Just this week alone I've received 3 replies asking me how to get rid of their social media and online addiction.

In this letter I'll talk about how digital screens keep you addicted and makes your life miserable.

It won't be nice and it'll be unfiltered. If you don't like it—the unsubscribe button is below.

The Psychology of Attention

People are hard wired to seek attention. Even if it's bad or good. Many people mistakenly believe attention is the same as acceptance and validation.

When you think someone looks at you—or thinks of you—your mind feels happy even if you try to hide it. We are social creatures—we charge up when we talk to our loved ones and connect with people around us.

Even if you are an introvert—there is at least one friend you like to mingle with. Also being shy and being introverted aren't the same.

So how does is this related to online addiction?

It's simple. The greatest desire of human beings is to actively work on their purpose. Something to wake up and actively work on everyday.

Without any meaningful goal or vision to attain in life—a person will feel terrible. A calling is gives life meaning. And without a calling—you end up scattered in different places.

And your subconscious thinks—"maybe if I have more information and consume more—I'll find it here".

And most people mistake social media as their calling. Because it gives you the same kind of pleasure as you would pursue your life task.

Because it gives you attention. And you also give the person you are looking at attention.

It's a combination of wanting to fill up the void you have inside yourself, your happy hormones being hijacked and cravings of social acceptance.

Let's talk about the way phones affect your life.

1) Social Disconnection.

It hasn't been long since phones and internet has come out—yet the rise of loneliness is exponential.

The answer to this is simple—people no longer put effort to talk to other people. Rather than going out and experiencing life—you can just see tap - tap - tap a screen and watch someone else experience life.

Everywhere I go from public to private—people are glued to their phones. It has literally become a CELL PHONE. A cell for your brain to never escape.

And what happens with this? Instead of the said person going out and talking to people—the habit of never socializing takes root. When it takes root it leads to loneliness.

When loneliness magnifies—mental health gets worse. When mental health gets worse—reasoning and logic losses power over feelings.

And boom! behold— an NPC. Someone who always lives the same day after day. Following the same mundane routine assigned by someone else.

2) Status Seeking

People crave being looked up to—wanting to be seen and famous is a natural want. And social media has made that easier than ever.

Just post a stupid things for a few years and some silly things to do, maybe one day you'll go viral and famous.

That's why it's addicting. The higher the number of following count the higher your ego is pleased.

And the ego is never satisfied. So it never stops.

3) Wasted Experiences

Remember the moments when wanted to do something—but instead of doing it you just scrolled non-stop as an excuse of looking busy?

Well those memories get buried deep inside and build up. The guilt you feel and the wasted feelings you have can be found inside you somewhere.

And when you try to overcome that feeling or experience—your failed memories from the past will resurface.

And because of that it demotivates you and lowers your confidence to try again.

Then the cycle repeats.

Not taking the chance--not making the move you wanted to do—and repeat.

4) Overwhelm

When I would scroll a lot back then when I had something to do—it would weight on my mind and give me a headache.

That's when I realize pressure builds up in your mind when you say "I'm going to do X for Y minutes" but instead of doing it you avoid it or make excuses which bites you back later by your brain reminding you about it non-stop.

This leads to you putting stress in your eyebrows and head. Which later on gives you head aches.

When you promise something from yourself and you don't do it—your mind knows it. Then it loses trust and respect. And also makes you frown.

If you somehow find your head aching from too much scrolling—chances are your face is tense not relaxed.

So what do you do in order to avoid making your life worse as it already is?

—

“Click the ad below helps the Improvement Letter running, many thanks”

Fact-based news without bias awaits. Make 1440 your choice today.

Overwhelmed by biased news? Cut through the clutter and get straight facts with your daily 1440 digest. From politics to sports, join millions who start their day informed.

Sign up now!

—

How To Overcome Screen Addiction

Honestly the best way is to just never use your phone, tablet, computer or laptop again.

However that's impossible.

This is the modern world—and we in the the modern world require modern technology to function properly in day to day life.

Escaping the matrix and living in farms is one way of living as well. But they are not META.

Force Yourself To Go Out aka “Touch grass”

When you stay inside and indoors all day—it's very easy to just go and scroll until it's nighttime.

The way to combat this is to go outside and actually experience life and people. I'm not telling you to go and travel far, what I'm telling you is to spend sometime outside out of that shiny box.

Preferably in nature.

Just over 20 years ago—staying at home for work wasn't possible.

This meant people had to actively go out and travel. While it may save time not commuting—not seeing people or traveling actually damages your mental health a lot.

You are not meant to stay at one place all day, every time and all year.

You are supposed to go out and explore. This means seeing new people and new places.

The more you stay inside and indoors—the crazier and lonelier your thoughts will become. Becoming isolated is the same as putting yourself at risk at becoming crazy sooner or later.

Have a Life Outside of Screens

The worse stage of screen addiction is to only have digital friends, digital hobbies and everything you do requires a screen.

You should have some days where you go out and have fun with yourself or with friends.

You don't need to drink or party. That's fake fun.

What I mean is to have hobbies that keep you away from screens. Like making Art or Cycling…. anything

The reason why phones can easily ruin your life is simply because—it makes things easier for you. You don't have to physically order food or go out to malls to buy clothes.

You can just tap and tap.

Less and less physical and mental activities will mess up your brain.

You won't feel it right now but it'll happen when it accumulates.

So to prevent this from happening—develop habits that will help you stay away from screens.

Also watching movies, TV or Drama does not count as a hobby.

Don't lie to yourself. You have things you love to do but you're just afraid to do it because you haven't tried it before.

You've just got to start doing the hobbies you love doing.

Btw I talk more about this in the e-book Minimalist Guide: 7 actionable advice and 5 simple steps to follow and overcome screen addiction.

Which is free to get in the referral program. Look forward to it!

And that's all for this week.

Good luck!

-Noat

When you’re ready, here’s how I can help you out:

• Get 1:1 consultation calls. First 5 gets 50% off. Use code (1STFIVEOFF) The link was broken before. It’s fixed now.

• Live Intentionally: 90 Day Self-Improvement Program By Harsh Strongman. Over 10k+ sold. Get rid of your bad habits and addiction fast.

PS: What did you like the most about this today’s letter? Let me know I’ll respond.