I graduated college after a severe traumatic brain injury.

Things We Forget

By Gentle Witch

Graduated college with a double major

Former federal government employee

  • Creativity

    I practice boredom. I let myself just be—no background videos, no constant stimulation. Boredom yields creativity.

  • Slower

    I use analog tools. Real notebooks, paper calendars, physical books. They make my life feel slower in the best way.

  • Logoff

    I log out daily. Having to log in again forces me to pause—and sometimes that pause is enough not to.

  • Unfollow

    I curate my feeds. If it doesn’t educate, inspire, or connect, I unfollow. Less noise, more peace.

  • Replacement

    I replaced doomscrolling with movement. Every time I feel the urge to scroll, I stand up and stretch instead.

  • Rest zone

    I don’t take my phone to bed. My bedroom is a rest zone, not a digital one.

  • “Why?”

    I ask myself, “Why?”. Every time I reach for my phone, I ask, “What am I looking for?” That question saves hours.

  • Dopamine Reduction

    I keep my phone on grayscale. Without bright colors, apps lose their addictive charm.

  • Less Tempted

    I dim my screens at night. A small trick—but reducing brightness makes me less tempted to linger.

  • Wish

    I replaced idle scrolling with reading. If I crave stimulation, I grab a book instead of my phone. My attention span thanks me.