Maninder, Author at Mindful Mintivation

Do Smartphones Make us Smarter?

I believe it’s important to recognize a problem before working on it. I also understand that sharing a weakness or challenge can invite judgment. We often console ourselves by thinking, “Many of us are in the same boat.” The issue I am referring to is smartphone addiction, specifically endless scrolling.

There is no denying that smartphones have made life more convenient; they help us stay connected with loved ones (cost free), provide instant access to information, replace GPS devices, and enable speedy communication through emails and messaging apps. The list of benefits is long.

However, as my grandfather used to say, “Too much of anything is bad.” Smartphones themselves are not the problem; it’s our excessive use and reliance on them that is.

I initially recognized this issue when I felt the urge to reply to emails and instant messages right away. This habit evolved over time to frequently checking social media. I began following pages related to my hobbies, which then led to browsing endless blogs on home decor, quotes, inspirational content, recipes and so on. When reels were introduced, I found them highly entertaining, and my phone suddenly became my primary source of entertainment, even more than TV shows or movies.

Just think about how much time this consumes. It steals precious moments with family, disrupts focus, and diminishes the joy of real-world experiences. Not to mention the strain on eyes and brain fog from endless scrolling and consuming content that isn’t going to benefit me in any way, either personally or professionally.

I will admit that I haven’t yet developed a concrete plan for using my phone as a valuable resource rather than as a tool of addiction.

However, now that I am aware of the harm caused by excessive smartphone scrolling, I have developed a few techniques to help:

Set Schedule for Social Media – I did not remove any social media apps from my phone as I still wanted to use them, share posts and communicate with my family and friends. I set aside time in the evening after dinner to check social media for about 30 minutes. It took time to adjust to this routine, and there are still times when I find myself checking social media when I am not supposed to, such as on my breaks and lunch time. Overall, it has helped to reduce the amount of time spent switching between social media apps for no reason.

Strict Morning Routine – Even with a good night’s sleep, I found myself tired after browsing social media in the mornings. Not to mention all of the negative news and content I was exposed to, which ruined the day. I believe that what we do in the morning sets the tone for the remainder of the day. Even reading positive quotes on my phone did not help. However, listening to something peaceful and motivational helps. In the morning, I don’t spend time scrolling through motivating videos. I had them lined up the day before. I also made a point of checking my messages to see whether anyone has written anything to which I need to respond or act.

Strict Nighttime Routine – Before going to bed, I listen to podcasts and audio books. This way, I am not glancing at the screen or scrolling.

Being Mindful – I believe it is important to pay attention to our environment when we are out and about rather than focusing just on our phone. I used to be on the phone when waiting in the car or anywhere else, such as in line. It felt strange to miss out on what was happening at the moment. I was forgetting that it didn’t have to be this way. Even for our own personal safety, we should avoid using our phones and instead focus on what is going on around us.

I have yet to reach the point where I can leave my phone in another room or delete apps from it. I believe that if I can create boundaries and manage my time, I will not need to do so. I hope these tips are useful if you find yourself in my situation.

You should check out this podcast by Mel Robbins, “How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over”. When I was listening to this podcast, I felt it was all about me.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SO9FHaF4EJw

Six Steps to Daily Motivation

It has been two years since I have been thinking about starting my blog and/or a YouTube channel. In all this time, I have not picked up the courage to do either one of them. I am certainly not comfortable in front of the camera, and every day I thought of a different topic to write about for a blog. For example, one day it would be about the law of attraction, and the next day about how to find a job with a disability. Then the next day it would be about how to lead a life in a wheelchair. It has been a real challenge to narrow it down to one topic. Taking that first big step in the right direction takes courage and a leap of faith.

I am not claiming that I am good at all of this, but life has offered me so many different experiences which have been a great journey for me. It has made me the person I am today.

Now I have decided to just start writing. The only way to overcome anxiety about starting a blog or a YouTube channel is to just start. Overthinking kills creativity and we lose ideas. We all feel passionate about something and are good at it. If that ‘something’ can help others then why not share? This thought has convinced me to pursue my goal now.

We tend to underestimate ourselves and do not identify or appreciate our own qualities. After a much-needed self-reflection, I have identified one thing I do well: I stay motivated no matter what. Through my life experiences, I have learned to stay motivated to face challenges even when I wanted to shut out the world and never face it again. We learn and develop our own techniques to deal with stressful situations. Whenever there is a setback or a challenge I give myself time to release initial frustration because it is extremely hard to find motivation if we have unresolved feelings.

Here are (my own personal) 6 tips on how to stay motivated:

Complain
(to whomever you feel comfortable with)
I will not deny the fact that I complain endlessly when I first encounter a problem. The positive thinking that I preach goes out of the window during my complaining phase. However, it helps get the frustration out.

Cry
(tears of joy or sadness)
The complaining then transitions into crying. A good session of crying definitely helps to get rid of negative emotions.

Watch TV / browse social media
(most of us are guilty of this)
It helps to watch a favorite movie/show or simply browse social media as it is a great way to distract yourself from reality for a little while. TikTok videos are addictive, so why not watch endless videos about anything and everything.

Eat junk food
(without feeling guilty)
Eating junk food is very comforting on bad days.

Call a friend
(a true friend will support the complaining phase)

Honestly, venting out to a good friend is another form of therapy. Arrange an in-person meeting, have coffee, and order that rich dessert you both enjoy. It will help uplift your mood and you will feel lighter.

Sleep
(not when driving, though)
When your mind had some time to rest, you begin to comprehend the problem and begin to find solutions.

Basically, the goal is to give yourself time to process your feelings and let your mind relax. The next day you will be ready to tackle the world again. Believe me, if you do everything mentioned above in one day (or take a little longer, if necessary), you will be ready to pursue your goals in the days ahead.

You might have been expecting me to list something along the lines of thinking positive, meditation, yoga, and creating a healthy eating plan to get on track and find motivation again. These topics will be covered in one of the upcoming posts as maintaining motivation is just as important as brushing your teeth daily. However, on the days when one feels shut out from the world and never wants to face it again, they do not want to hear “think positive”, or read positive quotes. Before the mind is ready to process the concept of positive thinking, it needs to let the frustration out. We all have our own ways of releasing frustration. As long as you find safe ways to let that take place, it is all good.

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