Escaping Life? Seriously? Put Down the Screen & Live!

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Remember when life itself was the adventure? When every sunrise felt like a fresh canvas, every gust of wind carried a new secret, and the simplest things—a butterfly resting on your hand, the crunch of leaves under your feet—felt magical?

And then, somewhere along the way, a tiny screen took over. A notification ping, a quick scroll, a mindless tap. Bit by bit, reality lost its spark. And before we knew it, we weren’t just using screens—we were using them to escape life.

Escape life.

Let that sink in for a moment. Life, the very thing poets romanticise, travellers chase, and philosophers spend lifetimes trying to understand, and here we are... running away from it?

Why? Because it’s too mundane? Too unpredictable? Too real?

The irony is that we aren’t escaping into something better. We’re escaping into an endless loop of curated highlights, pointless arguments, and 10-second dopamine hits. And yet, we call it entertainment, relaxation, even self-care.

Let’s face it: Technology isn’t the villain here. We can’t boycott it entirely, nor should we. The problem isn’t the tool—it’s how we use it. Instead of quitting technology, what if we simply cut down on the excess digital entertainment that fills our lives and replaced it with real-life joys instead?

But what if I told you that life—raw, unfiltered, unscripted—is far more exhilarating than anything a screen could offer? And that you don’t have to quit technology to experience it; learn how to stop letting it be your escape route.

 

So, how do we fix this?

How do we stop treating life like a chore and start enjoying it again? How do we cut down our screen time without feeling like we’re missing out?

 

1.        The “Do Nothing” Challenge
Set a timer for 5 minutes and do absolutely nothing: no phone, no music, no distractions. Just exist. Feels weird, right? That’s because we’re so used to filling every empty second with a screen. Try it; you might just rediscover the lost art of being.

2.        Become a “Moment Collector”
Instead of capturing moments for Instagram, capture them for yourself. Notice how people talk with their hands, how the wind moves through trees, and how your coffee smells in the morning. Your camera roll is full, but what about your mind?

3.        Treat Your Phone Like a Toxic Ex
Keep it at a distance. Don’t check on it every 10 seconds. Leave it in another room while you eat. And when it calls you back with a ding, remember—you don’t have to reply instantly.

4.        Reclaim Boredom
Screens stole boredom from us, but boredom is where the magic happens. That’s when new ideas form, when creativity sneaks in, when your brain finally gets the silence it needs. Next time you feel bored, don’t reach for your phone. Just sit with it. See what happens.

5.        Turn Scrolling into Strolling
Every time you feel the urge to scroll, get up and take a short walk instead. Even if it’s just around your room. Your body will thank you. Your brain will, too.

6.        Give Your Eyes a Love Break
Staring at screens all day is like feeding your eyes junk food. Try this: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. It’s called the 20-20-20 rule, and it’s like a spa treatment for your overworked eyeballs.

7.        Make Life a Little Less Convenient
Ever notice how we love making things effortless? What if we did the opposite? Take the longer route. Read a book to entertain yourself. Go out there and meet people. Slowing down forces you to be where you are.

8.        Play the “Screen Swap” Game
Every time you reach for your phone, swap it with something else. A book, a journal, a Rubik’s cube, anything that doesn’t glow and buzz. Your brain will adjust, and soon, reaching for real things will feel more natural.

9.        Romanticise the Mundane
Cooking dinner? Pretend you’re in Master Chef. Walking to the store? Imagine you’re exploring Pandora with a Na’vi. Life feels dull when we forget to see it. Add a little wonder back in.

10.  Binge-Watch… The World
Instead of binging another show, binge-watch reality. People-watch at a café. Observe the way the clouds shape-shift. Notice the tiny details you always miss. The world is a masterpiece when we learn to see it.

 

So, what’s one thing you can do right now—this very moment—to step back into the magic of life?

Go ahead. The world is waiting.





 

 

 

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