Are you as tired as I am from the digital noise and constant screen time that has crept into our lives? I’m taking some time off from that this summer. Ok maybe the title is a bit hyperbolic. I’m not prepared to stop using my phone or computer, but I’m limiting my interaction with screens a bit and see how that goes. I’m tired of seeing how all online spaces have changed and I need a break.
But wait, you say, didn’t you quit social media some years ago? Yes I did (it has been 7 years without Instagram for me), but some of it lures you back in, some things can’t even be used without certain apps now, and somehow the rest of internet keeps getting shittier too. So here we are again.
In the summer, it’s easier for me to be outside more and get away from screens. I find this is much needed, my everyday life and work revolves so much around them anyway. I’m not a complete luddite, or maybe I am when it comes to certain aspects of the internet like social media or AI? I’ve practically lived on the internet for over two decades, I’m nerdy, my entire work would be impossible without it, but it’s a love-hate-relationship at this point. I don’t hate technology, in fact I love a lot of what’s possible with it, or could be possible. But I don’t like what’s being forced on us on our phones and online.
So I really enjoy getting the opportunity to get away from staring into a small glowing rectangle for a few hours. And I’d say getting away from it all is even needed to come back and post valuable and interesting findings.
This is why I love sketching outside, or even just carrying my sketching kit around and scouting places I’d like to sketch, or taking photos of interesting subjects (which involves yet another screen, yes, but I hope I get absolution for that one because I’m not insane enough yet to get back into analogue photography).
When I perceive the world through my senses, I feel like my brain expands and my mind starts to have more ideas, instead of less, there are countless opportunities and small little corners of the world to explore, whether in graphite, watercolor, or through taking an image, or by walking around with your feet and breathing in the air. Even just reading outside for an hour replenishes my senses.
This is all distinctively different from the algorithm-driven, rage-bait-packaged, polished, filtered content on the internet. I’m not saying the internet is like this everywhere, but a large part of social media and news seems to be like this, internet search is essentially broken and AI summaries and bots are being shoved in your face everywhere these days, and everything is just worse than it was before.
I’m watching some of the retro, low-tech, luddite movements that are popping up everywhere now with a lot of interest (ironically I’m keeping track of these things via the internet) and I’m happy to be a part of it, by offering this blog as an alternative to the force-fed AI slop, rage bait and ads like that’s abundant on many of the big platforms.
I like the part of my life on the screen where I’m interacting with you, I love this little blog community so much and I’m grateful you’re putting up with all of my long pauses and off-topic deviations. And I also like reading what other artists are up to (I read new blog posts via RSS, this ancient technology that still works miraculously well), and putting thoughts like this out there to share. But I also find summer is an excellent time to remove myself from the amount of overconsumption that always slips back in no matter what: checking the news too often, reading useless fluff on social media, trying to avoid AI slop.
So I’ve started another summer experiment and removed all the social media feeds I still hung around on. I realized I scrolled way too much through Reddit in the last two years, it’s been a huge time and attention sink. That leaves me with selected Youtube channels that I enjoy watching, similar to a TV show, though there aren’t many active art Youtubers left that I used to follow. I also listen to the news on the radio and read my newspaper, and occasionally I check online news, but not automatically like before. And there are podcasts. And books. Being outside and walking around really helps to get away from compulsively checking feeds, and I massively enjoy the fact that I’m able to spend so much time outside again.
This summer, I’m very much focused on absorbing the real world through all my senses. It will be my very personal Summer of Ludd. Feeling the sunlight and wind on my skin, seeing a raindrop in my sketchbook, noticing the dampness of a park bench, listening to the gurgling of water in the park while I sit on a bench reading, proverbially smelling the roses (and then taking a snapshot or creating a sketch of it). June is the time of rose blossoms. All of these tiny moments flow so much fresh air through my mind.
I’ve also taken up swimming again this summer as physical therapy for my chronic pain condition, and it’s amazing how much positive change I’ve had from this. Moving through the water lets me slow down and feel my body in a way that’s supportive, not overwhelming. And it resets my thoughts every time. When the mind and body is relaxed I have less pain, and I’m in a much better state to make art, and let in more of what’s around me, if that makes sense. Swimming is also great because screens are out of reach for a while.
