don’t think I have a particularly low-screen life, but I am trying to pursue a deliberate life, if that makes sense?
Love how you’ve reframed this! Screens are practically unavoidable in this modern age, but we can deliberately choose to use them or deliberately silence them/put them out of reach. We can think about (or deliberate!) how we want to use them *before* picking them is and getting sucked in to mindless scrolling. Thanks for the insight; I’m going to be thinking about this today every time I pick up my phone
Great word! I use "intentional". I also like the word "consciously" because it is under your control and there is something to maintaining your consciousness when being on social media to avoid the unconscious scrolling that just seems to take control.
One of the best parts about subscribing to your newsletter is reading the thoughtful comments from other subscribers. These are people who actually think about and before they post. I know none of these people but love you all. Jean
I love these habit-changing tips from someone who has actually stayed consistent with minimizing their screen time! I'm planning to get into YouTube, so it's reassuring to know that even someone like you, with a strong YouTube presence, can keep it from becoming overwhelming or taking over.
Thank you for this post. I just started Cal Newport's 30 day minimalism challenge from his book and needed some extra encouragement. I tried to do this challenge last month but only lasted 6 days. I'm starting fresh in February and hopefully I can last all month this time!
Love this Molly. I *always* notice a difference in my wellbeing when I've been away from tech. Low screen time is the way forward. I don't think we'll ever go back to a "no" screen time world, but if we can minimise it as much as possible that's a win in my eyes.
Soph, I have also noticed that if I scroll through my phone (Insta, News + YouTube in my case) before going to sleep, I don't sleep well, and the next day is completely thrown off balance for me. The domino effect, I guess.
Loved this thoughtful update to your low-screen life!
I took all of January off from my main Instagram account and absolutely LOVED it. I took similar breaks twice in 2024, and I’ve definitely learned I’m more in tune with myself without the noise of social media. I do enjoy seeing my friends’ content though – I was one of the early-adopter lifestyle bloggers in the UK! – and missed being able to support them. In 2025, I think I’ll do one month on-one month off.
Replacing that screen time with books has been great too! And I do notice I have more meaningful conversations with friends, since I haven’t left little comments on their Stories, etc.
Yes, off-screen hobbies are so important! Screen time is something I struggle with. I don't even have a smartphone and don't use social media much, but I often look at a screen for 12h a day anyway! My job is office-based, I volunteer in a position where we interact online, I talk to my friends online as most of them live abroad, I write in my free time... And when I travel I even read on my laptop as I cannot take physical books. So frustrating, as I do find all these activities meaningful! The only thing that helps a bit is strictly working on paper whenever possible - printing the articles I need to read, planning my own writing and volunteering activities on paper, etc.
Love this read. I left over a year ago now too. Some thing I have done recently that has changed everything for me around screens..........i bought some lovely fountain pens, some gorgeous inks, and now I write on real paper.............and it is a joy. I have been folding and making books, and writing on nice paper in booklets is like flying..........I so love it. So whether I write on paper and copy that to screen, or just photo and post the paper image................things are going to change. My guru started all this. I am so excited about all of this.......non digital and very visceral non social media stuff I am doing...........this is the lady that set me on fire about books.......
Thank you for sharing! My anxiety started spiking not too long ago and I caught myself checking my phone every few minutes. Granted, I’m job hunting and hoping for a call, but it was reeking havoc on my nerves. So I have started turning my phone completely off for a few hours here and there to give myself a break, and it’s just what I needed. Phones are useful tools, but giving myself time and space away from mine really helps me reset and relax.
Interestingly, I scheduled my weekly newsletter yesterday and it talks about something similar. I feel like life is getting faster and faster by the minute and being mindful of our screen time is very crucial now more than ever. I have managed to reduce mine to 2 hours 30 minutes on average. No regrets!
Great advice, I'm really trying to reduce being on my phone, mainly because I'm aware how much time I'm on it when I am with my children, they see far too much of the back on my phone. I've taken to leaving it in my bedroom once I finish work and not looking again before bed.
I always enjoy your words, Molly! I've come to learn that screen time is something that takes regular work and recalibration, consistently checking in with how I'm using it and how I can reduce it is essential. Thank you for these wonderful tips. I do most of these things in one way or another, but it's always helpful to hear from someone else what it looks like for them and to be reminded of them!
I need to read Digital Minimalism! I read his newest book, Slow Productivity, and I really enjoyed the points he made in there. It really helped me reorganize my creative work schedule and feel better about the time I put into my "work work" vs my "creative work."
I also turned off phone notifications. I did it a few years ago after reading a book about Queen Elizabeth's habits, and argument to not have notifications on made a lot of sense to me. I only get alerts for text messages and phone calls now; nothing else. It makes a huge difference, in a good way!
Perhaps if we replace the word “mindful” which is overused and has many connotations, with “deliberate”, it would be useful?
Am I doing whatever it is deliberately?
I’m reading Substack on purpose this morning, and that’s because I got a (silent) notification about your post.
I have just read the news for ten minutes, on purpose, but I won’t look at a news site again until this evening, and that’s a deliberate choice.
And I read most of a novel on the kindle yesterday, using a screen on purpose. Surprisingly, I am much more likely to read a kindle for hours than I am to read a paperback, but it’s an actual kindle, not the kindle app which I could flick away from in less than a second.
As a writer who needs to do a lot of research, I don’t think I have a particularly low-screen life, but I am trying to pursue a deliberate life, if that makes sense?
