The digital pause: Disconnect to reconnect
Finding clarity and calmness in a hyper-connected world
Recently, I made the decision to deactivate and delete my personal Instagram and TikTok accounts, hoping to reduce information overload, and all things social comparison.
While it slightly improved my mental well-being, staying informed about the news and current events has drained me once again. However, reading The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt, learning a new language (Japanese), and journaling in my Hobonichi Cousin planner has helped me reflect and bring me clarity amidst the chaos.
A few hours ago, I read something that deeply resonated with me, and it was about growing up in the digital world.
The first generation to experience puberty in the virtual world was born in the late 1990s (Haidt, 2024, p. 44).
As a teenager in the late 90s, I shared a desktop computer with my family. It was an interesting time, as I was able to chat with people from all over the world.
I've been learning Japanese! I mastered Hiragana, and I'm now working on learning Katakana and some Kanji characters. As someone who is bilingual in English and Spanish, I find that learning a third language is incredibly rewarding, and it's definitely been great for my brain and cognitive functioning.
I haven't been promoting our shop, Clari Loves Cafecito, much on social media lately since I'm still working on developing the website and its monthly blog. But I have been having a lot of fun using the stickers from our shop to decorate my Hobonichi Cousin planner.
I've had several planners in the past from Erin Condren and Callie Danielle, but the Hobonichi planner has become one of my favorites. I originally had the smaller version (the original), but then I decided to buy the bigger one (the Hobonichi Cousin). I'm thinking of turning the smaller one into a vision book or something artsy. I even joined a Hobonichi Facebook group!
I still kept my personal Facebook account and now mostly use it for local events and keeping up with the news. I’m trying to work on staying away from negative media and just focus on the things that don’t elevate my anxiety levels. The other day I posted pictures of my Hobonichi decorating progress in the group and got close to 30 likes along with several positive comments. My goal was not to get praised, but to share with other people in the group how I was using my planner. I definitely like this community that I’ve joined.
I didn’t have much to say this week, but I am glad I was able to show you what I’ve been up to in pictures. Maybe I need to take another quick digital pause, or maybe I just need to take a break from all the negativity in the news. Do you all ever feel like this?
Overall, I find that occupying my mind with learning new things, such as reading and studying a new language, helps me disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with myself, bringing me clarity and calmness.
Thank you for stopping by, and have a wonderful week! ♡
Sincerely,
Clari♡ from The Cafecito Diaries ☕️📝 | 💌 hello@claribotello.com
Disclaimer: This post is provided for educational and informational purposes only. This post does not constitute providing medical advice or professional services.
I’m also learning Japanese! So cool! I’m learning kanji through wanikani and using the Japanese from Zero workbook and YouTube videos. There’s a great phone game called Wagotabi I started and want to go back to eventually. I wish you luck on your language journey 🥳