the offline challenge: week two

slowly developing a healthier relationship with my phone

Hello, everyone! How has your first week of the offline challenge been?

For me, it’s been up and down. Some days, I was so present and I had so many plans I couldn’t even stop to check my phone, which felt great. However, I struggle the most on the quieter, more boring days. But the exercises from last week have helped me a lot.

I’ve been journaling so much, and I feel like, after all this time, something is starting to switch in my brain.

Sure, it still desperately seeks the fast-paced dopamine of the online world, but now I find just as much joy in quieter activities—doing sudokus, going to the lake alone and without my phone, watching documentaries, writing fiction, writing my thoughts on the TV show I am watching right now (I just love The Bear so much).

You probably haven’t noticed that I am not on Substack as much as I used to, but I also feel proud of this one. I love this website, but I have to admit I got really obsessed with it during the past few months. After analyzing my most used apps (YouTube, Pinterest and Substack, in that order) I have decided to delete the last two and use them only in the browser.

It’s annoying, sometimes. But it’s also harder to scroll and to rely on algorithms. It’s true that my goal on Substack is to create community and engage with like-minded people, but I know I’ll figure it out eventually.

One day, I will be able to come to this app without getting trapped in the Notes feature or comparing my work to other people’s. I know I will.

Before we get started with the challenge, these are the things I have truly been enjoying lately:

• Hanging out with friends

• Being outside

• Closing my eyes and letting the sun kiss my face

• Long walks (we are back to 20k a day, and I thank the weather for this)

• Going to cafés and talking for hours

• Observing animals, especially ducks at the lake. They are much funnier than you could imagine

• Doing sudokus

• Playing ‘brain games’ online, like Wordle or games about geography where you have to guess capitals and flags

• Journaling for this challenge

What are some things you have been enjoying lately? Bonus points if they don’t involve social media!

How life feels lately | ju1i44 on Pinterest

And now, without further ado, let's get into it.

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