I usually try to time my activities and make note of the things I spend more time on than required. However, there is one thing that I find difficult curtailing, and that is scrolling through social media.
I am very active on social media and post almost on a daily basis. It is also a way of keeping in touch with my friends and relatives who live far away from where I live. Not only that, but it is also a source of amusement for me. I scroll through various sites throughout the day watching funny videos and memes.
I spend time on social media a lot more than a person should and I have been getting complaints from my family on the same. I do realise it is not wise spending so much time on it but after every few minutes, I pick up my phone inadvertently and look at funny content on social media sites like Instagram, Facebook and Snapchat without paying attention to the time.
In addition, for the sake of my friends, I remain active on these platforms to communicate with them. They post arbitrarily at any given time and expect me to comment on those posts. I have realised how much it wasted my time every single day when I timed the platforms I used. Manageable usage is advised but using them all the time is definitely a waste. I have decided to spend only 2 to 3 hours per day going forward to reduce the time spent on social media. I hope I stick to my timetable.
Vocabulary:
- Curtail - reduce
- Amusement - entertainment
- Inadvertently - without intention
- Arbitrarily - randomly
Part 3 Follow Up - Questions & Answers
1. How do you balance work and life?
Well, I concentrate on finishing my work during my work hours by strictly sticking to timelines and then after I get off work, I do what I like in my leisure time. I try not to overwork and stress myself by eliminating the little free time I have in a day. Furthermore, I go on short trips during weekends and utilise my leave balance well to go on holidays to maintain a healthy work-life balance.
2. Will you continue doing something when you are aware that it wastes your time?
There is a famous saying that goes ‘bad habits die hard’ and it is certainly very true in my case. Although I am aware that my time is being wasted when I do something, I continue to do it because some things are a bit addictive. For instance, I play mobile games a lot, which wastes my time, but I still do it as I feel entertained. However, I did cut down on the hours I spend on it.
3. What kind of things make people feel pressured?
There are numerous things that make people feel stressed, such as financial stability, relationships, work-related stress etc. In addition, people who are pursuing their education feel the pressure of scoring good grades and finishing assignments before deadlines. I think stress levels vary with the stages of our life and when we reach a stable stage, people feel less pressured.
4. Why do some people refuse to abide by the rules?
Some people look for their own convenience and do not really mind the rules. Also, there are some who seem to have fun by breaking rules. However, it could be dangerous to do so and situations might get out of hand. On the other hand, there are times when breaking the rule is necessary, such as in cases of emergencies.
