Goodbye rituals for the screen

[Corrupted Unicorn]

Maybe as a way to gain more awareness of what you do while online and prevent recursive activities you do endlessly (like "doomscrolling"), we could come up with a little ritual to do before going away from the screen and onto the real world... or the world of slumber...  Kinda like those bedtime rituals where you brush your teeth, but on your PJs, put soft lighting on your house, read a book... stuff like that, but as a way to gently get yourself off the screen and into the sheet.

I've started a new habit: writing a page in Word (or, well LibreOffice) about anything I want. 12 pt, simple font, maybe I can give the text color to distinguish it from past text and a date and a title. The sole objective is to fill the page. Don't stop to check for spelling, or for logic; just fill the page. You can come back to it later to correct if and make it "make more sense" if you want. It's a good place to leave my ideas for the day before I go to bed. 

Also, this wasn't planned, but today I played a gentle song before logging off for the day and I think it fitted the mood. Let me share it with you:

(Sixpence None the Richer - Kiss Me)

Do you do something like this? If you don't, and you find this an interesting idea, I hope you can come up with something that works for you. Feel free to borrow from me if that's what you need. Feel free to share what works for you, as well.

[Melooon]

I think this is a wonderful topic  I suppose in a tiny way, closing the lid of my laptop is that definitive ritual that says now my computer time is done 

What if people kept web journals, that function like dream journals - but you write down what you can remember of your joinery on the web. Maybe remembering those journeys might help to remind people of what they did - was your web experience a lucid surf? Or were you caught in a nightmare unable to control your browsing experience? Maybe if you remember what you did, you can gain some control over it.

In a way its also another form of archiving the web, its like a transient memory of the web that still lets it fade like a dream, but holds some fragments of its existence in your long term memory, like a story of a once-was-surf 

[wygolvillage]

I really like this idea. I should come up with something like this for my phone. I think all my unhealthiest web habits tend to be when I'm on my phone rather than my computer.

I've recently taken up that Pokemon TCG app, and I open my second pack of the day around eight PM sharp. Maybe I can use that as my sign to log off for the night... But my friends tend to do things later than that, and on work days eight is when I get off FROM work... Hm. Perhaps nine or nine-thirty?

[EdgyRabbit]

I listen to 2 ASMR videos and then turn off my phone!

ASMR helps me sleep personally!!!

[PurpleHello98]

I think I could really use something like this! I feel like recently I've been struggling with spending too much of my time at home on-line and not enough indulging in my other hobbies/pastimes, like reading or listening to music, or watching TV, or anything else. I might brainstorm and come back to this... maybe I could send a quick message/e-mail to my friend as a way to keep in contact every night? Or check on MelonLand or my Wobble/Tamanotchi. Something to wind down?

I think this is a wonderful topic  I suppose in a tiny way, closing the lid of my laptop is that definitive ritual that says now my computer time is done 

What if people kept web journals, that function like dream journals - but you write down what you can remember of your joinery on the web. Maybe remembering those journeys might help to remind people of what they did - was your web experience a lucid surf? Or were you caught in a nightmare unable to control your browsing experience? Maybe if you remember what you did, you can gain some control over it.

In a way its also another form of archiving the web, its like a transient memory of the web that still lets it fade like a dream, but holds some fragments of its existence in your long term memory, like a story of a once-was-surf 

I think this could be a really good way to make Web use more intentional! You may catch me stealing this idea, LOLLL! Something that helped me stop wasting as much time on-line ages ago was keeping a journal of what I did on-line each day every time I went on-line and how long I spent doing it--I quit doing it eventually but I might start again now! I definitely struggle with mindless use of the Internet being my default state when I have nothing else to do, even on my laptop after switching to a flip phone. I'm trying to get better though! I switched to getting my YouTube intake from RSS feeds, but now I also have a bit of a backlog of YouTube to work through that's a bit overwhelming to be honest.

[crazyroostereye]

This is a wondurfull Idea. I already have something similar running like it, I just dont do it consequently. What I usually do is end my Computer Day with writing my Journal on it. And then doing my evening Routin. Sadly It does happen quite a lot that I reopen my Computer after I'm in Bed.

What if people kept web journals, that function like dream journals - but you write down what you can remember of your joinery on the web. Maybe remembering those journeys might help to remind people of what they did - was your web experience a lucid surf? Or were you caught in a nightmare unable to control your browsing experience? Maybe if you remember what you did, you can gain some control over it.

In a way its also another form of archiving the web, its like a transient memory of the web that still lets it fade like a dream, but holds some fragments of its existence in your long term memory, like a story of a once-was-surf 

This sounds like a great Idea. For a Challenge I did, I tried to detox myself from Video Content sucking up my Free time, primarily YouTube, And I made a Weekly Report on my Blog. Going into Detail how I felt and how much I watched for each day.
And it defiantly helped. Since I stopped the Challenge tho I have been slipping again. So doing a general Web Dream Journal would be cool.

[candycanearter07]

This seems like a really good idea to actually get to bed at a reasonable time, lol! Though currently, I usually read through my rss feeds and other similar daily messages before I go to bed :P Maybe I should start being more deliberate about that, though.

[milo]

On my computer desk, I have one of those Neo-Geo mini arcade cabinets. I usually keep it on running a game in attract mode, just as a neat little desk decoration.

I spend a lot of my time browsing the web in the morning before I start my day, so part of my ritual before I shut down the computer is to play a few "coins" on the little arcade game, usually Metal Slug or King of the Monsters.

In addition to that, I suppose, I start to get ready to walk out the door. Shutting down the computer is usually the last thing I do after getting my shoes, hat and keys.

[aster]

i haven't really thought about this tbh!! in general i have quite poor night time habits (really just close computer at some point and then go to sleep...) but i think this would be nice to cultivate more intentional use. i think going through and closing tabs and actually shutting down my computer instead of putting it to sleep would be a good habit to build :)

[alexela64]

Not sure if this counts but I end my night definitively by switching from a internet device to a specific single purpose device.

Most nights I actually physically shut down my laptop, before my nightime routine, and then opening my 3ds to play some ace attorney. It's a game that, as easy as it is, tests my ability to make assumptions (i suspect it has something to do with my incredibly neurodivergent line of reasoning).

 I dont touch my phone after I plug it in for the night, and my laptop lives at my desk. It's like tucking them into bed lol.