The internet is full of noise. There are so many voices screaming at us 24/7, all wanting to be heard.
It’s an amazing and inspiring place, but it can be exhausting.
There’s so much life lived online, that what is big news one day is quickly forgotten. Yesterday’s viral post is replaced by something bolder, funnier or more shocking. We’re constantly waiting for the next thing to share.
Everyday we’re bombarded with messages from brands that want us to buy their products, whether it’s a new pair of shoes, the latest anti-wrinkle cream or a life-changing holiday around the world.
We’re inundated with opinion posts and articles on improving your life. Everyone has the secret to happiness; don’t you know it yet?
There are so many sleek and well-curated websites with just the right amount of white space that all want to teach us something. The mantra is that you must be ‘useful’ to your audience.
Mine is one of those voices. I share my thoughts and ideas online; I hope people will read them and find them interesting enough to like or share or comment.
I consume endless online media. I spend hours of my day tapped into this virtual network, reading, sharing, retweeting.
But increasingly I like the quiet that comes when the internet is switched off. My mind has space to just be, without the constant stimulation, the chatter.
It’s hard to resist the urge to scroll through the feeds of your choice on a smartphone or tablet. It’s difficult to unplug. The fear of missing out is real.
But the air outside is cold and clear; it’s peaceful without the digital furore.
The real world is a place I’m rediscovering. I’d like to spend more time there.
Natalie K. says
I used to spend a ton of time online reading articles, news, etc. I’ve slowly stopped doing it and now, I read some blogs I have in my RSS feed, a couple of interesting websites I like, and that’s about it. A lot of people think I’m out of the loop, but I like it. I have a lot more time for hobbies that matter to me, like writing and violin and knitting. And besides, whenever I ask people something they read online a year ago that is important and made an impact on their life, they never have an answer for me. So here’s to rediscovering the real world. 🙂
Amy Lord says
It’s a good point about remembering articles you’ve read in the past – I have a few I remember vividly, but they’re usually news articles where something has stayed with me because it’s awful, funny or makes a good story. I tend to remember an essence of a good blog post, but often not much about what it contains. But I guess that’s the medium – it’s all instant gratification. Glad you still stop by and read this blog though, thanks Natalie!