part0009

When Apple released its IOS12 software, it came with a tracker for Screen Time. Some liked the idea, but overwhelmingly, people began to talk about how the new Screen Time tracker was calling them out on their bad habits. It seemed that most people thought they used their screens only a few hours a week, but the average person uses their phone over four hours a day, according to a study done by eMarketer.

The problem people had with Screen Time wasn't that it told them how much time they spent on their phones, but that it told them how much time they overspent on their phones. If users had been using their phones an appropriate amount of time, they wouldn't have thought much of the report. However, it was the overconsumption of screen time that made them antsy.

Most people are wary of overconsumption. It's why there are constant ads by companies that seek to help you prevent it in your own life. Whether it's weight loss companies that seek to prevent you from overconsumption of food, apps like Screen Time to prevent overconsumption of smartphone use, or tracking journals or applications that seek to help you keep track of how much time you spend in an activity, all of these entities work together to try and curb overconsumption and help the customer work in moderation.

So it's no wonder that overconsumption, as a whole, is antithetical to progress. Overconsumption naturally requires one to be focused on what they're consuming. How can you binge a show on Netflix if you aren't focused on what you're watching? In the same manner, overconsumption also requires the use of time. The more you consume, the more time you must devote to the task. It will always take you twice as long to eat two sandwiches as it does to eat one or watch two episodes of a show instead of one. Therefore, overconsumption takes both focus and time away from your goals and focuses them on the product you're consuming.

Overconsumption also encourages slothfulness. Generally, when someone is binge-watching Netflix, they're doing so in a reclined position. When someone is binge eating, they're doing so in the place of exercising. No matter what you are consuming, doing so in a large quantity means that you are naturally missing chances in your day to get moving and to be productive.

Finally, overconsumption only feeds procrastination. If you stop to think about what you're consuming too much of and why, you will likely find that your overconsumption is either out of boredom or a sense of wanting to procrastinate. You don't want to actually weed the garden, so instead, you binge a show on Netflix. Perhaps you don't want to write a paper, so you go get a second lunch for the day instead of sitting down to do it. The more you over-consume, the less you are able to accomplish.

Overconsumption isn't just bad for you, either. Over a fifth of the world's food is lost due to over-eating and waste, and the world population consumes about 10% more food than it needs, according to a study done by the University of Edinburgh. Overconsumption by those with the means to do so means that there is food scarcity in other areas, as well.

Physicians, particularly those who work with pediatric groups, have found that digital media has an almost drug-like effect on young viewers, and can impact physical health in various ways. For one, too much screen time can cause "computer vision syndrome", which results in strained, dry eyes, blurred vision, and headaches, as well as neck and shoulder pain. Screen time also reduces both the quantity and quality of sleep, negatively impacts weight, and increases the risk of diabetes and heart disease in adults. In teenagers, prolonged screen time also leads to psychological difficulties, a lower sense of community and belonging, less creativity, and low self-confidence. In addition, a recent study published in Psychology Today found that 50% of teenagers and adults report being addicted to their devices.

With all of these negatives, it's imperative that we try to curb the effects of overconsumption instead of focusing on consuming media, food, and beverages in moderate amounts. When we are able to consume moderately, we open ourselves up for a world of possibility.

We need to consume moderately so we can focus on our goals. Think about the things you read in books, or what you see on Netflix. What percentage of those things are actively helping you meet your goals? For some, it may be much of it. If you're an avid runner seeking to run faster, and you're watching shows about running or reading a book about how to run faster, you may find that your consumption of other materials is helping you. However, if you're watching a soap opera and reading a book about history, then your overconsumption is not getting you closer to your running goal. We should limit the time we spend consuming things that do not help us achieve our goals. It is okay to take a break and have some fun every now and then, but success requires focus on our goals above all else.

We must learn to spend our time where we spend our life. In other words, if you want your life to be about a specific set of values, you must spend your time cultivating those values. Think about a father who says his entire life is his family, yet spends the majority of his time at work and doesn't know anything about his children. Is his life really about his family? The way we spend our time shows our priorities. If your priority is to succeed and reach your goals, then you must spend your time in a way that prioritizes these goals, as well.

Our habits should encourage, not discourage, productivity. If you want to be productive in your day to day life, you must take steps of productivity. When you're focused on overconsuming goods, you miss out on times of productivity, and you set forth a habit of trading productivity for what's easy. You must learn to fuel your productivity, not your procrastination.

The first thing you should do in order to curb overconsumption is to be honest about how much you're consuming in the first place. Track your calories, record your screen time, and make an effort to keep count of what your day really looks like. Without an honest look at how you're doing, you can never see how far you have to get where you're going.

Next, set a goal for what you want your consumption to look like. What is your end goal for how much you will eat or how much you will watch? What is your end goal for the kinds of things you will consume and how much of them. Write your goal down.

Third, cut your current consumption by 10%. Do this weekly, until you get down to the level of consumption you're happy with. A gradual decrease will do better than a total cut-down and help you feel less deprived over time. 10% is a manageable amount to decrease any overconsumption by.

Fourth, replace. Use that time you would have spent consuming your addiction before and replace it with something new. Perhaps instead of eating the extra 200 calories, now you will go for a walk. Instead of watching the TV show, you might write a chapter of the book you have been wanting to finish. Focus on your goals, and use your newfound time and focus to be more productive in meeting them.

We are all guilty of overconsuming in one area or another in our lives. However, overconsumption takes focus and time away from our goals, and encourages us to trade productivity for procrastination. In order to curb the effects of overconsumption, we must learn to consume moderately. We can replace the time and focus spent on our previous addictions with productive measures to reach our goals, and we will find that success happens much more quickly.