To many, the new year brings new opportunities to try to improve themselves. Some choose to start the year by learning new things, like cooking or painting. Others set goals, like reading a certain number of books or going to the gym. However, for many at Washington the biggest goal they want to achieve is limiting their screen time. This year, Mr. Soltau, the Econ/Gov teacher and the Student Activities Director, wants to reduce the number of hours he spends on his phone. “Apple will send you your screen time hours,” he says. “So if that number is five hours or below, I’m happy. This is because I use it not just for leisure, but for work. So, if I’m on my phone for five hours a day, I try to make sure that it’s work-related rather than just social-media related.”
Unfortunately, many resolutions are abandoned after a few months, with some being broken even after a few weeks. As the excitement of the New Year dwindles, people feel less motivated to reach their goals. Others simply find bad habits too hard to break and put their goals off for the next year. This is especially evident when it comes to limiting addictive activities like scrolling through social media. So, how do we stick to our goals to limit our social media and stay motivated months after January? Well, with newly elected President Trump issuing an executive order to temporarily pause the federal ban on TikTok, people are wondering whether banning social media altogether will do any good in improving mental health.
Washington student Mylie Dao isn’t waiting for a ban: she has already deleted TikTok from her phone. “I haven’t had success in the past, but deleting TikTok this time feels like it’s actually working,” she says. “Honestly, I feel so much better, I am less stressed, and I have more time to just relax.” Sometimes, the best way to solve a problem is to erase the cause: “If something’s distracting you too much, just delete it. It’s hard at first, but it really helps,” says Mylie.
Another option for those trying to limit social media is finding someone else to support you. For Mr. Soltau, he and his wife keep each other accountable. “At the end of the week, I’ll look at my screen time with her,” he says. “We can hold each other accountable, so when I miss my goal, she can say, ‘What are you doing? Let’s do something about it.’” To Mr. Soltau, the point of having a partner to keep you accountable isn’t about catching you in the act and getting you in trouble, it’s about keeping you on your path of reaching your goal. An additional tip Mr. Soltau recommends is writing down your goals to keep you on your path. Keep a note somewhere you will see constantly, such as on your bathroom mirror or your phone’s lock screen.
Hopefully, this year will bring more success to those trying to decrease their reliance on social media.
Eunice Yang is a senior at Washington High School and grew up in Fremont. She may be new to journalism but is interested in writing articles highlighting Fremont's diverse community in the features section of The Hatchet. In her free time, Eunice crochets and knits while watching her favorite T.V. show Brooklyn 99. She even enjoys baking muffins and cookies for her family and friends. When it comes to future plans, Eunice wants to be a nurse to continue making her community a better place.