‘Outdated’ For those of you who are avid fashion trend followers, it’s hard
‘Outdated’ For those of you who are avid fashion trend followers, it’s hard to miss the message for the inspiration for this years runway looks: ‘70s florals’, ‘90s leather’, and ‘80s vibrancy’ seem to keep re-appearing on the stage. Yet, our world is changing constantly, and with new technological improvements every single day, it seems almost ironic that we would be “praising the past” to inspire us. Think about all the things that hadn’t come to our attention a couple years ago––new iPhones, laptops, 3-D printing, and flying cars were not the ‘talk of the town’. While these creations have been able to aid our society through difficult incidents and solve ‘real-world’ problems, it also has taken away from the simple joys we used to have. So how can we reconnect with those ‘outdated’ activities while still appreciating the changes our society is going through?+ Do More, Screen Less While I am beyond grateful for the benefits the internet has given me (movie streaming, social media, google, etc.) sometimes I feel like it has taken away from the joys I would get from doing these same activities, but without a screen. For example, there is something to be said about going to the Movie Theater to see a new film than streaming it online. The ambience of the theater, the maximizing visuals you get while looking at the enormous screen cannot compare to even the most high-definition television. It also allows you to fully immerse yourself in the movie, no distractions allowed. Yes, it’s more expensive, yes, it can be a hassle to drive all the way down for a film––but don’t tell me the joy you get from experiencing a film on the ‘big screen’ is the same as the experience you get from your couch. So next time you see a possible opportunity to go outside and do something you could have easily searched, downloaded, etc., do it. See that new film, visit a museum, art gallery, boutique shops––the possibilities are endless. It will feel much more rewarding and memorable. + Gather Inspiration Differently Being an incredibly visual person, I constantly gather my artistic inspiration from online platforms such as Tumblr, Instagram, and the greater world of the WWW. However, sometimes it is more rewarding to visit a new show at a gallery nearby. Seeing the art ‘live’ brings up this overwhelming bundle of emotion. Maybe you didn’t notice the certain paint stroking mechanisms, or indents in a sculpture, because the online image couldn’t deliver that information to you. Yet, don’t limit yourself only to art galleries. There is inspiration almost everywhere. Unplugging yourself, observing more, and listening more to the sounds and pictures around you can trigger creative ideologies that you didn’t think of prior. + Find a Balance The other day I read an article on how a woman managed to not use her cell phone for an entire month. Of course, I felt impressed and inspired by this, yet at the same time I disagreed with this mindset on many levels. The measures she took to restrict herself from technology seemed a bit obscure, considering there was no reason for her to completely sway away from online platforms. I felt like this was a perfect example of ‘black-and-white’ thinking. It’s either all technology, all the time, or not. The purpose of technology is simple: to connect, educate, and make our lives easier on some level. It’s there for a reason. We shouldn’t feel the need to purge ourselves from it completely. That’s why I believe finding a balance between using it responsibly, and not using it for sanity purposes, is the best solution. Maybe instead of aimlessly scrolling through feeds, put your phone on silence mode, and do something else to pass time. Try and remove yourself from the screen for a bit, but remind yourself it’s always there if you need it. By simply saying ‘you can’t’, makes it 1000 times harder to actually not use your device. + ‘Alone’ Time Since our world has developed into a more technologically advanced one, I’m assuming most people do majority of their work either online, near some screen, etc. ‘There is such a thing as too much of a good thing’ is one important piece of information to keep in mind. While you may feel that there might be a sense of urgency to check X,Y,Z app, news feed, etc.––you need to let that go. We’re all guilty of it. What I would recommend is starting out by pulling up some form of timer, begin by setting it to 10 mins. That’s all––10 minutes. Use those 10 minutes to catch up on a good book, doodle, play an instrument, whatever makes your heart content. Avoid all screens. Then, when time is up, return to whatever you were doing before. Start by doing 10 minutes a day, then increase in increments. By the end of the month, maybe you can safely say you’ve been able to read for 1 hour without checking your phone once. Who knows, it maybe will change the way you see technology as a whole.+ Practice Mindfulness and Presence ‘I can’t not think for X minutes’ ‘I get distracted easily’ These are somethings I hear, and admittedly have said myself, when people bring up the idea of mindfulness. Mindfulness has gotten a bad rep. It’s easy to hear this word and immediately envision an over-zealous environment with in-scents, buddha sculptures, and meditating gods floating above the earth. This is simply not the case. Mindfulness practices are different for everyone. Personally, I find that doing an activity –– whether it be drawing, painting, reading, playing my guitar––that requires little to no thought, is the most effective. Many of my friends find walking meditation (where they listen to no music and stroll about the city) is the best release for them. For some, they actually benefit from sitting still for a couple of minutes and listening to their breath. What I’m trying to say, is it’s different for everyone. So do some research, find your method, and practice it. With being present, it’s a bit more simplified. Remove all distractions and focus on the moment. When going out to dinner with friends, put all phones in the middle of the table, and the first one to touch theirs has to pay. Seems unreasonable––but it works. Nothing is worse than trying to share a moment with someone and not having their full attention during conversation. Article by ZoëPhoto by Taylr Anne -- source link
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