Recently, I have noticed myself doing too much zombie scrolling. You know what I mean — that mindless tapping on the mobile that we all do, as we browse the Pointless Web. (It’s that huge portion of the internet that is entirely unfulfilling. A bit like the Dark Web but, well, pointless.)
The Zombie Scrolling Syndrome chips away at our awareness. It interrupts potentially interesting conversations (“Don’t mind me, I’m just checking the Italian Serie C results”). It smudges our screens.
It has to go.
First attempt: Austin Kleon’s READ A BOOK INSTEAD image. This has just the right level of foreboding — i.e. a lot — to keep the urges at bay. Of course you don’t have to read a book. Singing, dancing, and sitting with one’s thoughts all qualify. Basically, anything that’ll get one over those attention thieves.
Early signs are promising — only two unconscious unlocks so far, both resulting in a guilt-ridden glance at (legitimate) news. Here’s to keeping those grubby thumbprints off.