“online” burnout
It has been over 5 months since I’ve written a blog post and for the life of me, I couldn’t understand why I lost my drive to update anything. After taking a nap a couple of hours after work, it hit me. I’m getting tired of being online. Actually, let me rephrase that. I’m burned out from seeing the constant negativity of the world online and having to be “on” whenever I just want to play around, especially on social media. “Touching grass” has been my band-aid for this but what I’m realizing is, that’s not really enough.
Between the constant ads, arguments on Twitter (I’m not calling it X. Argue with someone else over that.), layoff news on LinkedIn, updates about this current administration, inflation, global news, and paywalls on almost any article you actually want to read… I’m just over it. Being online for as long as I used to be before 2022 has started to lose it’s appeal. I won’t say what my hours of screen usage used to be but let’s just say my optometrist isn’t complaining about it and begging me to take an hour long break every few hours anymore.
I’m starting to think that since the height of the pandemic, the way in which we interact with the internet has swung to an extreme that seems to be detrimental in the long run. The ability to be constantly informed while also being exposed to constant negativity for years on end is not healthy. The constant dopamine hits we get from it too, isn’t healthy.
Don’t get me wrong, I still love tech. I still love being a designer. The ways in which tech even with the warranted fears and skepticism around AI, can be used to make a positive impact in other’s lives is still here and keeps me motivated. Even the unexpected moments where being chronically online brings you the joy of learning about Tiny Chef ( IYKYK), reminds me that we’re not too far gone. It just seems the internet needs to swing back to a way that is somewhat balanced. Before everything became solely profit driven. That’s going to take a long time to accomplish, if it ever happens.
However, between the constant need to up skill, have a “personal brand”, multiple streams of income,and constantly be “on”, we need the space to spend some more time “off”.
Anyway, we’ll see if I can get back into blogging at least once a month because I’ve been in Civic Tech for over a year now, have worked on an AI project, and been a part of an angel investor fund so I have plenty to talk about.
Until next time, happy wireframing,
Nita