Love how you’ve reframed this! Screens are practically unavoidable in this modern age, but we can deliberately choose to use them or deliberately silence them/put them out of reach. We can think about (or deliberate!) how we want to use them *before* picking them is and getting sucked in to mindless scrolling. Thanks for the insight; I’m going to be thinking about this today every time I pick up my phone
I love this way of approaching screen time. Thank you for sharing :)
Great word! I use "intentional". I also like the word "consciously" because it is under your control and there is something to maintaining your consciousness when being on social media to avoid the unconscious scrolling that just seems to take control.
great point Natalie.
One of the best parts about subscribing to your newsletter is reading the thoughtful comments from other subscribers. These are people who actually think about and before they post. I know none of these people but love you all. Jean
Aw that is so nice and you are right!
Thanks for this post Molly - I’m feeling my obsessive relationship with my phone starting to dwindle.
Me too Collette.
I love these habit-changing tips from someone who has actually stayed consistent with minimizing their screen time! I'm planning to get into YouTube, so it's reassuring to know that even someone like you, with a strong YouTube presence, can keep it from becoming overwhelming or taking over.
So glad you found this useful!
Thank you for this post. I just started Cal Newport's 30 day minimalism challenge from his book and needed some extra encouragement. I tried to do this challenge last month but only lasted 6 days. I'm starting fresh in February and hopefully I can last all month this time!
Best of luck Jess!
I just ordered it from the library. Thanks for the nudge.
Love this Molly. I *always* notice a difference in my wellbeing when I've been away from tech. Low screen time is the way forward. I don't think we'll ever go back to a "no" screen time world, but if we can minimise it as much as possible that's a win in my eyes.
I so agree! :)
Soph, I have also noticed that if I scroll through my phone (Insta, News + YouTube in my case) before going to sleep, I don't sleep well, and the next day is completely thrown off balance for me. The domino effect, I guess.
This is so true! I try to avoid blue light for an hour before bed and I sleep so much better for it. It can be a vicious cycle otherwise.
Loved this thoughtful update to your low-screen life!
I took all of January off from my main Instagram account and absolutely LOVED it. I took similar breaks twice in 2024, and I’ve definitely learned I’m more in tune with myself without the noise of social media. I do enjoy seeing my friends’ content though – I was one of the early-adopter lifestyle bloggers in the UK! – and missed being able to support them. In 2025, I think I’ll do one month on-one month off.
Replacing that screen time with books has been great too! And I do notice I have more meaningful conversations with friends, since I haven’t left little comments on their Stories, etc.
So interesting, thank you for sharing Michelle!
Yes, off-screen hobbies are so important! Screen time is something I struggle with. I don't even have a smartphone and don't use social media much, but I often look at a screen for 12h a day anyway! My job is office-based, I volunteer in a position where we interact online, I talk to my friends online as most of them live abroad, I write in my free time... And when I travel I even read on my laptop as I cannot take physical books. So frustrating, as I do find all these activities meaningful! The only thing that helps a bit is strictly working on paper whenever possible - printing the articles I need to read, planning my own writing and volunteering activities on paper, etc.
You're right that it can be tricky to avoid screens (and of course they can bring so much good) but I love your idea of using paper to mix it up :)
Love this read. I left over a year ago now too. Some thing I have done recently that has changed everything for me around screens..........i bought some lovely fountain pens, some gorgeous inks, and now I write on real paper.............and it is a joy. I have been folding and making books, and writing on nice paper in booklets is like flying..........I so love it. So whether I write on paper and copy that to screen, or just photo and post the paper image................things are going to change. My guru started all this. I am so excited about all of this.......non digital and very visceral non social media stuff I am doing...........this is the lady that set me on fire about books.......
https://www.thetravellingbookbinder.com/
Thank you for sharing! My anxiety started spiking not too long ago and I caught myself checking my phone every few minutes. Granted, I’m job hunting and hoping for a call, but it was reeking havoc on my nerves. So I have started turning my phone completely off for a few hours here and there to give myself a break, and it’s just what I needed. Phones are useful tools, but giving myself time and space away from mine really helps me reset and relax.
Such a good idea. We all need rest from time to time :)
These are excellent strategies. Going through a social media detox myself and I feel MUCH better for it.
These are some very good suggestions Molly!
Interestingly, I scheduled my weekly newsletter yesterday and it talks about something similar. I feel like life is getting faster and faster by the minute and being mindful of our screen time is very crucial now more than ever. I have managed to reduce mine to 2 hours 30 minutes on average. No regrets!
That's fantastic! :)
Great advice, I'm really trying to reduce being on my phone, mainly because I'm aware how much time I'm on it when I am with my children, they see far too much of the back on my phone. I've taken to leaving it in my bedroom once I finish work and not looking again before bed.
Oh that's a really good tip!
I always enjoy your words, Molly! I've come to learn that screen time is something that takes regular work and recalibration, consistently checking in with how I'm using it and how I can reduce it is essential. Thank you for these wonderful tips. I do most of these things in one way or another, but it's always helpful to hear from someone else what it looks like for them and to be reminded of them!
So glad you enjoyed lovely! :)
This is such a great read and gives me hope for my developing steps away from social media! A massive inspiration
I need to read Digital Minimalism! I read his newest book, Slow Productivity, and I really enjoyed the points he made in there. It really helped me reorganize my creative work schedule and feel better about the time I put into my "work work" vs my "creative work."
I also turned off phone notifications. I did it a few years ago after reading a book about Queen Elizabeth's habits, and argument to not have notifications on made a lot of sense to me. I only get alerts for text messages and phone calls now; nothing else. It makes a huge difference, in a good way!
Oh I'm yet to need his new book but its on my list!