A day in the life : Day 439

This week, I caught myself procrastinating on a simple report that shouldn’t have taken more than a couple of hours. I kept telling myself I’d start after a short break, then another. By evening, nothing was done, and the pressure had doubled. Around the same time, I kept seeing people talk about the trend of “short-form video fasts” — taking a break from reels and shorts because they quietly eat up focus.

I didn’t plan anything dramatic. I just removed those apps from my phone for a few days. The first evening felt oddly empty. I kept unlocking my phone out of habit, only to realize there was nothing to scroll. That discomfort was telling. Instead of forcing productivity, I sat with it for a bit, then finally opened the report and started.

The next day went better. Without constant quick hits of distraction, time felt slower in a good way. I finished the report earlier than expected, though I did make one small mistake by rushing the final check. That was on me, not the apps. Still, the overall focus was better than it had been all week.

The weather’s been warmer during the afternoons, which usually makes me sluggish. I’ve adjusted by eating lighter lunches and keeping evenings simple. Heavy food plus endless scrolling is a bad mix for me, especially in this heat.

By the end of the week, I didn’t feel “detoxed” or transformed. I just felt more present. I noticed when I was avoiding work instead of pretending I needed a break. That awareness made it easier to start things on time.

Trends like these can sound extreme online, but used gently, they make sense. I’m not quitting short videos forever. I’m just more careful now about when I reach for them. Sometimes focus doesn’t come from adding better habits — it comes from removing the small things that keep pulling you away without you noticing.