Making art and writing is a direct access point between me and the world out there, it allows me to create a beautiful order (or mess) on the paper, while at the same time allowing that strange, constant stream of consciousness that comes up with its own story about how things are. Reading an engaging book does the same for me, I find it fascinating and haunting to be able to get a glimpse of other people’s innermost thoughts this way. I’m embracing reading more books right now – when you’re not scrolling through feeds all day you have so much time for reading! It’s lovely to settle down on a park bench and just read for an hour, and then when the curious park birds start to feel comfortable around me, to sketch a little. I have no idea if any of this is relevant to the world or to you, but it feels very relevant and relaxing and healing to me.
Making art, for me, expands the way I see the world. Interacting with other artist’s work lets me into their world, their individual way of observing and sensing what’s around them. I’m regaining and rediscovering this connection this summer. I have a lot of museum visits planned, time in nature to rest and relax, lots of swimming, so many books are waiting, and some new art supplies, too!
I hope everyone of you has a wonderful, creativity-filled summer. I’m going to take a small break for a few weeks and will be back soon, hopefully with lots of new impressions, sketching adventures and more art to share with you. I also have a small surprise for you over the next few weeks, so stay tuned!
A Summer of Ludd – what a lovely idea! Thank you for your blog, the beautiful photos & Art. Best wishes for many pain free days.
Thank you Mairi!
Thank you Julia, this is refreshing & inspiring to read, thank you for sharing ✨
Thank you Mairéad!
What a great blog. Outdoor time is so worth it! I am glad, however, to visit your pictures and article. Thank you.
Thank you Sandy!
I totally get it. duck duck go search might be an answer to getting search results without AI. and I highly recommend any of Louise Hay’s books such as you can heal your life, 21 days to unlock the power if affirmations, and I think the other one I have is ‘heal your body’. she has specific affirmations in that one for specific conditions and parts of the body. Enjoy your break!
Thank you Rebecca for these recommendations!
Enjoy a guilt-free, screen-free summer ❤️
Thank you Caro!
Thank you for sharing these thoughts and ideas!… and as always , thank you for sharing your art , images, techniques, advice, etc., so generously! Happy swimming & reading!
Thank you Liz!
I’m fairly new to your blog. I enjoyed all your thoughts (and wisdom).
Great to have you here Patricia, and thank you!
Thanks again Julia,
I’m often outside walking or cycling, it’s true we how we breathe easier when in nature.
I’m new to painting, trying to paint the trees outside our home.. but will attempt to paint one of our lovely roses.
Enjoy screen free summer
Marilyn
Enjoy your sketching sessions Marilyn!
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog Julia, and admiring your art, thank you for sharing! I’ve been on similar self observation trail, aware of the slippery slope of too much screen time, too much ‘news’ in general so I’ve started to use the phrase “ I choose…” to exercise, maintain & stay aware of my personal freedom and power and where it’s going! It’s simple to insert in just about every situation….physical, emotional, spiritual….I choose love let’s enjoy our day!
Thank you Jennie, that is a great way to approach this!
Yes! Good for you! I also left most social media years ago, and it keeps creeping back. I suggest pen and paper letter writing as an antidote to social media. Let’s use the international postal service while it still exists!
Yes to writing actual letters and taking advantage of that great human invention, the postal service. I count it among the most benign of institutions, along with my favorite: the public library.
Libraries are wonderful!
That’s a great idea, writing letters is such a good thing. Also journaling.
Love this.
Thank you.
Wendy
Thank you Wendy!
Thank you very much for sharing really enjoy reading your blog , wishing you healthy and blessed summer ahead ❤️
Thank you Anjum!
Perfect. Well said. I totally agree.
Thank you Cindy!
I appreciate your openess! I’ve been leaning in those same directions, piling ebooks and magazines from the library, following favorite artists on YouTube, increasing time in nature and most importantly, getting only world and local news headlines
thank you for provoking more wellness inspiration
Libraries are the best!
Lovely blog, thank you. A great idea too!
Thank you Wendy!
