Substack, we need to talk
I think it's high time we set some boundaries, don't you?
Every social media app on my phone has a time limit—except for Substack.
For a couple weeks it has felt quiet here, people mentioning flop eras the week prior to last, the slow engagement, the works. It didn’t hit me yet, I was letting things roll, I’m not here for that, I told myself. And then the slowness began to creep over into my timeline.
The algorithm shifted and I was seeing less of who I usually interact with to things I’m not interested in seeing at all. It felt weird, and it made me take the full weekend away when usually I would only take Sunday.
Turns out I needed to step away more than I realized.
It forced me to think about my time on the app. I don’t want this to become an addiction like other social media, yet it’s very quickly heading that direction. This isn’t a new subject or thought, it’s one I’ve had many times over and have definitely written about before. And if I’m being honest, I’m sure I will write about again in the future at some point.
Because in full transparency, I’m human, I have highs and lows, I have moments where I cave into the dopamine hit and times where simply being present in my physical life is more than enough, as it should be. And unless I delete everything, close my world off and step away, this is always going to be something I am searching for balance with.
Nearly everything we do from bills to keeping in touch is digital, snail mail is rare and in person connection is something we seem to be fighting for. All. The. Time.
Maybe it’s just me, but it doesn’t seem that way, seeing others fight the same battle. Wanting to be connected and interact online, share thoughts, feelings and works of art, all the while craving simplicity, aching for slowness, an analog life.
Balance isn’t always an easy thing, or maybe it is and this is just another me problem, but writing helps. It allows me to get my messy thoughts out, sometimes having to repeat them until it sinks in, showing me what I need, and other times it’s a home run on the first go, the obvious blinking back at me like a neon sign.
Substack hasn’t been the latter. It’s something I keep coming back to easily, telling myself this is for slow creation. And it is, or that’s what I believe it to be truly meant for, what I came here for. Yet, I find myself becoming consumed by it, with writing and reading and being present with the little community I have, feeling that sense of loneliness when it’s simply just a moment of quiet, everyone off doing real world things, like you know, living. It takes that step back, that repetition and slap in the face to remind me that this is a fun space to be, but it’s not the only space I should be.
It’s still the other world. It’s still social media.
So, yes, I think it’s time for a boundary. A set spot for my phone to rest on the wall if you will. Maybe I need to limit Substack to the desktop form, only giving in to the space here when I have carved quiet time to be fully present.
This space helped me fall in love with writing again, and I’m certainly not going anywhere, but maybe, just maybe, I don’t need to be as present as I guilt myself into thinking. The lovely people I’ve met here understand and know, we all read each other’s work when we have time, we write when we have time, there’s no pressure, though the dopamine seeking brain will tell you time and time again that if you step away all will surely be lost, you will be forgotten.
But maybe what falls away was simply not meant for you to begin with, just a false sense of belonging. True belonging never leaves, no matter the time away.
With that, I’m taking that as my sign. I can write, I can read, I can be online or not and I can do it without guilt, at least I’m working on that part (honesty, right?). I know this was a jumbled rambling post, but maybe someone somewhere will read these words and not feel so alone and that’s all that matters.
Thank you for spending some of your time with me today, I’m so glad you’re here :)
Until next time ✌🏻
💭 Tell me, are you feeling the pull toward an analog life? What are some things that you like to do offline. If you’ve found the secret to balance, please do share!
absolutely! sometimes, taking a break is the best thing to do. i felt this so deeply and i hope we can all do what we can to make this a low pressure space for creativity!
Ooof, I felt all of this HARD. I've put so much of myself here, sometimes it feels like there's nothing else. It was very fun and exciting at first, it gave me the outlet to express myself creatively and sharpen my pen, but it hasn't felt that way in a long time. I take breaks when I feel myself become too frustrated and resentful, because it's a hungry machine we keep generously feeding, but it doesn't help. You're so right in everything you say, there's a balance to find. Instead of disappearing for days and then being back here almost non-stop, I gotta find a middle ground too !