Unrotting Your Brain — The Lexington Line

Less scrolling, more strolling. It's time to romanticize having a life outside your phone.

I cannot remember the last time I was bored. Waiting for the Subway? I am opening up Instagram. Eating alone? You already know Youtube is being opened. We have forgotten how to simply exist without needing to consume something every waking second.

The term “brain rot” has become a pretty accurate description of our relationship with the internet. It is so easy for our minds to run on autopilot when our attention spans shorten from the TikTok videos we see while we endlessly scroll. We consume hundreds of opinions, outfits, and recommendations a day, only to forget most of them once our heads hit the pillow.

And while I love a good scroll as much as the next girl, I think it is time we talk about unrotting our brains.

Take Yourself on a Walk

There is something about watching the leaves change colors, especially this time of year, that makes me feel like a person again. Playlist in ear, no rush, no destination, just me and the occasional dog I desperately want to steal.

It is a reminder that there is an entire world happening outside the tiny screen we spend so much time staring at.

Walking can also give you the opportunity to observe your surroundings and get inspired by what you see the same way I got inspired to write this. You might even discover a new favorite corner of the city. Consider it your excuse to become a little less chronically online and a little more familiar with the world around you.

Read a Book (and perhaps finish it)

Remember when reading was something we did for fun and not just something we added to our New Year’s resolution? I used to stay up to the early mornings on school nights reading chapter after chapter and rereading pages I wanted to ingrain into my head. Where is she now?

Well, I will have you know I have recently started “Everything I Know About Love” by Dolly Alderton, a memoir I picked up over the weekend at McNally Jackson. It is exactly the kind of book that reminds me why I love reading in the first place. There is something refreshing about getting lost in someone else’s stories rather than endlessly consuming bite-sized opinions online.

Reading requires a different kind of attention. You have to slow down, follow a story and actually engage with what you are taking in. Unlike scrolling, there is no algorithm deciding what you should look at next. You are choosing to spend your time with one story, one perspective and one set of ideas.

Become a Regular at Journaling

You do not need to be a writer, have perfect handwriting, or even a nice notebook to journal in. It can be as simple as writing down what happened that day, what you are thinking about, or something you do not want to forgot.

Or my personal favorite: collecting things to glue into my notebook. I have garnered together reciepts, postcards and stickers that I fill my journal with.

Sitting under a pile of orange leaves and writing my heart out gives me a chance to slow down and actually process my thoughts. I promise nothing will compare to this feeling. There is something so imposing about being surrounded by nature that makes writing feel like I am having a conversation with myself.

Our phones already hold thousands of photos. Writing things down allows us to remember what photos cannot place: the feeling in those moments. Think of it as creating an archive of yourself one page at a time.

Stop Filling Every Moment With Noise

This perhaps might be the hardest one.

We have become so accustomed to constant stimulation that silence can feel uncomfortable. We listen to music while getting ready and put on a show as we are eating. Even when we are alone with our thoughts, we often times reach for our phones to avoid them.

Try doing something without an accompanying soundtrack.

It might feel strange at first, but that is kind of the point. Allow yourself to experience a moment without immediately looking for something else to entertain you. You might find that your mind becomes a little more creative when you finally give it room to breathe.

Become a Tourist In Your Own City

Living in New York City means there is almost always somewhere new to go, something new to see or something happening around the corner.

Make an effort to explore your surroundings. Visit a museum, grab a pastry or find a neighborhood you've never explored. You don't need an elaborate itinerary or a reservation. Sometimes the best afternoons are the ones you don't plan.

Especially in a city like New York, inspiration is everywhere. You just have to look up long enough to notice it.

Make Plans That Give You Something To Look Forward To

One of the easiest ways to spend less time online is to create a life that makes you excited to log off.

It does not have to be extravagant. It can be as small as buying yourself flowers and purchasing a pastry to allowing yourself to go on that date. Give yourself little things to anticipate throughout the week and stop sticking to one routine.

When your days become filled with experiences you genuinely enjoy, your phone doesn't have to be the primary source of entertainment. You begin collecting memories instead of just collecting posts.

At the end of the day, unrotting your brain does not mean deleting every app from your phone and allowing yourself absolutely no screen time. Social media can introduce us to new ideas, communities and inspiration. But there is a difference between using the internet as a tool and letting it become the entirety of your personality.

Find something you love that has absolutely nothing to do with your online presence.

Your brain deserves a little fresh air, too.

What is your go-to way to reconnect with life outside your screen? Leave a comment below.