My Fall Break Without Shortform Content
As a busy college student, I was ecstatic when fall break rolled around. It was on the train home from school that I got the idea: what if I deleted TikTok and Instagram until I got back?
As a busy college student, I was ecstatic when fall break rolled around. After I spent the first two months at school busy with coursework, extracurriculars, and getting back into the swing of academic life… I was absolutely exhausted. Safe to say, going home for fall break, (even though for just a few days), gave me a much-needed reset.
It was on the train home from school that I got the idea: what if I deleted TikTok and Instagram until I got back? Now, this idea isn’t revolutionary: I, along with many others, routinely delete social media apps to help with productivity. What made this experience different though was that it wasn’t motivated by a desire for productivity. . Usually, I end up deleting TikTok or Instagram when I need to focus on work, as the easily-scrollable content distracts me from it. Maybe I have a paper due, maybe a quiz is tomorrow, or maybe I’m not paying attention in class. This time, however, I had none of those things. A week of study-free, essay-free relaxation awaited me: why delete now?
It comes down to the goals I set going into fall break: read more, think about others less, and spend quality time with loved ones. Here’s how they worked out.
Read more. This goal didn’t go exactly as planned… but it wasn’t too bad. Here’s what happened. Firstly, I didn’t read much. The books I brought home with me might have been a little too ambitious, or I might have just not felt like putting my eyes to the page over break, but regardless, I didn’t meet this goal. What I did notice, however, was a change in the type of content that I did consume. I still used technology a lot, but instead of scrolling on reels for hours, I supplemented that with longer, more meaningful viewing. Movies with friends, the TV show my mom loves, long video essays on YouTube explaining a country’s origin or debunking a common myth. Though I definitely used technology for a large portion of my break, the feeling was different, and it felt better. More informative, more substantive, and less addictive.
Think about others less. It’s easy to get lost in your own head sometimes. In an era where people are more connected than ever before via social media, online content can often have a negative effect on one’s self-esteem. By deleting Instagram and Tiktok, (the apps which most directly connected me to the latest fads and social constructs surrounding identity), I noticed I spent less time comparing myself to others and more time doing what I enjoyed. My break, without the constant whirrings of persuasive media, allowed me to seek answers inside myself and confide in those around me, rather than listen to a person on a screen.
Spend quality time with loved ones. This was by far the best and most refreshing change. From thrifting with my mom, to getting dinner with my closest friends, less screen time meant more opportunity for connection: something that is always welcome, and almost always beneficial.
So there you have it! Deleting shortform content over a break rather than just when you need to be productive might sound backwards, it definitely improved my leisure in ways I never thought about before. Often, we tend to use social media as a reward for being productive. After all, the dopamine released when online can wire one’s brain to view it as a reward, and encourage its use for longer and longer. Though I, too, enjoy a light scroll on TikTok during my downtime, it’s always something to keep in moderation. The next time you find yourself on a break from whatever it is you work on, I encourage you to consider putting shortform content aside; it might make your time away even more rewarding.