Primal Primer 4 (Mentality)
Digital screens are a relatively new invention absent in most of our history and prehistory. For humans of the past, information was spread through art, word, or story. The advent of screens and the internet has removed the barrier to sharing information, allowing anyone, anywhere, to publish content. While this enables beneficial information to reach the masses, it also opens the floodgates to unchecked, unqualified content. The larger detriment being the addictive nature of easily sourced content that does little to enrich lives or further a Life Unifying Purpose (LUP).
Content Consumption Has Grown Teeth
We are being hunted by endless streams of content. Once, we gazed at stars, observed nature, and meditated on life. Today, we’ve traded mindful moments for scrolling and swiping; losing touch with real-life connections in favor of curated illusions on social media. We’ve become passive consumers, allowing random feeds to tax our brains and drive us into NPC (non-playable character) states of mind.
Excessive consumption of sponsored, algorithm-driven content overstimulates the nervous system while dulling creativity and deep thinking. The more we consume, the less we create. When the valve of consumption is open, creativity is shut off. Auto-plays, shorts, and infinite scrolling warp our sense of time, implanting false desires and emotions, and transforming us from producers to consumers.
~Cave Implementation~
The solution is mindfulness and intentionality. First, assess and quantify your screen time. Use apps and tools to track how much time you’re spending on screens—specifically on passive consumption. What is your ratio of consuming to creating? Is the content enriching your mind or draining your energy by influencing unnecessary purchases, presenting false realities, or anesthetizing creative drive?
Be vigilant about your screen habits, particularly first thing in the morning and within two hours before bed. Instead of beginning or ending the day in front of a screen, reconnect with nature. Get outside, stretch your eyes toward the horizon, and allow natural light to enter your retina, recalibrating your body’s rhythms. Give your eyes and mind a break from the artificial light of screens.
Use screens as tools for creation rather than mindless consumption. Write, generate ideas, work on projects, and engage in creative endeavors. If social media is taking more than it’s giving—disconnecting you from reality or meaningful relationships—consider taking a break or fasting from those apps. Screen fasts are a powerful way to reset your mind and reconnect with your LUP.
Finally, be aware of the addictive nature of screen time and content. If a product or content is free, remember—you are the product.
Use Screens As tools For Creation Rather Than Mindless Consumption.
