I recently came across a thought-provoking video that delved into the struggle of overcoming internet addiction. The speaker reflected on a decade lost to the virtual world, a place that often felt more real than reality itself. Despite having a successful freelancing career and a growing YouTube channel, they found themselves regretting the time wasted scrolling aimlessly online, neglecting their dreams of building websites or apps.
The speaker rationalized their internet use as a form of learning, amassing a wealth of knowledge but rarely applying it. They emphasized the importance of breaking this habit for a better financial, physical, intellectual, and spiritual life. However, they also acknowledged that total ascension from the internet isn’t realistic. Overcoming internet addiction, they argued, requires a mindset shift rather than relying solely on willpower or external restrictions.
Quitting the internet isn’t about giving up something valuable; it’s about lifting a weight off your mind. The initial boredom fades, revealing genuine desires. Without constant online stimulation, real life may seem less entertaining, but it allows for the rediscovery of personal interests. Breaking free from the internet allows you to think for yourself, form original opinions, and deal with underlying issues. By ceasing to identify as an internet-addicted person, redirecting impulses becomes easier, leading to a more fulfilling and self-directed life.
This got me thinking: Is simply replacing internet consumption with another form of consumption, like reading books, truly purposeful? To make life more meaningful, I believe the most important paradigm shift is to become a producer rather than a consumer. If you’re reading books but not applying the knowledge to build something, isn’t it just as unproductive as doom-scrolling the internet?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this topic.
Video TLDR
Reflecting on a lost decade to internet addiction, especially the last five years, I realize the virtual world felt more real, resulting in regrets over wasted time. Despite a decade of freelancing, I took the easy route, neglecting dreams like building websites or apps. While my YouTube channel grew, I abandoned other passions, spending hours scrolling online without real enjoyment. Rationalizing it as learning, I amassed knowledge but rarely applied it. Breaking this habit is crucial for a better financial, physical, intellectual, and spiritual life, though total ascension isn’t realistic. Overcoming internet addiction requires a mindset shift rather than relying on willpower or external restrictions. Quitting the internet isn’t about giving up something valuable; it’s like lifting a weight off your mind. Initial boredom fades, revealing genuine desires. Without constant online stimulation, real life may seem less entertaining, but it allows rediscovery of personal interests. Breaking free lets you think for yourself, form original opinions, and deal with underlying issues. By ceasing to identify as an internet-addicted person, redirecting impulses becomes easier, leading to a more fulfilling and self-directed life.
What are you producing, and for whom? As somebody with a job, I spend at least eight hours a day doing “productive” work, where productive means I’m making rich assholes even richer and getting a paycheck that amounts to pennies on every dollar of value my work creates.
If I want to do other work for myself after hourse, that’s my business. Likewise if I just want to read, play video games, butcher Yngwie Malmsteen guitar solos on a violin with no audience but my cats, or shitpost on the internet.
My life is my own, and I’ll spend it as I please. I can’t stop others from judging me, but if they bring their judgment to my attention I can damned well make them suffer for it.
Didn’t you read the article?
The YouTuber they linked lamented the time they spent online because they wanted to build websites and apps so they made a video about it and uploaded it to the internet.
I fucking hate this world.
Side note I want to hear you butcher Yngwie Malmsteen solos on a violin. Post a link.
I read the article. It was the sort content-free, self-pitying whinging I expect from Jake Seliger.
No. I offer enough of myself on my website. Some things I will keep for myself.