#reflection ### Reclaiming my Sovereignty *Why digital boundaries is my new approach to growth* App blockers help. I admit it: I have PSU (problematic smartphone use). How do I know this? Mostly, I’m tipped off by a subtle but pervasive anxiety that seems to stem from a compulsive habit of picking up my phone to open a social media app with zero conscious intention. Where I’m then bombarded by sex appeal, food porn, and the crafty hipster shit I adore. A barrage of well-produced, thirty-seconds-or-less reels that dazzle my mind and awaken all my latent cravings to know more: _“What’s next... show me more... faster.” Then scrolling evolves into hyper-scrolling. Now I’m judging content by the first second, looking for anything that grabs me - something to release me from the ‘search’ for a moment. It’s so much more invigorating than just sitting still, thinking boring thoughts about the endless list of mundane tasks that come with adult life and basic survival in our tumultuous world. Even the pressure to not neglect my creative hopes and dreams feels heavy as I long for a life that feels real again. But lately, watching weirdos bounce ping pong balls through absurd obstacles and into tiny cups feels more pressing than any of that. So I must be stopped...or at least cautioned. Not once, but _each and every day._ Multiple times a day. Time to bring those screen-time numbers down. Practice how to _really_ relax instead of scrolling. But why though? What’s the big deal? Isn’t scrolling just like watching TV? People watch TV and don’t judge themselves as much. So what’s the difference? Well...scrolling isn’t really like TV at all. There’s much more at stake. Bite-sized content hits differently. The gratification is instant. The punchlines and climaxes arrive again and again and again. There’s no time to slow-play your hand. No time for bad or unplayable hands. Give me pocket aces _every time_, with every hand dealt on the river. Quality scroll time is akin to feeding a tiny monster that all of a sudden isn't tiny any more. On most scrolling apps (not all) each swipe, like, comment, rewind is securing the tech lords to their thrones, while we - the serfs - power the almighty algorithm, fueling it like a well-oiled machine. Our attention becomes the engine of the cultural shift _they_ desire, not the one _we_ deserve. As my body lays lazily on the couch, my mind’s on a thrill ride through the most well-liked content on the net. The most well-liked content which also happens to align perfectly with my favorite hashtags, subcultures, and odd nostalgias. What amazing tech! What a wonderland! But for some reason, I never feel good after the ride. There’s always this strange sense of needing to return to the work of 'real life.' But finding ways of amusing myself that could somehow match the rush of a good scroll has become increasingly more difficult. Instead of a walk, or some embodied activity, what I really want is to dive deeper into my recent online queries - like my new synthesizer hobby, or research on how tariffs influence the stock market... "what are they saying on Reddit about removing wine from cotton?" Dozens of other fleeting interests fragment my mind, and suddenly, being in an empty room with the window open feels like a drag. Where did the rainbow fountains of flowing dopamine go? But I remember, not long ago, being in that same empty room, just existing, would be such a joy. That beautiful contentment in a still moment, with a clear mind and an open heart fulfilled me. When emptiness felt like the sweetest, most real magic I knew. Now? The empty room doesn’t have the same shimmer, the same impact it once had. What changed? Oddly enough I think it has something to do with *connection*. I need to rebuild my presence. Presence with the physical moment. Presence with myself. So I started by blocking my smartphone apps for a couple of hours in the morning, and a few at night. Hoping to create sacred mornings and precious time to wind down with my family. Each time I reach for my phone and notice the app blocker is on, I remember what I want for myself. I remember that being with uncomfortable thoughts and impulses while being able to relax, is a next generation flex. Relaxation is a prerequisite for creativity. Take time to pause the clever cycle of consumption and stimulation. Starve the beast instead of another feeding. Stillness is regenerative. Being with stillness can fill the void when there’s a feeling of something missing, just a few conscious breathes can reset your nervous system I do believe that taking breaks from your smartphone will make you a better artist, a better companion, and a better human being. Not because I think technology is bad or wrong. I believe technology has brought us tremendous gifts: connectivity, artistic tools, platforms for expression, and instant access to knowledge and inspiration. It’s not about rejecting tech—but refining our relationship with it. Right now, our very attention is under siege, and it’s become urgent to protect our sovereignty - rather than blindly submit to a post-capitalist, techno-oligarchy at the helm of the attention economy. I'm suggesting digital boundaries. Prioritizing offline time. Practicing digital fasting when content overload starts inducing chronic stress. Not forever. Not all the time. Just enough to maintain personal power and spiritual sovereignty before it's too late.