Digital Wellbeing by Joao Morgan

Sedentary Lifestyle

joaomorgan19 — 2024-05-16 05:23:29 UTC

Ever since the pandemic occurred and our workload shifted mainly to virtual classes, I have felt that keeping a consistent exercise routine is a struggle. I have had issues finding enough time to even do light exerices and once I start working out, I just cannot commit to it for a long period of time.

Solution

I have decided that once I go on holiday in June and have more free time, I will start going to the gym with a flexible schedule and see which times work for me best. In this way, I will be able to stick to a routine which feels comfortable to me and which I can manage easily. Additionally, I will limit the use of devices to maximise how long I will spend doing more physical activities.

Social "comparison" and Anxiety

joaomorgan19 — 2024-05-16 05:24:31 UTC

Even though I do not engage in social media that frequently, it is notable to mention that I certainly tend to notice how well a person I follow is doing. The issue, however, lies on the fact that subconsciously I start comparing accomplishments, possessions, and even just memories that those people post on their platforms. Consequently, I start digging a hole of self-doubt and depression which can be quite hard to overcome.

Solution

Due to the negative headspace I get into when browsing through friend's/acquaintance's social media accounts for too long, I have decided that lessening the amount of time I spend on my mobile phone would be the best solution. Tentatively, I could also create an alternate account on different social media platforms where I follow pages/content that help me get into a better mood.

Loss of Self-direction and Motivation

joaomorgan19 — 2024-05-16 05:25:17 UTC

Dealing with constant notifications, receiving and writing e-mails, uploading grades, and so on can make it seem as if I was going through the motions every day. While dealing with it all is part of my job, it occassionally feels that I am stuck in a rut. In the grand scheme of things, it may seem pointless to worry about doing such tasks, but there are times when self-reflection can go on too deep and derail from my own objectives. As a result, I can lose my motivation over the sea of activities I need to deal with.

Solution

I have decided that the best way not to lose track of my goals is to keep them in writing and close to me one way or another. For instance, I will have a notepad where I organize my goals for the short-term, mid-term and long-term future so I can focus on what I need to be doing according to the dates. Furthermore, I will also have reminders of my why I keep pushing on life: My family. I will keep photos of them easily accessible on my phone or in my wallet as they are the main reason why I keep on improving, taking on professional development courses and harder challenges in life.

Apathy and Emotional Unavailability

joaomorgan19 — 2024-05-16 05:27:29 UTC

As part of my daily routine, I discuss, listen to, and share countless opinions and experiences with my students and other people who are relevant in my life; whether it is face to face or through online chatting does not make a difference. However, I have noticed that after spending a long time having these conversations and replying to messages, my "social batteries" wear out faster than before. When I feel that this situation extends longer than I have previously thought, I start shutting people out: For instance, I stop reading/replying to messages on social media, I stop taking personal calls and whenever I talk to someone, my mind wanders and I cannot pay attention to a single word they say. I might even stop caring about how others feel regarding their lives.

Solution

Although not an easy solution, I have decided that limiting my interactions with people I know would be the most beneficial option. Evidently, I would not completely stop interacting with them, but I would set boundaries over how much time I spend on social media chatting and would let the most important people in my life know that I would be available only at certain times during the day.

Information Overload

joaomorgan19 — 2024-05-16 05:34:05 UTC

Constant development means that I need to research information more often than I would normally do. This situation has been more apparent than ever after partaking in two professional development courses which required me to read an extreme intake of books, articles, blog posts and watch numerous videos and workshops regarding teaching methodology and technology. What I noticed was that the influx of information coming in was so overwhelming to the point that I felt that I had become a victim of "information pollution". While there were some interesting articles that I had found over clicking links which let me visit other pieces with related content, by the time I was done researching, the main idea of the content I was reading was very much far astray from what I had been originally looking for.

Sharing Private Data

joaomorgan19 — 2024-05-16 05:38:09 UTC

I did not expect to have any issues dealing with private data or sensitive information; nonetheless, recently I have found out that some of my personal information may have been compromised due to a data breach. I do not exactly know if all of my information has been leaked or shared, but I know that at least some personal pictures and private conversations have been due to this. I believe a weak and repetitive password I have used over the years may have been one of the causes.

Solution

I have recently learned how to ensure the safety of my accounts by strengthening my passwords: using symbols, numbers, special digits and unpredictable or personal phrases and words are just some of the techniques that may help me not to face any similar situations in the future.