Knowledge: the word sings in your ear like a songbird; however, the pursuit of knowledge (and DEFINITELY maths) also bites back like a snapping turtle. Now, we have access to the Orwellian nightmare that is the internet and AI; hence, I have learned how to consume media so that you don't have to.

Knowledge: Pursuing My Love

Knowledge, Knowledge, let down your hair.

If you wanted to find how much water it takes to grow an apple from a seed or how much money it would take to fly to the Moon, then Google or ChatGPT can probably give you a gentle nudge towards the right answer. Of course, the internet has put knowledge at our fingertips, but it has oddly distanced us from the warmth of knowledge. We are pushed to the lowest points in our lives when we start bed rotting and trying to learn brain rot terms (been there... done that). For many of us, the internet is the way forward, and how we interpret what our world forces us to see.

Don't stop asking questions.

Do stop...

1. Using AI and search engines to find answers all the time. Perhaps, you could go to a library or ask an adult about your question.
2. Looking for "quick fixes" online can be detrimental: imagine believing that pigs can fly as soon as you read it!
3. Going down rabbit holes by having a set intent for your use of media.

Pursuing knowledge is something you subconsciously do, as we seem to want to know what certain words mean. Isn't "rizz" a word? We cringe at words and we smile at them; personally, this is a symptom of our underlying desire to be more knowledgeable in lots of ways. While studying is a good way to absorb knowledge, you can learn a lot when just casually learning.

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My Personal Experiences

It should be of no surprise that I have binge-watched for hours before (this is a small plug for my Squid Game article). I love a good cat pic.

Image Credit: Dovenetel from Wikimedia Commons

My impulsivity has forced me to sit watching my phone for hours upon hours, as if thoughts just slide through my mind like water. This fluidity in thought can be good; however, it is important that we do not waste our time on such banalities. I know what it feels like to try and fit in with the realities of our status quo: watching but not thinking.

Lots of very common teen experiences, like the feeling that our time could have been better spent if we did not use our phones, will always be universal. I had to use my phone settings to neutralise my media consumption by arranging a set amount of time or period of day I was allowed to use my phone for (I sometimes just pressed "ignore"). Social media, especially, drags us in with FOMO, which is contrasted by the despair over lost time.

Do not feel worried about the time lost from yesterday.

A Chinese Proverb tells us that if we can't plant a tree in the past, then we can plant a tree right now. Hence, we should focus on the now, and not the past, because we are given that opportunity to start again. These simple truths are, quite possibly, the truths which I now live by; furthermore, I have been able to start cleansing myself of my need for media by keeping this in mind.

There are some juicy rabbit holes about how to get rich with a box of seeds, which will always grab my attention. Instead of trying to feel constant dopamine rushes from the internet, why don't you try slowing down?

So, like any mindfulness coach: breathe in... 1... 2... 3... and breathe out... great!

Top Tips

I have gathered some tips for you that come from this article and my experience to improve your ability to approach media with a set intention:

1. Try to go on a cleanse from all your devices... find clarity!
2. Try to read a book once in a while
3. Try a new hobby (e.g., baking or karate)
4. Have a media journal/diary to write an account of your media consumption
5. Use your phone settings to limit your media use

I hope this article has helped you!