As the decade is winding to an end and a new year is heralding towards us faster than I’d prefer, it’s natural to look back and review the year as a whole. If you’re reading this your news feed on social media and the internet has most likely been bombarded by top 10 lists on just about everything from movies and musicians to celebrity scandals and cat memes. But here at at lousy scene we like to break the mould. today I will not be counting down a top ten list. No. Instead a top 5 list of things I’m giving up in 2020.
I thought I’d take I productive look at the past year and asked myself if I could relive 2019 what would I do differently (hindsight’s a beautiful thing). This is a personalised list on ways I can improve my health, happiness and productivity for 2020, but if any idea’s inspire you go ahead and give them ago.
1. Cutting down the used of social media.
This may seem nonsensical coming from a blogger with an active social media account but this year (2019) I was averaging over 3 hours of screen time a day with over 2 hours of that on social media. If that average is multiplied over the whole year that’s over 730 hours spent mindlessly rubbing a piece of glass with my thumb.
I feel that this past year I have seen a significant decrease in my productivity due to social media especially when completing university work. I would complete a small task and seem to spend roughly 10 minutes on my phone before I carried on; and starting the work was even harder.
Im not planning on giving up social media entirely but just want to put a few ideas into place to reduce my screen time. These include:
- Turning my phone screen to black and white. This will mute the colourful, grabby icons that draw us in. I don’t know how much I believe in this theory as once your inside the app the slot machine effect continues. Yet it is a start and I’m happy with anything that may reduce my screen time.
- Not having my phone near me when trying to be productive. This is the most obvious and effective method but maybe one of the hardest for people due to FOMO ( the fear of missing out). It’s a real thing. What if someone needs you? Or your friends are organising the party of the century? We just need to trust that the world isn’t going to do anything extraordinary during the few hours we’re not connected.
- Finally I will keep away from social media to a certain time of day, let’s say lunch time. This will allow me to be productive in the morning with no distractions. This works well due to the fact most people won’t even be up meaning I can simply focus on myself.
2. Being scared to try something new.
I think subconsciously we like to be in our comfort zone and I’m no different. I like to think I’m an out going person but I’ve noticed I rarely push myself into unknown territories. Even with setting up this blog has taken me far too long. I was worried what people might think, if they’d like it or not but you don’t know if you don’t try. overall I think it’s the fear of failure and the fear of what people may think if you do fail. But what I have learnt this year is that without risk nothing is valuable and the people whose opinions you’re scared of will most likely just want to help.
So for 2020 I want to try new things like food, hobbies, travel. Without sounding like a hippy; life is too short to keep saying “I’ll do it later”. I want to carry on with Lousy Scene and namely the podcast that is being set up.
3. cutting down on bad food
Cutting down on bad food is a very loose way to put it but I’ve got to grab your attention somehow. What I intend to cut down on are your typical bad foods and snacks such as sweets, chocolate , fast food etc. Although I keep fit and eat relatively healthy I have noticed myself snacking a lot. The problem is I do it when I’m bored; mainly at night watching TV I can easily get through a pack of biscuits.
I feel like if I do some research and some trial and error I can find simple and healthy snacks to enjoy. Like most points on this list I’m not cutting junk food out completely because its not a major factor in my life but that simple change of cutting more unhealthy foods out will only have a positive effect on me.
4. Not Trusting my instinct.
In the new year I want to trust that my opinions are worthy. Meaning if I am the only person thinking differently it doesn’t make me automatically wrong. I’m not afraid to change my opinion and admit I was wrong; but the combination of my amenadblity and trusting my own thoughts create the perfect balance of trusting myself without being ignorant or stubborn.
This sounds way more dramatic than it is; It mainly stems from opinions on films and games (I don’t have very mainly intellectual convocations). Skyrim is an example that always comes to mind. I can’t stand that game which may sound like blasphemy to some , yet in the same breathe I agree that it is an amazing game. My point is that it’s important to see both sides but stay authentic to what you really believe.
5. Being a perfectionist
There is nothing wrong with trying your best at anything you do. It important to set goals and dream big but there comes a point where these expectations are too unrealistic and drag you down. I’ve noticed that being focused on perfecting everything I do prevents me from even starting (linking with point number 2 of trying new things); as well as taking far too long to complete university work.
Its important to remember that perfection isn’t always achievable, that its ok to fall a little short of your expectation as expectations are not always realistic. Just as poet William F. O’Brien wrote “Better to try and fail than to not try at all”.
And there’s the list. With 2020 just around the corner I hope some of these points may inspire you going into 2020 and if not let me know what new year resolutions you’ve got planned.
Lousy Scene.
Lousy Scene 