A summer of Ludd! Yes. (Being a hand-weaver, I have a particular soft spot in my heart for him.) Here in San Francisco, our summers are mostly ones of Fog; it’s cold and gray — I imagine most Europeans wouldn’t mind some of that right now.
Enjoy your unscreened summer and outdoor adventures. Thank you for all you share with us.
Ludd is such an interesting (and from what I read possibly mythical?) figure, it’s a fascinating period to dive into.
And yes we would definitely take some of the fog now. It’s a mix between wanting to be outside and trying not to scorch.
Thank you Julia, this makes so much sense, enjoy your summer.
Thank you Jane!
I love this! A couple weeks ago I decided to do the same thing. So glad to know I’m not alone!
I’m trying (not always successfully) to limit screens till later in the day when I have something I must do that acts as a natural cut off. I made a rule for myself that I can use screens when I need them, but no clicking through to other links, organizing, researching or exploring content. All that “down the rabbit hole” stuff must be scheduled for my end of the day screen time. It’s been interesting to see not only how it’s helped my cognitive load, but also my emotional load! My memory improved and unpleasant life tasks that seemed hard feel so much easier. I even cleaned the gutters this week and actually enjoyed the physical labor.
I hope you have a wonderful (mostly) screen free summer! I’d love to hear what changes you noticed or insights you gained.
Thank you Melissa, these are great ideas!
Thank you Julia – such a great reminder to stop scrolling and take the sketchbook outside! I really enjoy your blog although this is the first time I’ve commented. We all need to do more to challenge the power of social media!
Have a lovely summer!
Amanda
(travelling now but based in Hong Kong)
Thank you Amanda, for being here and sharing your thoughts!
Thank you very much for sharing your thoughts. I enjoy reading your blog. I totally agree. Enjoy your pain and screen free summer!
Thank you so much!
This is wonderful, Julia. Thank you. Recently I unsubscribed from dozens of newsletters. It has since become clear how overwhelming this excess of information can be and how little of it leads to knowledge and even less to wisdom. Best of luck to you in spending more precious time this summer doing things that relieve pain, lead you to awe and inspire you to do more of what you love. Your newsletter is a keeper!
Thank you Laura, glad you’re keeping my newsletter. :) I hope you’ll have a wonderful summer too.
Hi Julia,
I read all your blogs, they are really inspiring. But I rearly live comments. I can relate to your thoughts. I left facebook 6 year ago, and I’ve never been on instagram. Nevertheless, I find my self doomscrolling on youtube, which is so iritating. To prevent that a bit, I installed duolingo to learn German, because I have some basic knowledge of it from primary schoola, and I wanted to imrove it. I am very much proud that I have been consistent with learnig for almost year and a half, every day. I also read a lot and that is refrashing. But I also wear my watercolor kit everywhere with me, and I almost never paint. I cannot explain why. When I am on my painting classes everything is ok, I have full focus, and when I am all alone my motivation stops. I have to resole that with myself. I wish you a good health and prosperous sommer with less screen and more outdoor activities.
Dear You!
How odd, thar you just now gave us this “green screen”…
I both Love & Hate the winding, grasping, choking, evokeing Engelman’s Virginia creeper during summer – because it tend to take over everything – but yet I love it double up in autumn – when the fire & glow of orange and red gives the garden a “second bloom” sparkling of all wonderful colors ❤️
Something I learned to enjoy when I couldn’t stand the intense input of the internet was librivox…audiobooks in the public domain downloaded for free. There’s a lot of great books to listen to and no screen to look at.. sometimes I draw or paint or sew while listening. It’s like my bedtime story time!
Enjoy your time away. I think we all need it now and then. I’ve been going thru one of your Skillshare classes and am loving it.
The voice of reason is still there, thank you! Have a lovely summer
Hoy me he dado un paseo por tu blog y me he vuelto a enamorar de tus bocetos, tus dibujos y tus diseños. Estaba un poco apática y con pocas ganas de pintar y… me han entrado ganas viendo unos paisajes minimalistas que hiciste hace mucho. Gracias Julia, tienes el poder de ilusionar.
Espero que estés disfrutando del final de Agosto y preparando nuevas ideas. Un abrazo enorme.