Why this website?
I know I’ll get asked this a lot! Why create a website when you’ve got Instagram, WhatsApp, and tons of other ways to chat?
There are a few reasons. I did some experiments to figure out why, and I made the bold decision to create a personal website. Here’s why, how I realized it was causing problems, and how this website is going to make my communication better.
Screen time: I spend almost 15 hours a day staring at screens on all my devices. From waking up to going to bed, I’m constantly glued to a screen.
A typical day starts with grabbing my phone to turn off the alarm, and I’m instantly hooked. I check notifications, reply to messages, and get into autopilot mode, switching between apps without doing anything productive. Plus, all my work is screen-based. I code, research topics, complete assignments, write, and do anything else on my computer. I take class notes and read research papers on my iPad. I tried printing the papers for a while, but the ease of annotation and iCloud sync made me switch back to iPad.
Excessive screen time has really messed with my sleep. When I finally fall asleep, it’s super hard to open my eyes when I wake up. It takes almost half an hour for my eyes to become functional. I discovered how screen time is causing this over three Saturdays. I tried to limit my total screen time to below 3 hours and printed any reading material I wanted on Fridays. On those Saturdays, I could fall asleep without any issues and didn’t experience any negative effects on my eyes the next morning.
Better Communication: While social media platforms are great for sharing a quick glimpse into your life, they also make you crave that quick attention. Let’s be honest, how much can you really communicate with a picture caption? Or a story? I want to share my thoughts in a more meaningful way.
Instagram can be a real mess sometimes! I’m here to catch up with my friends, not to get lost in a sea of stuff I don’t even care about. It’s like my focus gets pulled away from actually connecting with them. I’m rushing through their posts just to see a cat meme, and honestly, that’s a problem for a lot of us. If I’m putting in the effort to post something, I want it to be thoughtful and meaningful, and I want people to actually take the time to read it. That way, I get a sense of satisfaction knowing that someone actually cared about what I wrote. And for you, the reader, it gives you a more enriching experience, which can lead to better communication.
Mental Health: Why am I feeling down about a dog that I never even knew? And why am I feeling sad about a post that was meant to make people think about their tough past? I quit Facebook in 2020 and Twitter almost two years ago for similar reasons. I switched to a brick phone during my GATE prep, and I was so much happier. I guess switching to a brick phone isn’t an option now since so much important stuff is app-based. Quitting Instagram means I lose most of my connections with my friends. I’m not quitting, though! I’ll pop in from time to time to check on my friends, but I won’t be sharing anything about my life there.
Creative Freedom: I can totally do whatever I want with my website! I’ve always been a big fan of MySpace’s awesome feature that let you design your own page. It’s a real bummer that MySpace is no longer around. Ever wanted a pixelated meme sunglasses right next to your name? Well, guess what? I can totally do that now! And if you’re dreaming of a website title that’s super dynamic, you’re in luck! I can totally make that happen too. I’m not tied down to any specific platform’s way of showing off my creativity. I can post anything I want here! I can design the website in any way I want! It’s totally unique and it’s me! Hehe!
Okay, I’ve rambled on enough! Hopecore much? I’ll do my best to keep this website going. Swing by whenever you have a moment to see what utterly pointless thing I’m up to! Cheers✌️
← Back to Blog