everyday carry?
i've been finding the ever present need to be constantly improving a bit overwhelming lately.
at the start of this year, i deleted all social media from my phone and only allowed myself access on my computer browser as it was way less aesthetic (hence not wanting to naturally spend time on it) and i wanted to keep access to my dms for international friend convos. this is something i've kept up well and can proudly say, as this is lowkey one of the only new years resolutions i've truly kept, it has worked. i use social media less and less and have the so called 'social status anxiety' in my life almost disappear.
however, in my pursuit of digital hygiene for a healthier mind, i sometimes feel the endless possibilities of what i could or should be doing overpower my life. working on my university thesis atm, i spend some days spending much more time reading, writing or watching youtube video essays that i enjoy rather than working on my project. sometimes i feel incredibly guilty, and even lazy, for this. what's more is i still find myself distracted from doing certain types of work that i need to do.
i don't necessarily want to compare going down a rabbit hole on history subjects i enjoy to two hours of tiktok doom scrolling, but the lack of productivity guilt i feel is the same. so... to remedy this feeling, i'd like to take a step back and start small. attempting to build a better system, inch by inch, rather than overhauling everything about my life and starting some insane life reboot like what you see youtube wellness people do.
my attempt at a small change to my system: an everyday carry-
- water bottle
- a book
- a journal (something to write in, like a field notes little book)
- a pen and a highlighter
- sunscreen
- my phone (which has been dumbified)
- ID
- cash (just as a practice)
this may sound relatively simple, and the point is that. i have, however, never been a person to carry anything on me except my phone which has my ID in the back. my friends never see me carry a bag, i literally am known for it. i don't like lugging things around, i like walking free. but this is now a time to be hydrated, UV protected, and leaning into physical media options (such as having a book always there) to drum up some hopefully different simple habits. to the credit of everyone who has shared their experience with an everyday carry, including my entire friend group and partner, thank you. its a cool idea.
so, here's to simple steps, not beating ourselves up, and taking inspo from others.