8 November 2024
I don’t know about you but I appreciate a little structure in my life. And current technological advances and “apps” sometimes can provide easy and supportive structure to everyday life. Now we even have “apps” that help us organize our “apps” and specifically to manage subscription services and auto payments, and passwords. As modern life becomes more complex we are using technology to enhance our lives. I appreciate the innovations that are available to organize, track and orient us. Recently, I was surprised when my meditation app added a layer to its accountability feature where it asks you if you practiced mindfulness offline and if you wanted to add that to the app in order to not “lose your streak.” Streak here meaning “an unbroken string of events” or days that you have done some form of meditation. I think it was further intriguing when I got a notification from the app to make sure I used it by the end of the day in order to not “break my streak.” I am a regular meditator, and using the online timer is really helpful, as well as the reminder when I have skipped a day or a few. Usually this means I’ve gone offline, for retreat purposes, but sometimes it means I have gone off the rails and really need to be refocused on daily practices and reined back into a routine for my own sanity.
What I am reflecting on here is not whether technology is good, bad or overall helpful or not. I just feel that this carryover of “streak” culture seems suspiciously linked to productivity culture and ultimately to consumerism. I’m curious how many aspects of life are tied to doing – rather than being. Is there a mix of the two at play? I currently have a daily practice of meditation, and movement that really does support me. I also have a daily routine of playing Wordle online with a loved one – as a form of connection and non-verbal communication. I have been practicing my Spanish skills on a popular free app that is known for pesky reminders throughout the day when you skip a session. Everyday I check my personal master calendar, my personal email, my professional email, and my “junk” email several times for updates. Like most of us I receive text messages throughout the day and I have separate messenger services through multiple social media applications, both personal and professional. I am getting overwhelmed just typing this list.
It’s truly a lot to take in.
Emotions are highly charged right now. People are reflecting an enormous fear of the unknown. Others are naming fear in the shadow of recent current events. Using our phones to distract us can be a safe way to slowly decompress. And like all things in nature, the flip side of this healthy distraction can also carry an extra layer of noise that boils over when not looked after mindfully.
For now, I will be here looking for the light in the dark. Holding a safe space in my office for balancing distraction and soothing with clear vision that builds hope and potency for an expansive future.
